Fewer Things Better
Fewer Things Better
Ep. 179 - The Productivity Countdown: 7 Trusted Tips for Focus & Habits
Struggling to stay focused or stick with your habits? In this episode, I’m bringing back 7 of the most trusted lessons from past conversations. They’re simple, steady shifts you can return to when you feel distracted, scattered, or off course. Consider this your curated guide to what really works—the reminders that stand the test of time when it comes to focus and habits. Simple, actionable, and designed to help you get more done without burning out.
Show Notes:
Episode 18 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939447/episodes/11045773-ep-18-seven-words-that-can-change-your-life.mp3?download=true
Episode 11 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939447/episodes/10770943-ep-11-productivity-it-s-about-time.mp3?download=true
Episode 3 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939447/episodes/10546398-ep-3-multitasking-is-a-myth.mp3?download=true
Episode 126 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939447/episodes/15824376-ep-126-time-management-the-2-minute-rule-in-2-minutes.mp3?download=true
Hello friends, and welcome to an extra nerdy edition of Fewer Things Better. Today, we’re doing a little time travel and we’re going to take a tour through some of the highlights of this podcast.
When I was growing up, one of my favorite Sunday rituals was listening to American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Three hours of music trivia, teasers, and anticipation as the biggest songs of the week were revealed one by one. Casey’s countdown ran for decades, starting in the 1970s and shaped how a couple generations experienced music milestones.
This episode is my ode to that countdown. Not 40 songs, or 40 episodes mind you, but seven trusted ones; a greatest-hits roundup of the most downloaded or most quoted ideas from the three years of putting out these words.Think of them as “chart toppers” with our signature Bottom Lines on Top (or BLOT) to highlight the highlights.
And with that, let’s kick off our countdown at number seven…
#7 – Seven Words That Can Change Your Life (Ep 18)
This is a classic from early in the series. Episode 18 gave us seven small words with big weight: Thank you is acknowledgement. I love you is attachment. I’m sorry is amends.
Pay attention to who came to mind when you heard these words today. And remember it’s better for words to be a little awkward than lost forever.
BLOT: A few words, when shared, can change you for the better.
#6 – Engines & Anchors (Ep 6)
Engines are the people who cheer you on and propel you forward, while anchors drag you down with resistance — and sometimes even with silence. Words can fuel you or they can drain you. The voices you surround yourself with become the soil that your confidence grows in.
BLOT: Choose your confidence crew with care. Engines will lift you. Anchors will weigh you down. And make sure you’re on your own team, too.
#5 – Our Relationship with Time (Ep 11)
Indecision is a decision. In episode 11 we look at how when you avoid making a choice, you’re still making one — by choosing delay. Every postponed “yes” or “no” costs you energy.
Maybe is just a no that wants to be polite. Every maybe sitting on your calendar or to-do list is a weight that you are choosing to carry. A few minutes being firm will be a gift to future you.
Time is a gift that you can give to yourself. Block out a day — or even just a few hours — with no agenda. Let space unfold organically and see what happens.
BLOT: Time isn’t just a resource, it’s a relationship. And like any good relationship, the more you invest, the more it shows up for you.
#4 – The Hidden Cost of Helping (Ep 64)
Helping feels generous, but when it’s automatic or expected, it ends up costing you in focus, energy, and priorities. Every yes you give is time borrowed from somewhere else. True generosity isn’t about saying yes to everything and everyone — it’s about saying yes to where it matters most.
BLOT: Every yes has a cost. Spend your time and your talent where it makes the biggest difference for you as well.
#3 – Multitasking Is a Myth (Ep 3)
This was a spicy one. You see, “Multitasking” was actually a term invented for computers, not people. Our brains don’t juggle tasks, they switch between them — and every switch takes a toll. We lose accuracy, memory, and focus in the process. Slowing down isn’t falling behind; it’s how you catch up.
BLOT: Every multitask is a toll booth. But when you focus you get to go in the faster lane.
#2 – The Bottom Line on Top (Ep 8)
This is where the BLOT was first revealed. Leading with clarity isn’t just about efficient communication — it’s about kindness. Giving people the point up front respects their time and lets them decide how they want to spend it.
BLOT: Lead with the point, then tell the story. Respecting time is respecting people.
#1 – The 2-Minute Rule
The number one spot goes to the tip that’s been tested and trusted across years of research, teaching, and everyday trial runs. The 2-Minute Rule is simple, but it works: if a task takes less than two minutes, just do it now. It’s the quickest way to clear your cognitive clutter, build some momentum, and propel you into a little action.
BLOT: Two minutes can start something, it can spark something, it can even reset your day. Small steps– they can shift things.
And that’s our BLOT Countdown — again, not 40, but enough to give you some nerd nuance. A handful of greatest hits, replayed and reimagined.
Just like Casey Kasem used to say at the end of American Top 40: Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.
So my wish in closing this one is stay steady in the habits that serve you, and make time to take time to try out tools and tips to help you do more of what matters.