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You feel tired all the time and are not even sure when it started. You try to go on vacation once a year, but it doesn’t feel like enough. You’re concerned that this exhaustion is affecting your performance, both at work and at home. What can you do on a regular basis to stay energized throughout the week? In this episode, Courtney, Blake, and Verbs brainstorm ideas for the 5 categories of self-care and offer tips on building it into your week. They show you how to leverage the Weekly Preview, so you can more consistently engage in self-care and be at your best from day to day—and not just when you finally have the chance to go on vacation.  In this episode, you’ll discover— Strategies for winding down at night and getting enough sleep  Why the people you connect with impact your energy The value of giving yourself the freedom to play 5 tips for filling out the self-care section of the Weekly Preview Resources: Guided Weekly Preview chiliPAD Moment app Cook Once, Eat All Week by Cassy Joy Garcia BreakHIIT

We're excited to share this excerpt of our Guided Weekly Preview with you. Hosted by Blake Stratton, this audio is designed to be played while you're filling out your weekly preview. Blake shares best practices, definitions, helpful tips, and personal stories to help you make the most out of this crucial Full Focus Planner tool.  If you like what you hear and want to get the whole 22-minute guided preview for free, then visit www.focusonthispodcast.com/preview.

Have you ever returned to work after some time off and felt like you needed a vacation from your vacation? Maybe you were checking your phone and emails so often that you brought the office with you. Or you spent too much time doing and not enough time resting. Is there a way to go on vacation and return rejuvenated rather than just as tired as when you started? In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake talk about how to set up your time away from work to get the rest you need. They share 5 steps for planning the fully unplugged vacation of your dreams, so you can leave with confidence and return refreshed and ready to jump back in. In this episode, you’ll discover— How casting a vision for what you want turns hopes into actual plans A step-by-step plan for equipping your team to cover your bases Why it’s necessary to define “emergencies” before you leave The value of blocking off 2–3 days to tie up loose ends and get to inbox 0 Resources: Vacation Optimizer

You set yourself up with all the latest productivity tools to get ahead of your busy days. But now you find yourself monitoring too many systems and never knowing where you put that one piece of information. You feel frustrated—and maybe even a little guilty—that you’re not using your planner the right way. You need a system that keeps you focused and tracks all the complicated, changing information that’s part of your job. In this episode, Courtney, Blake, and Verbs share how they each use technology in conjunction with their Full Focus Planners. They offer 3 tips for figuring out a personalized hybrid system that works for you, so you can streamline and integrate a productivity system that empowers your most important work. In this episode, you’ll discover— 4 questions to consider while customizing your own system Why you should limit the role of multi-function digital tools The case for deleting work apps from your phone When to use digital tools versus your planner for maximum productivity Resources: Things task manager app

Week after week, you find yourself working on projects you dread. You don’t understand why they’re important. You’re not good at them. But if your boss is dictating your to-do list, it’s not as if you have a choice, right? You have more agency than you think. In this episode, we’ll dive into four strategies you can practice to start doing more work you enjoy and less work you dread. When you do, your company will benefit—and your career will, too.  In this episode, you’ll discover— An insightful tool for identifying the work you love How to leverage your thinking to change your experience An often overlooked reason you might not be enjoying your work When—and how—to approach your boss Giveaways that it’s time to look for work elsewhere

You missed your friend’s birthday—again. You completely forgot about your annual physical and double-booked yourself. Your anniversary snuck up on you, and now you’re trying to make last-minute reservations. You hate feeling the guilt and panic of losing track of dates that matter. What you need is a better look at the big picture. That’s why we designed Rolling Quarters. Rolling Quarters give you an annual view within your quarterly planner, so you can track important dates and commitments and see your year at a glance. In this FAQ episode, we’ll dig into a question from our Facebook community, sharing tips and tricks for how to get the most out of this planner tool. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to set up your Rolling Quarters page Ideas for events and happenings to track Courtney’s favorite part of her past job One strategy for leveraging Rolling Quarters to track your goals Another round of the Review Corner For a full tutorial on how to set up your Rolling Quarters page, visit fullfocusplanner.com/start.

You’re getting better and better at using the Full Focus Planner to help you organize your life and achieve more. But every week when you start your weekly preview, you feel unsure how to use “that” page, the one with a blank box for each day of the week. What exactly is it for? How can you maximize it to accomplish your goals? In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake zoom in on the page people ask about most often: the weekly overview page. They discuss 3 lenses to consider as you decide how best to tailor it to your needs. Because there is no “one size fits all,” but there are all kinds of ways to leverage this page as you prepare for the week and set yourself up for success. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to set mini-milestones toward your Weekly Big 3 4 ways to track the execution of your routines The value of setting healthy expectations for the week ahead How to get in sync with your spouse on a weekly basis Resources: Full Focus Planner® Community on Facebook Verbs’s workout video using BreakHIIT by Darren Wong 

You have the Full Focus Planner and are already starting to see some progress toward your goals. But you keep running into situations you’re not sure how to handle. What do you do when you miss a goal? How do you stay on track when you’re in a season where life is out of balance? Where can you get advice on how to tackle all this?  In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake answer ten questions from the Focus on This community on how to practically maximize the Full Focus system. They’ll share tips they personally employ and show you how to make the system work for you so you can move forward with confidence to achieve your goals. In this episode, you’ll discover— 5 steps for keeping your goals relevant quarter to quarter How to reset in the middle of an off day Which pages of the Full Focus Planner to zero in on to “go big” Best practices to build awareness of life’s open loops for list sweeps How to use the Full Focus system away from work on the weekend  Resources: Focus on This Episode 54: “How to Reevaluate Your Goals and Make Them Exciting Again” Focus on This Episode 84: “Blending an Ambitious Career with a Meaningful Life” Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller Focus on This Episode 61: “The Power of Journaling” Full Focus Journal Day One journaling app

You’re at work early every day, because your to-do list is a mile long. You’re trying your best to hustle, using all the productivity strategies and apps, but you’re exhausted, your focus is scattered, and your patience is wearing thin. What’s missing? What else can you do? In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake discuss one of the most important productivity tools most people don’t talk about: sleep. They reframe the negative narrative around sleep and show you three reasons getting why quality sleep is essential for high performers.  In this episode, you’ll discover— Why sleep is an asset—not a liability—to your productivity The impact sleep quality and quantity has on performance How sleep refreshes your emotions and disrupts the cycle of stress Pro tips for shutting down at night and sleeping better  Resources: Focus on This Episode 83: “The Life-Restoring Magic of Daily Rituals” iPhone Bedtime feature DOHM sound machines Sleepcasts by Headspace Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller

You feel stagnant, like life is an endless cycle of going to work and coming home. There’s nothing on your calendar you’re really looking forward to. Can you be burned out and bored at the same time? How can you escape this sense of being in suspended animation? In this episode, Courtney, Verbs, and Blake offer a counterintuitive solution to the stasis of burnout: adding something to your calendar. They’ll show you the four surprising gifts that come from investing in a hobby—and how that can help you find renewed creativity and energy for both work and life. In this episode, you’ll discover— The power of active rest  The benefits of letting your mind wander How being new at something leads to the greatest gains Examples of activities that give you energy Resources: BreakHiit Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller The 4 GIFs of Having a Hobby: Innovation - https://giphy.com/embed/pOAJ9UVzFLHTnhhjOJ A Beginner’s Mindset - https://tenor.com/view/learning-cant-wait-to-learn-gif-9334907 Rejuvenation - https://tenor.com/view/bear-charging-gif-10139371 Enjoyment - http://gph.is/1dsY23l

Today's episode is an exclusive look at the first chapter of Megan and Michael's new book, Win at Work & Succeed at Life. It comes out on April 20, but you can preorder the book now at winandsucceedbook.com.  Also, we're very excited to share that Michael and Megan will also be holding an event called "Win at Work and Succeed at Life LIVE" on April 20th. To get admission to this online event, all you have to do is pre-order the book at winandsucceedbook.com.

You’ve heard over and over that the key to success is to work harder and longer than everyone else—but you do so at the expense of your health and your loved ones. Or, perhaps you’ve determined the cost isn’t worth it. So you seek out a better sense of well-being but pump the brakes on your ambition. Can you really only have either a thriving career or a healthy personal life? Is there a third option? In this episode, the crew at Focus on This talk with Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller about their new book, Win at Work and Succeed at Life. They walk you through the intentional strategy that improves results both at home and at work, so you can take back control of your life and find freedom and margin and more opportunities than you ever thought possible. In this episode, you’ll discover— 3 nonnegotiables to set as you design your Double Win Why the issue is not quantity of time but intentionality How to create breathing room when you’re in survival mode Strategies for proposing a Double Win experiment to a skeptical boss Resources: Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller

Courtney is BACK and she wants to talk about rituals. Especially in the midst of turbulent or intense seasons, rituals can keep our listeners sane. So today, we’re cracking the code on rituals. This episode is brought to you by Michael and Megan's newest book, Win at Work and Succeed at Life. Enjoy Michael and Megan exploring what it takes to achieve the Double Win, recounting stories that bring joy and some that sting, while laying out how you can win at work and succeed at life. Preorder your copy today at www.winandsucceedbook.com.

The days are starting to feel a bit off. You’re not completely sure when it started, but there’s an undeniable disconnect. It’s hard for you to start up and wind down, and the boundaries of your days are beginning to blur together. The likely culprit? Your rituals. Rituals are designed to be habitual, but they also need to be reexamined from time to time. Blake, Verbs, and Marissa will walk you through five steps you can take to ensure you’re getting the most out of your rituals—so you can create rhythms that set the tone you want for your days. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why it’s vital to clarify the end result you’re looking for Questions for reassessing what’s working and what’s missing 2 strategies for tweaking your ritual when it’s not working for you The power of experimentation in creating the experience you want When to do reviews to regularly optimize your rituals Resources: Break HIIT

You spend your days managing details, scheduling meetings, and replying to emails—by the time you start on the “real work,” the workday is half over. Work bleeds into your personal life as you try to make up for lost time. You can’t go on this way, but it does all need to get done. How can you keep the business running without sacrificing your family and your well-being? In this episode, Verbs and Blake talk with Tricia Sciortino, Michael’s first virtual assistant and current CEO of Belay Solutions, and Melissa Lawrence, her executive assistant. They show you how to shift from trying to do it all to focusing your energy where it does the most good by hiring and leveraging an executive assistant. What you invest in an assistant you will get back tenfold as you find your way to the Double Win. In this episode, you’ll discover— 4 responsibilities executive assistants take on to empower your Double Win How your assistant can become a fierce protector of your priorities A life-changing system for managing your inbox The time-saving value of delegating prep work Resources: Belay Solutions Ultimate Guide to Working with a Virtual Assistant

The Double Win sounds great—but as a business owner flying solo, it feels out of reach. Your list of tasks is a mile long. You’re concerned about losing clients. You’re having to master new skills as you go. Is there really enough time in the day to take care of your business and lead a fulfilling life? In this episode, we tackle challenges that come with running your own business head-on. We’ll describe four common obstacles to the Double-Win and walk you through practical solutions you can start leveraging today. When you do, you’ll finally stop feeling burnt out and start adding hours back to your week. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to set boundaries with demanding clients The connection between a lack of motivation and a lack of clarity Why offering less allows you to provide more value Strategies to drive results when there’s just not enough time How to free yourself to do the stuff only you can do Resources: FocusMate Free to Focus course Belay Solutions

In the middle of meetings, details fly back and forth at rapid speed. You agree to take ownership of several next steps. But you’ve already forgotten one before you walk out the door, or it falls through the cracks of your overwhelming to-do list. How do you keep track of what you need to do and actually follow through? In this episode, Verbs and Blake interview Aleshia, Michael Hyatt & Company’s execution extraordinaire, to learn her tips, tools, and hacks for mastering the art of follow-up. They’ll show you how to develop a system for capturing tasks and following through so that you can become the high-achieving colleague others can count on. In this episode, you’ll discover— How to turn your actions into pro-actions The value of creating space to think and plan Why scheduling meetings with yourself keeps your mental to-do list clear The power of forethought to anticipate needs during meetings The top five tools and apps to follow up like a pro Resources: Full Focus Planner  

When you have too many meetings on your calendar, the week feels like it’s half-gone before it even starts. How can you keep from falling behind on your most important tasks when you don’t have time to do actual work? You don’t want your calendar to run your life. But what’s the alternative? In this episode, Verbs, Blake, and Deidra will show you how to take back your time through the power of auditing your calendar. With plenty of personal examples—including an on-the-spot meeting cancellation of their own—they’ll teach you to determine which meetings to get out of and provide practical strategies for taking back your time. In this episode, you’ll discover— Four clues to help you identify an unnecessary meeting Why monologues and meetings should rarely go together How regularly reevaluating meetings leads to a positive work culture Tips for regaining time on your calendar even when a meeting is necessary Strategies for achieving the goal of a meeting without actually meeting Resources: Want to replace unnecessary meetings with video? We recommend Loom or VidYard. Maximize the effectiveness of your meetings with No-Fail Meetings by Michael Hyatt. This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by our free download: Spring Clean Your To-Do List, a six-step guide to transform towering to-do lists into a trimmed-down list that's actually to-do-able. Download the guide at fullfocusplanner.com/printables.

Sometimes, just writing down everything you have to do is overwhelming. You feel discouraged before you even begin. And seeing it all in one place still leaves you stretched thin and running from one obligation to the next. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? This episode is an invitation to reevaluate your to-do list. We’ll walk you through four questions you can ask yourself to stop doing the work that drives you crazy and start making your best contribution to your business. When you do, you’ll have the peace of mind and confidence that comes from knowing you can accomplish what’s required of you. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why some tasks don’t actually need to get done How to eliminate needless decision making through creating habits Often overlooked opportunities to delegate tasks One practice that will help you stop overestimating how much you can accomplish in a single day Two kinds of tasks you can schedule to relieve stress today

There are few setbacks more discouraging than stalling halfway into a goal. It’s easy to think you need to “just try harder”—but sometimes, what you actually need is a little help. But how can you help someone help you on your goal achievement journey? Verbs, Blake, and Neal dive into this question in this story-filled episode. They’ll highlight four key contributions anyone can make to support your goal progress. You’ll finally be able to enlist help to get unstuck—or help someone you love do the same. In this episode, you’ll discover— Why encouragement is actually simpler than you think The power of perspective to challenge the stories we tell ourselves Why solidarity matters—and how to practice it A challenge to see yourself as more than a self-improvement project Types of feedback you can request to take you further on your goals