Sustainable Productivity

This episode introduces a (potentially) recurring topic - a headline roundup, specifically productivity headlines this time. Does this sounds familiar: you open your phone or email and there are headlines coming at you. What is click bait and what is evidence based? How do you know what to invest in and what to dismiss? You are way too busy to waste time on hype, so this type of episode is here to sift through the noise to help you...

Meditation is a burnout balm - a way to get still to get going. We often hear messages of rise and grind, get up and get after it, be a goal getter.  But I want to suggest an easier, softer way of learning to be in the world. Because you can learn a new way. Well being can be learned. It is not something you have or don’t. You can cultivate it different ways and the path we often do not choose is stillness. 

Here is what you can ex...

Sustainable Sue listeners sure love books! These Literary Life Lately episodes are all about books. These are always a big hit and are some of the downloaded of all episodes. Packed with more recommendations than any episode before it, you will surely find something to add to your To Be Read list.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

1. The breakdown of Susan's 2023 reading year - total number read and abandoned plu...

Establishing and nurturing creativity as a spiritual practice can be a balm to a burned out soul. On this episode you will get to eavesdrop on a conversation between friends about cultivating creativity, where creativity intersects spirituality, and how to do that while still paying the bills. Chip has been a chaplain and school headmaster. He is an author, a creative, and refers to himself as Susan's “unofficial chaplain,” whi...

Today’s topic is more than just how or why to declutter. You will be pleasantly surprised to find most - if not all - things on today's episode are projects that can be decluttered in a day. These are quick hits - some maybe even 5 minutes start to finish. Once you have acted on your slump with these quick hits, you might find you have energy and inspiration to keep going. And if not, hey at least your linens shelf is in order!...

The close of one year and start of another often makes us reflective and in a goal setting frame of mind. Where did we spend our time, how do we feel about that, and where do we want to go. While dreaming is of course part of goal setting, it does not end there. Goal setting does not have to be a cold, remote robotic process. Learn what questions to ask to improve your chances to creating that life you really want.

Here is what yo...

My wish for you as we close out 2023 with this episode is that you notice what makes YOU happy and fulfilled. I know you are accomplished and busy. May you find peace and contentment as well. This short episode comes out on Christmas Day 2023. So many of you are moms who get overlooked on Christmas. I see you and want to suggest some guiltless gifts you can give yourself.

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

1. Wh...

Often habits, goals, schedules and routines go right out the window with the chaos of the holidays or normal times. There is a Sustainable Productivity tool that can help you find the Minimum Viable Product to keep your goals and values involved in your day to day. Press play below to learn how to get things done when you have no time and less energy.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

1. What is Minimum Viable Produc...

Books are at the core of what makes Sustainable Sue who she is. Averaging 200 books per year provides a great opportunity to explore all kinds of genres, but titles in the productivity genre are a particular favorite - mostly because that is where her book will be shelved.

Someday. This is not a book launch announcement.

Of all of the productivity books that Susan consumed (reads, underlines, highlights, flags pages, saves the who...

Is this the most wonderful time of year or what?! Time for an impromptu check in to see who is showing up - Sustainable You or Burned Out You. There is still time to make adjustments to bring a little more peace and a little less chaos to your life this holiday season.

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

1. Back to basics of maintaining a Sustainable You
2. Managing FOMO around all the holiday fun
3. Wrap up with an...

Welcome to the first annual Sustainable Sue’s guide to gifts and gift giving. Of course the purpose of holidays is to give a perfect gift, right? WRONG! But how do you manage the expectations in a way to make meaningful connections in a way that does not leave you broke, angry, disappointed, or all of the above?

Applying the Sustainable Productivity principles and questions to gifts and gift giving could offer you a new path forwa...

Let's introduce you to a new component of Sustainable Productivity - contribution. For some it might be career, for others it might be raising kids or running your home. It might be a combination of these plus an active volunteer life. Only you know what contribution means to you. 

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

1. Workshopping the expansion of Sustainable Productivity
2. Momento Mori - what it means and h...

Gratitude is a surefire cure for the crabbiness that comes with burnout and overwhelm.

Think about the things that you have gushed about loving or the fact they make life sustainably productive at some time or another. Then you find yourself grumbling about them because you are overwhelmed and feeling a lot of pressure. Generally overstimulated and your circuits are blown.

Can you relate? Now its time to learn about the Sustainab...

Although it is not EASY, a simple way to live a more Sustainably Productive life is to connect thoughts, decisions, and actions with intentional living. The guest on this episode, Candace Folden, is the right person to teach us all about this.

Candace Folden is the owner of Solstice Counseling and Consulting in Greensboro, NC. Seven years ago Candace opened her practice to help people recover from the effects of toxic, neglectful ...

Imagine a holiday season that is productive - you enjoy the activities that are meaningful to you with the people who are meaningful to you. 

Now imagine that same holiday season is one you actually want to repeat or even continue long term. 

Here at Sustainable Sue, our wish for you is to create a holiday season that you can wrap up without feeling glad it is over and that you need a vacation to recover from. Or worse, a holiday s...

You cannot remove all stress from your life. Nor can you manage stress - that is like pinning jello to a tree. But you can change how you respond to stress - this is stress resilience. Since there is no right or wrong way to approach stress resilience, each person can have a unique way of designing a life that increases stress resilience. Don't accept that voice in your head that says you don't have time for one more thing....

As recent at 20 years ago "digital clutter" would not even have been on our radar, let alone a component of a Sustainably Productive life. Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and digital assistants are set up for home or work or both. Kids are getting devices at younger ages and schools are embracing digital learning environments. Episode 24 took a deeper look at physical clutter and this episode will take the same deeper look...

A productive weekly review is part planning session and part retrospective. There are a zillion ways to do a weekly review, of course, but this episode represents the Sustainable Sue-specific steps so that you can start somewhere. It is about consistency and progress - not about perfection.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

1. Why Susan has not showered in way too many days
2. Why a weekly review is important
3. Specifi...

Previous episodes gave you the background about why each component of the Health and Fitness dimension helps you prevent and recover from burnout. Now get more small adjustments you can make in each area. If you have been struggling to gain traction in any of these areas, this episode is for you. It may just spark an idea that help unlock a new way forward for you!

Here is what you can expect to hear:

1. How the SPM became a gli...