Episode #30 – Extreme Ways to Fight Procrastination
June 30, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Have a project you’ve been putting off? Need a strong shove to get it done? Deb and Cris have got you covered! In this episode, they delve into extreme strategies you can use to overcome procrastination, like burning money. Literally! The discussion covers unusual “anti-procrastination” apps, methods from authors Jon Acuff and Raymond Chandler, and even a tip from a well-known comedian. Use this episode as a comprehensive guide to unconventional techniques to combat procrastination so you can get ‘er done!
Episode #29 – When Productivity Basics are Annoying!
June 16, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this episode, Cris shares a pet peeve — how annoying “being basic” can be especially when it comes to productivity tips and tricks. And asks the question: What should you do when you’re looking for the “holy grail” of strategies so you can finally boost your productivity BUT all you get is the boring stuff you’ve already heard about? In this discussion, Cris and Deb tease through how you can go from annoyed to productive with “just the basics.”
Episode #28 – Mom Neglect
May 30, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this episode, Deb and Cris discuss the importance of self-care for parents, especially mothers. They share personal experiences and insights on balancing motherhood and work, emphasizing the need for a strong support system and meaningful relationships beyond the parent-child dynamic. Cris and Deb explore self-care strategies for busy moms and the essential role it plays in maintaining productivity.
Episode #27 – The Chaos of To Do Lists and Sticky Notes
April 12, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this episode, Deb and Cris dig into a listener question submitted through their survey form (link below in “Resources”). The question centers on using sticky notes to write to-do lists. Cris and Deb go through the pros and cons of sticky notes and share some stories about clients who were extreme sticky note users and savers. They also offer some tools and solutions to stop the chaos and help you keep track of those little pieces of paper.
Episode #26 – 3 Words to Rule Them All – Boosting Your Productivity in 2023
March 3, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Author and podcaster Chris Brogan (“The Backpack Show”) begins each year by selecting 3 words with which he frames all of his activities and choices for the year. Deb and Cris disclose their three chosen words for 2023 (Deb has only found 2 so far), share how they chose these particular words, and what they mean to each other personally.
You’ll hear how these words will help them frame decisions and choices that they make, how they will say yes or no to projects, and how choosing three words can help you be more productive by shaping the rest of your activities throughout the year (especially if 2023 hasn’t turned out the way you planned so far).
Episode #25 – My 3 Favorite People
February 10, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
If money wasn’t an object, would you hire a specific person (or persons) to manage some of the stuff of life?
In this episode, Deb and Cris fantasize about having “3 favorite people” who would free up some of their time and contribute to their overall well-being.
You’ll hear what kinds of tasks these “helpers” could take off their plate, and what Cris and Deb would do with all their new-found free time. Listen to this episode to hear all about it and share who *your* 3 favorite people would be.
Episode #24 – Productive, Not Perfect
January 27, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Are you falling victim to the fear of things not being perfect? Do you procrastinate because you don’t have the right organizing tools or containers? Cris and Deb are here to let you know that it doesn’t all have to be perfect!
In this episode, you’ll hear about a client named “Carol” (not her real name) who was completely stuck and couldn’t move forward with her organizing project because (you guessed it) things weren’t *exactly* as she wanted them to be.
Episode #23 – Productivity Wars: How to Deal With Your Lazy Co-Worker
January 10, 2023Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Is there one person on your work team that doesn’t pull their weight? Or the one whose energy brings everyone down? Do you cringe when they walk into the room or get a sinking feeling when you receive an email from them?
In this episode, we’ll discuss the “lazy coworker” and “toxic teammate.” And we’ll share advice about how you on how to handle these tricky team members. Have your own tips that have worked for you? Tell us!
Episode #22 – Fit and Frenzied… how is your Fitbit treating your productivity?
May 6, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Do you wear a Fitbit smart watch, Apple Watch, or some other wearable device? If so, you won’t want to miss this episode! We’re talking about how helpful these devices are to our productivity. And whether or not they can cramp your productivity style.
You’ll hear about Deb’s experience with her own Fitbit and Cris’ hesitation (and slight desire) to buy one.
Episode #21 – Have You Experienced Hot Potato Productivity?
April 22, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
There are probably two types of people in this world, those who can engage in “Hot Potato Productivity” and those who do not. “Hot Potato Productivity” refers to one’s ability to stop what they’re working on for non-emergencies, such as taking a walk, getting a snack, or answering the phone.
It’s easy for some and harder for others. In this episode, we share perspectives from both sides and share some tips on how you can easily transition between tasks.
Episode #20 – Asking For Help, When You Should Have Your S#*T Together!
April 8, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Do you ever feel like you have to always keep it together? And show no signs of weakness and successfully juggle it all? We sometimes feel that way. And we’re wondering, how do you ask for help when people, yourself included, expect nothing but greatness?
We’ll tell you how in our new episode and it has nothing to do with being hard on yourself.
Episode #19 – Productivity Avoidance
March 25, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In today’s episode, we’re discussing “productivity avoidance.” That sounds bad, doesn’t it? This is the term we’ve given to situations where you are being productive – which is great! Except you’re “getting all the things” done so that you can avoid dealing with difficult problems, people, or conversations (insert your difficulty here). Because who hasn’t organized their pantry to avoid having a difficult conversation with that family member, right?
Episode #18 – Are You Using A 7-Day Planner?
March 13, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
We’re back with another episode of the Productivity Lovers Podcast! This week, we’re talking about planners. Is a paper planner more useful than a tech tool? What are the pros and cons of using an app or a set of apps? Whether you love planners or hate them, you’ll want to tune in.
Episode #17 – Do You Go At It Alone?
February 25, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this week’s episode, we’re talking about accountability partners and accountability groups. We all know that telling someone about our goals helps us stay on track but if you’ve never heard of an accountability group or never thought about joining one, you may change your mind after this conversation. Don’t miss out on learning more about this awesome productivity booster!
Episode #16 – Cumulative Punishment. Say What?
February 11, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
What the heck is “cumulative punishment?” In this week’s episode, we explore what it is and how it can affect not only your productivity but your mental health as well. This will be especially helpful to you if you often are very critical of yourself when you miss a deadline or fail to accomplish a goal. We share tips on how to be more kind to yourself during times of stress and how you can get support while figuring out what went wrong.
Episode #15 – To Meet or Not To Meet
January 25, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In today’s episode, we discuss the necessity of meetings. Cris and Deb agree that not all meetings are particularly necessary and spending time in a meeting that’s not relevant to you when you could be doing something else is a sure-fire way to get nothing done. As the pandemic rumbles on and some of us are nearing our century Zoom call, we wanted to share some tips on how to maximize the productivity of a meeting.
Episode #14 – Book Club – Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi
January 5, 2022Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In today’s episode, we discuss Manoush Zomorodi’s book “Bored and Brilliant – How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self” and talk about some of the interesting statistics and challenges around technology, how much we use our smartphones, and what this might be doing to our brains.
Manoush is the host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and a co-founder of Stable Genius Productions. She is also the co-host and co-creator of ZigZag, the business podcast about being human. Last but not least, Maoush created, hosted, and was managing editor of the podcast Note to Self in partnership with WNYC Studios, which was named Best Tech Podcast of 2017 by The Academy of Podcasters.
Episode #13 – The “Poopy Plumber” Productivity Problem
December 10, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Today we go back in time to remember a moment where Deb felt like she went off the rails a little bit with her emotions after a particularly negative interaction with a plumber at her home during renovations.
We talk about what she did to deal with those emotions, both in that moment and throughout the minutes and hours after in order to remain productive. We also answer our very first listener question.
Episode #12 – What’s With The Need for Constant Reminders?
November 26, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
We jump right into Cris’ recent close encounter with a major pet peeve: constant reminders! We also try to figure out why we, as a society, now need to be reminded about every appointment — often several times. We discuss the vicious cycle that seems to require multiple texts, emails, phone calls, and nudges all in an effort to get us to show up where we’re supposed to be when we’re supposed to be there.
As you know, we love all things related to productivity, and today’s chat makes us question whether reminders help or hinder our ability to get things done — and more importantly, to simply be responsible.
Episode #11A – Mission Impossible: Did We Really Give Up Our Phones for The Day? (Bonus Episode)
November 12, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Today is the day! We are catching up and sharing how our “No Phone Sunday” challenge went. We both had a different experience and it may surprise you what we missed the most during our 24-hour phone fast.
While neither of us had a perfect day, we both walked away with a renewed sense of how important disconnecting from our screens is. At the same time, we also realized that these devices can serve a good purpose in our daily lives.
We highly recommend having a regular “no phone” day and sharing your feedback with us!
Episode #11 – The Home Edit: When Is Too Much Too Much?
October 15, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In today’s episode, we analyze another Netflix home organization show! We had great fun chatting about Marie Kondo’s Netflix show a few weeks ago, so we’re doing it again today with the show “The Home Edit.”
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin are the dynamic duo behind this series and the founders of the home organization business behind it. They always end up with beautiful-looking homes and spaces – real eye-candy for us productivity lovers.
But is what they do organizing or containerizing? Do they help clients keep too much stuff? Does it matter?
We have all the questions! We also talk about the similarities and differences between this show and “Tidying up with Marie Kondo.” And we share our personal opinions on whether the method they use is sustainable or not – especially for people with kids.
Episode #10 – Does It Spark Joy?
September 27, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this latest episode, we share our thoughts on the KonMari method of organizing. This is the method that was conceptualized by Marie Kondo — the now famous, Japanese organizing queen.
She has gained much of her popularity, thanks to two best-selling books and starring in the Netflix reality series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” And it’s this series that gets us chatting about how much of what you see is real, and how much is simply produced for entertainment value.
The premise of the KonMarie method is “Does it Spark Joy?” and we discuss how legitimate that is as an organization method theory.
Episode #9A – Mission Impossible: Give Up Your Phone for One Day (Bonus Episode)
September 13, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Today we take on device addiction. We all have some level of addiction to our phones especially people like us who use our phones to help us be more productive.
We delve a little deeper into some of the reasons why reliance on our devices has become a problem. And acknowledge that we’re not immune!
We both know that we use our phones a lot and thought we’d compete with each other. So we decided to do a little challenge. Listen to today’s episode to learn more and join us for “No Phone Sunday!”
Episode #9 – How Do You Feel About Rules?
August 31, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Generally speaking, if you don’t mind us saying it … rules RULE! We love rules especially when they help us manage our time better. But we also know that if they are too restrictive, they can get in the way of productivity.
In this episode, we elaborate and build on a previous episode where we discussed the very strict rules of the Pomodoro time management method, and chat about a few of the rules that exist in the productivity field and the pros and cons of each.
(P.S. Yes, those are renovation sounds from Deb’s kitchen project that you’re hearing in the background!)
Episode #8 – Task Management Apps To Get Stuff Done!
July 7, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Today we get into the nitty-gritty details of a few of our favorite task management apps. We both share a great fondness for writing down things that we need to remember.
But having a digital version of “writing things down” that also includes a reminder when that task is due … well, THAT is just a Productivity Lover’s dream!
We chat about all the different apps we’ve used over the years and why we have stuck to some and why others just didn’t work. We also share some of the features we like so that you make an informed choice when choosing your next task management app.
To get the links to every app we discussed in today’s episode, CLICK HERE or scroll down for the link.
Episode #7 – Managing Life Transitions
June 23, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Both Deb and Cris are in the middle of two different but equally tough life transitions. Deb is dealing with her home renovation and Cris is figuring out the intricacies of moving into a house with her new partner and children … situations that are proving to be just as stressful and mentally draining for these two productivity lovers as it is for the average person. Arguably they may be struggling more, thanks to their strong desire to have everything in order.
Cris and Deb share how they have each been navigating this time of transition — sometimes more successfully than other times. Today’s episode acknowledges that change is easy to underestimate and can easily catch you off-guard. But it’s important to find your way back to some semblance of a routine as soon as possible to ensure your sanity survives the process.
(And, yes, Deb really does wash apples and Cris has been remembering to use her deodorant!)
Episode #6 – Book Club: “Finish” by Jon Acuff
June 16, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Cris Sgrott and Deb Lee are your Productivity Lovers. You may have heard Cris rave about the book “Finish” by Jon Acuff in a previous episode.
In today’s episode, Cris shares how she came across the book and why she found it to be such an impressive read. Of course, Deb has been similarly impressed by this read and they decided to spend an entire episode of the podcast on what they each took away as learnings from the book.
The author makes some great suggestions in the book and Deb and Cris share how they have been able to actually implement some of these suggestions.
This book emphasizes the idea of ensuring that you prioritize AND FINISH things that are important to you and avoid the things in your life that aren’t. This – along with not letting perfectionism hold you back from making progress are some of the great topics Cris and Deb tackle.
Episode #5 – Do You Pomodoro?
June 9, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Do you find yourself wishing you could be more productive but not sure where to start? Cris Sgrott and Deb Lee, your podcast productivity gurus, jump into today’s discussion about the Pomodoro Time Management Technique. They share some thoughts on the benefits that they have personally experienced while working in this particular way. Cris and Deb have each used this technique and found it valuable – even though they both worked with a modified version to suit their lifestyle – just like you should if you need to. They chat about coffee, naps, and coffee-naps… Who knew those existed, right? But they do – and they could be an amazing trick up your productivity sleeve.
Be in the know and become better at organizing your life by learning from the best in this episode of Productivity Lovers.
Episode #4 – What’s Your Productivity Binky?
June 2, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Cris Sgrott and Deb Lee are both going through major life changes – Cris is moving house and Deb is renovating her kitchen. They are both struggling to deal with the pressure of things around them be so disorganized – knowing that they both make a living out of helping people organize their lives. Both of them find themselves dealing with these changes and stresses differently and in today’s episode they talk about the highs and lows of dealing with big changes like these in life.
Episode #3 – Cris Terrible No Good Very Bad Day
May 26, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
- Cris Sgrott had an unfortunate time-management disaster this week – making her late for the episode recording. But as they say – “Every dark cloud has a silver lining…” and her ‘dark’ day, brought about this week’s episode discussion where Cris and Deb come up with some really helpful advice about how to tackle bad days and moving on from them. The key being, to remain focused on the things that are going well and working on the problematic things one at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Episode #2 – We have a “F” word about Inbox Zero
May 14, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
Cris Sgrott and Deb Lee jump headfirst into a pretty controversial subject in the productivity world – achieving “Inbox Zero”.
However minimalist such an inbox promises to be, both Deb and Cris agree that it is an endless battle. In today’s episode, they share some of their experiences and opinions on striving for Inbox Zero along with alternative ways to organize your email that may be surprisingly satisfying in their own right.
Episode #1 – What’s The Difference Between Task & Time Management
May 7, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
The Productivity Lovers, Cris and Deb are back in this – their first official episode of Productivity Lovers! They talk through a few interesting points to consider if you are struggling to manage your time and regularly end your day with unfinished tasks. They point out how to use distractions to your advantage and share some valuable resources, tips and tools that may help you get the most out of your day and ensure that you are able to plan better and accomplish your goals with time to spare.
Cris and Deb are both specialists in productivity and helping people become more organized in their day-to-day life. They have many years of experience between them that make them fantastic mentors in this regard. Managing your time and tasks better will relieve stress and in turn improve your quality of life – what’s not to love about that?
Episode #0 – She Said Yes!
April 24, 2021Deb Lee and Cris Sgrott
In this very first episode of Productivity Lovers, your hosts, professional organizer, Cris Sgrott and Digital Productivity Coach, Deb Lee introduce themselves, how they met, and the “why” behind this podcast. They are both passionate about helping people get organized and be more productive. They, after working together on another project, realized that they have a wealth of knowledge that needs to be shared.
They give us a general overview of the direction they plan on taking with the podcast in upcoming episodes. The duo allude to having some interesting guests lined up and also share details about the webinar that sparked the whole idea behind this podcast. There is some great content to look forward to along with interesting conversations around productivity, time management, and tech tools in the coming weeks!