Getting feedback about our performance or how we're being perceived can be wonderful and/or hard to hear, but it's often quite helpful. You might… Casey's eTip: Solicit Feedback to Keep Growing There are many ways to invite information from those you trust and respect (or really need to work with…

If you attend lots of meetings each week, ask yourself: Are these meetings useful, pushing projects forward appreciably? If so, great. If not… Casey's eTip: Find Ways to Edit Your Meetings It might be time for a meetings inventory. Ask yourself questions like these for each meeting you "must" attend:…

If you have ever shot off an angry email that you later deeply regretted, this one's for you... Casey's eTip: Empty the To Line of an Angry Email If you receive an email that makes your blood boil, hit Reply and then remove all email addresses from the To and…

You have the power to change your own mood, which makes you more productive at work. So... Casey's eTip: Smile Yourself into Happiness When you smile (as genuinely as possible), your brain reacts by releasing the hormones dopamine and serotonin. Your stress decreases and the feeling of happiness increases. Other…

We engage with screens (phones, laptops, Kindles, TVs) all day long. We may not realize it, but it takes a toll on our eyes and our souls. Abstaining for a few hours (or a day!) can be nurturing. It might be time to... Casey's eTip: Rest by Going Tech-Free One…

To function as productively as possible, we need (paradoxically) to give ourselves regular rest. Resting doesn't always mean doing nothing, though. You can… Casey's eTip: Rest through Absorption When you allow yourself to be fully present in an activity that captivates your imagination or focus, it replenishes your energy. So…

We just started daylight saving time in the US and any change like this is a wonderful opportunity to begin a healthy new habit. Specifically… Casey's eTip: Go Outside First Thing in the Morning The research about the biological reasons we need early morning light is well known. The recommendation…

Organizing your office (or any space) can seem daunting. Where to begin? How long will it take? Is there ever an end? To ease the process… Casey's eTip: Turn Organizing into a Game Games are fun because there's an element of challenge and a time limit to ratchet up the…

It's possible to listen with frustration, approval, derision, delight, impatience, and so much more. Those reactions can become filters that limit our perceptions, hindering our comprehension. It helps to… Casey's eTip: Listen with Curiosity to Enhance Productivity We are all capable of missing what the speaker is trying to convey…

Listening can seem like a passive activity but giving and receiving information is a mutual exchange that requires full engagement from the listener… Casey's eTip: Listen Actively to Enhance Productivity Reflecting back or summarizing what the speaker says helps both parties ensure understanding, which saves time, money and aggravation. If…

"You have two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately!" This admonition reminds us that careful listening defuses tensions, identifies solutions and decreases errors, so... Casey's eTip: Listen Attentively to Enhance Productivity Listening actively begins with full engagement -- attending closely to what the speaker says in the moment. Your…

"Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness," wrote Edward Stanley. I'll add that most of the top performers I know value fitness and physical health. So… Casey's eTip: Move Your Body for Greater Productivity Physical health helps produce…

If we are to say "yes" to what matters most to us, we must say "no" to what does not. But saying "no" (or "not now" or "not that way") can seem like a block to our relationships. It doesn't have to… Casey's eTip: See No as a Bridge, Not…

We Americans are taught to accumulate. We keep things (emails, papers, objects) unless they're clearly trash. Understandably, clutter ensues. How to avoid it…? Casey's eTip: Accept or Keep Only Treasure Here's a small yet profound mindset shift you can resolve to make this year… Shift your default setting from "Keep…

Before I launch into another year of productivity-enhancing suggestions and ideas, here's one thought that I hope you take to heart. My eTips aim to help you to live and work with greater ease. They aren't trying to "fix" you because you aren't broken. When you feel frustrated at work,…

Happy New Year! I'm beginning my 21st year of writing weekly eTips and this one offers an unexpected approach to improving productivity… Casey's eTip: Cultivate Joy in 2024 The positive psychology movement is finally studying joy on a large scale. Turns out that we can cultivate it. We can find…

As the year winds down and the days get as short as they can be, now is a great time to shift focus to… Casey's eTip: Produce Joy and Peace Productivity isn't about squeezing the life out of every second or treating time like money. Time is much more valuable…

When I was in my 20s, I worked in a hospital and learned about "universal precautions." Since we never knew whether a patient had a contagious disease, we treated everyone with the care we would if we knew they did indeed need special care. Nowadays, especially this time of year,…

This holiday season, I encourage you to examine your list of things you "have to do" because you've always done them. It might be time to… Casey's eTip: End Your Obligation Streak Singer/songwriter Aimee Mann wrote: "And so, for the sake of momentum, I'm condemning the future to death so…

Are you someone who goes from one task-management method to another, trying to find what works for you only to discover that the constant change leaves you with no method at all? You're not alone! My recommendation is to… Casey's eTip: Stick to a System, Even an Imperfect One No…