Theme System Journal

Productivity Lab is going on hiatus. Kyle and Mark are taking a much needed break for some rest, relaxation, and to focus on other life projects. As with all, things can get very hectic, so you have to remember when to take some time away for yourself. Productivity isn’t about […]

Do you like journals? You know we do! In this episode, we will be taking a look at the Theme System Journal from Cortex. We talk about themes, so how does this work? Dive into this episode to find out what Kyle and Mark think about the journal and how […]

Coming off a holiday break, the duo talks about long breaks. What is a long break for you? A week? Two weeks? Maybe three months? We all need them, but we don’t all get them. Join Kyle and Mark as they discuss what long breaks mean to them and how […]

Another year another round of themes complete. Themes are an important framework for us here at The Productivity Lab. Unlike resolutions, a theme is more flexible and functions more as a guiding star than a solid goal. Themes, unlike resolutions, are (nearly) impenetrable to failure which is why we love […]

It’s finally here! Often discussed, finally reviewed: Deep Work by Cal Newport. Deep Work is “the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.” In this episode, Kyle and Mark dive into a “deep” discussion about the purpose of the book, its philosophies and strategies. Is “Deep Work” […]

Planning is essential for getting stuff done, some would say it’s just as important as doing. In this episode, Kyle & Mark share their current systems for planning, from the tools they use to their planning philosophies. From Todoist to Trello, from daily planning to year-long projects, learn how the […]

Often talked about, never reviewed, Kyle and Mark bring the Readwise App into the lab for a review. Do you love reading? Are you a writer? A researcher? A lover of saving all things written? This app may be just for you. Join us as we discuss the app and […]

Welcome to our first exclusive episode of The Productivity Lab where we draw inspiration not from the web or books, but from each other. As mentioned in the Our (Strange) Habits episode Kyle has a rather unique approach to managing his projects. By combining the rotating priority board mentioned in […]

How about writing three full pages every morning after you wake up? In this episode, Kyle and Mark review the practice of writing morning pages, a practice started by author Julia Cameron. Will Kyle actually hand write his morning pages every morning? Will emptying their mind ready them for the […]

What sets the professional from the amateur? How does one go from being a novice to being an expert? How can you make sure you’re giving it your all? These are the questions Seth Godin poses in his book The Practice: Shipping Creative Work. In the book, Seth talks about […]