The Productivity Show

Discover the “Fresh Start Effect” and how to use psychological clean slates to reset your habits. We explore Katy Milkman’s research on why Mondays and birthdays boost motivation, the hidden danger of resets for high performers, and how to mentally subdivide your day into chapters so one bad morning doesn’t ruin your entire day. Try Notion Custom Agents at notion.com/tps. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Links: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt. Notion Custom Agents 25X Productivity Coaching How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Is your productivity system feeling sluggish or overwhelmed? In this episode, we dive deep into how to reset and refresh your productivity system for 2026. We explore the “TEA Framework” (Time, Energy, Attention), the power of the GTD Weekly Review, and how to leverage AI-augmented workflows to move from reactive fire-fighting to proactive planning. Learn why recovery is your secret performance driver and how to design a system that actually makes you happy. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. https://try notion custom agents at notion.com/tps. Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership. Upgrade your denim game with Rag & Bone!. Get 20% off sitewide with code TPS at www.rag-bone.com #ragandbonepod. Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt. Top 3 Productivity Resources [01:14]. Brooks’ “new year” reset collides with the AI tool tidal wave—here’s what he’s testing [03:23]. Thanh’s reset “rhythm” [05:13]. Reactive vs proactive resets—plus the “mini email bankruptcy” move most people overlook [09:00]. The first step of any reset (hint: it’s not picking a new app) [16:29]. The most underrated reset —and why it works better than you think [18:23]. A reset for chronic tool-hoppers: the “commitment window” that restores calm fast [23:20]. A quick diagnostic checklist for time, energy, and attention—spot the bottleneck in minutes [24:43]. Reset pitfalls: the sneaky way “optimizing” can make everything worse (and the copying trap) [34:43]. Real story: vibe coding, skill bloat, and the one-at-a-time rebuild that actually sticks [40:04]. The reset mistake that backfires: changing your system without bringing your people along [44:08]. Links: MintMobile Notion Custom Agents Masterclass Rag & Bone 25X Productivity Coaching Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain Field Notes Notebooks Productivity Academy The Productivity Show on Youtube The Productivity Show Youtube Clips Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

How often do you start a task without knowing exactly what “finished” looks like? That single missing step quietly fuels procrastination, perfectionism, and hours of unnecessary work. Instead of making progress, tasks expand, standards keep shifting, and you’re left feeling busy—but not done. There’s a simple productivity habit that fixes this instantly: define your finish line before you begin. By clarifying your Definition of Done, setting time boundaries, and focusing on minimum effective effort, you’ll finish more, faster—and with far less stress. This episode introduces a practical method you can apply immediately to reclaim your time, sharpen your focus, and finally close the loop on the work that matters most. This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time. Links: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt. 25X Productivity Coaching If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

AI in 2026 is shifting from flashy demos to quiet, persistent leverage. In this episode, we explore how AI is becoming an always-on assistant that manages projects, goals, and reduces decision fatigue. We dive into the reality of personal AI agents, multi-agent systems, and memory-based personalization that free up your time and energy. Learn how to use AI to design a calmer, more effective way of working and living. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt. Top 3 Productivity Resources [01:48]. Episode 600 goes “next level”: what’s genuinely possible with AI in early 2026 [04:32]. The fast mental model for AI’s jump from “helper” to “proactive teammate” [06:42]. The moment AI hits “no guardrails” and starts solving problems you didn’t assign it [11:20]. “Skills” and tool-calling: the simple idea behind AI getting real-world superpowers [14:09]. OpenClaw explained like you’re new—plus the weird reason everyone’s buying Mac Minis [23:19]. Why a “24/7 assistant” could erase entire categories of SaaS overnight [28:23]. If information isn’t the moat anymore… what actually is? (and what this means for your career) [30:54]. The security reality check: what can go wrong when your AI can touch everything [33:03]. Prompt injection: the sneaky attack vector most people aren’t thinking about yet [37:40]. Why it still might be worth paying attention—even if you never install anything [38:53]. A real, tiny workflow win that saves clicks, tabs, and decision fatigue instantly [39:59]. A minimal e-ink “terminal” that turns your day into a glanceable dashboard [43:20]. “Vibe coding” from Slack: describe an app, watch it appear (and actually do work) [44:00]. Turning your saved articles into a private daily podcast—without an API (somehow) [47:58]. The meta-skill underneath all of it: curiosity as a productivity multiplier [54:18]. How to keep up without drowning: creators to follow + a “year of side quests” approach [56:54]. Links: Shopify DripDrop Gusto 25X Productivity Coaching Wispr Flow Lindy OpenClaw Manus TRMNL Vercel Rick Mulready Youtube Enovair Youtube Lovable Replit Productivity Academy The Productivity Show on Youtube The Productivity Show Youtube Clips Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Learn why the fastest path to behavior change isn’t willpower… it’s copying the specific tactics of people already succeeding. Thanh shares Katy Milkman’s Copy & Paste strategy and how a simple borrowed habit transformed his team’s energy. Discover how to find your own playbook and accelerate your results this week. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tps Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Links: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt. Claude How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman 25X Productivity Coaching If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!