I feel like 2025 asked a lot of us. In fairness, every year does, because life is going to “life” us. But I suspect I’m not alone when I say this past year asked us to stretch and adapt more than usual, and to keep showing up even when things felt uncertain, heavy, or simply exhausting.
And that’s why throughout this year, I’ve encouraged you to rethink what productivity even means. Because when life is happening in real time—when you’re caregiving, navigating health challenges, parenting, running a business, or just trying to be a human in a very loud and busy world—adding more pressure to be “productive” is a fast track to burnout.
As I look back on the conversations we had on this podcast in 2025, what stands out to me most isn’t any single tip or tool. It’s that we talked about productivity in a way that honors real life. We talked about productivity that works even when schedules aren’t ideal and conditions aren’t perfect… because when will they ever be?
So for this final episode of the year, I want to recap our conversations by sharing my favorite productivity tips for real life: the themes that came up again and again, the lessons that kept resurfacing, and the reminders I hope you carry with you into the next year and beyond.
And as we go, I’ll be sure to mention supporting episodes so you can explore the topics that resonate with you at your own pace. To make it simple, I’ve created a special playlist on the PODCAST page of the Positivelyproductive.com website called “2025 Recap List”.
When I look at everything we covered this year, these ideas weren’t just topics. They were patterns. And they showed up again and again because they matter, especially when life is full.
Productivity Has to Work for Real Life
One of the clearest messages of 2025 was this: productivity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It has to work for real life. That’s been my mantra for years because I know what it’s like to be in survival mode and to have life overtake me and mess up my well-intentioned plans to be productive.
We talked about caregiving, chronic illness, parenting, mental health, messy homes, and seasons where capacity is limited. And what became obvious is that if a productivity approach only works when life is calm, quiet, and predictable, it’s not actually helpful.
Real life is rarely tidy. And a truly effective productivity system must flex to meet you where you are.
This year reinforced that productivity isn’t about forcing yourself to function like someone else. It’s about designing support around your actual circumstances.
So if productivity feels hard right now, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It may simply mean the system you’re using doesn’t fit your energy, your responsibilities, and/or your season of life.
Supporting episodes:
- 251 – Advice for Caregivers to Make Medical Visits Easier
- 260 – Why Moms Need to Do Less
- 262 – Why You Must Care for the Caregiver
- 270 – No Cost Self-Care Tips for Chronic Illness
- 286 – When Doing It All Doesn’t Work
Your Nervous System Is Part of Your Productivity System
Another theme that kept coming up was the role of the nervous system.
We talked about stress, burnout, transitions, slowing down, and what happens when your body is constantly in survival mode. And the takeaway was clear: you can’t plan your way out of burnout. If your nervous system is overwhelmed, you must tend to that first. Even the best systems won’t work if your nervous system isn’t.
Productivity isn’t just cognitive. It’s physiological.
When your nervous system doesn’t feel safe or regulated, focus becomes harder, decisions feel heavier, and even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. Supporting your nervous system isn’t a luxury, it’s essential…it’s foundational.
That might look like building in pauses, honoring transitions between tasks, slowing your pace, or letting go of the idea that pushing harder is the answer.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is create a little more safety and space in your schedule.
Supporting episodes:
- 256 – 10 Tips to Help You Stress Less
- 257 – The Special Nerve That Helps with Stress
- 269 – How to Be Productive Without Burning Out
- 274 – Manage Your Time Better with Proper Transitions
- 279 – Why You Must Support Your Nervous System
- 291 – How Slowing Down Makes You More Productive
Systems Matter More Than Motivation or Willpower
Over and over again this year, we came back to systems.
Not rigid systems. Not complicated systems. But systems that support how you actually live and work.
Why systems? Because motivation is unreliable and willpower is finite. And when productivity depends on you “trying harder,” the result tends to be frustration and burnout.
Whether we’re talking about themes, time blocking, transitions, intentional scheduling, or self-care, the underlying message has been the same: your systems should work for you, not against you.
There’s a concept in productivity called “friction”, which is anything that makes work harder, slower, or more frustrating than necessary. As you can imagine, that drains your energy and makes you doing the thing far less likely. Good systems reduce friction. They make it easier to follow through without constant effort.
If something requires constant discipline to maintain, it may not be a personal failure. It may be a design issue. Be sure to check your system.
Supporting episodes:
- 245 – Themes: The Simple Time Management Trick You Need
- 254 – Time and Task Management Best Practices
- 273 – How to Make Time Blocking Fun
- 274 – Manage Your Time Better with Proper Transitions
- 281 – Why You Need a System for Self-Care
- 290 – End Overwhelm Through Intentional Scheduling
Doing Less Is Often the Most Productive Move
While it may feel counterintuitive, especially in a culture that celebrates doing more, the truth is that doing less is often the key to improved productivity.
One of the strongest lessons of the year was that doing less—intentionally—often leads to better outcomes.
We talked about stepping back, reducing overload, letting go of urgency, and recognizing when “doing it all” simply isn’t working. And again and again, the pattern was clear: clarity and efficiency come from creating space.
When you’re stretched too thin, everything feels urgent and nothing gets your best energy. Doing less isn’t about being lazy or giving up. It’s about choosing where your time, energy, and attention actually belong.
Instead of squeezing more in, you’re making room for what truly matters.
Supporting episodes:
- 252 – What to Do When Everything in Life Is Urgent
- 260 – Why Moms Need to Do Less
- 269 – How to Be Productive Without Burning Out
- 272 – Why Stepping Back Helps You Move Forward
- 286 – When Doing It All Doesn’t Work
- 292 – Finish Your Year Burnout Free
Shame Is the Biggest Productivity Block
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this year, it’s this: shame isn’t a motivator, it’s a block.
So many productivity struggles are fueled by guilt, self-criticism, and the feeling that you should be doing more, better, faster. And what we saw again and again is that shame leads to avoidance, burnout, and disconnection.
Compassion, on the other hand, creates clarity. It allows you to assess what’s working, what’s not, and what you actually need. Keeping judgment out of it allows for curiosity and creativity and that is where you can shine.
Shame-free productivity isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about creating an environment where progress is possible because you feel supported, not punished.
Supporting episodes:
- 250 – Shame-free Productivity: The Most Effective Way To Get Things Done
- 280 – How to Make Productivity Feel Good Again
- 282 – When Productivity Isn’t Good For You
- 286 – When Doing It All Doesn’t Work
- 289 – Where Your To-Do List Trips You Up
Presence Matters More Than Output
Another quiet but powerful theme this year was the idea that being present (showing up and making the effort consistently) matters far more than results.
We talked about intentionality, mindfulness, gratitude, and being present in small moments. And what emerged was this reminder: productivity without presence can feel empty, even when you’re getting things done.
Being productive isn’t just about outcomes. It’s about how you experience your life along the way.
Presence allows you to notice what’s enough, what’s meaningful, and what’s worth your energy. It helps you connect your productivity efforts to your real life for appreciation as well as achievement.
Supporting episodes:
- 247 – Why Being Intentional Is Essential to Be Productive
- 263 – Five Steps to Be Present Each Day
- 277 – How Your Morning Coffee Can Help You Practice Mindfulness
- 288 – How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happy
Small, Supportive Steps Create Real Change
The final and perhaps favorite reminder of this year is that real change rarely comes from dramatic overhauls; it comes from small, consistent steps.
We talked about habits, personality, finding your productive state, prioritization, and meeting yourself where you are. And the consistent message was that sustainable progress builds gradually.
You don’t have to fix everything at once. You don’t have to have a perfect plan. You just need the next kind step forward. It’s not only easier to achieve, it gives you the space to course correct and grow into change.
Small steps, taken consistently and compassionately, create momentum that lasts.
Supporting episodes:
- 265 – Finding Your Most Productive State
- 268 – Build Strong Habits Based on Your Personality
- 276 – How Small Steps Create Big Change
- 278 – 4 Effective Ways to Prioritize Tasks
Carrying These Lessons Forward
As you move toward a new year—or into a new chapter of your life—I invite you to carry these ideas with you:
- Let productivity work for your real life
- Support your nervous system
- Build systems that reduce effort
- Choose less, intentionally
- Release shame
- Stay present
- Take small, supportive steps
And if you’d like help putting these ideas into practice, I encourage you to check out the 2025 Recap playlist and to download my free Productivity Toolkit, a supportive resource for many of these topics. You can request it at positivelyproductive.com/plpkit.
Thank you for being here with me this year. Thank you for listening, reflecting, and showing up for these conversations. Thank you for reviewing the podcast and sharing your feedback with me. I’m so grateful to walk this path with you and excited to see what’s next.
Until next time, may I remind you to celebrate all you do and treat yourself kindly. You don’t need to do more to be productive and successful. You need to do what’s right for you with systems—and support—that honor you.
