Posts by Michael Earls
Sticky Notes & Strategy: How I Use Post-its for Action Now and a Notepad for Action Later
A simple system to fight distraction, refocus fast, and get things done without the inbox overwhelm. Every productivity system I’ve ever loved shares one common trait: clarity. Whether it’s a revamped Outlook folder setup, a 168-hour weekly time map, or my morning espresso-fueled calendar review, if it helps me see what matters now versus later, I’m in. Lately,…
Read MoreNew Habits, New Half: How to Stay Productive While Working From Home
The year’s halfway over—but your most productive self might just be getting started. We’re officially halfway through the year. For some, like those of us at Microsoft, July marks the start of a brand-new fiscal year—a time to reset, reflect, and refocus. Whether your company is flipping the calendar or not, this is a great…
Read MoreCelebrate the 4th of July + the Moments That Matter
The 4th of July is a celebration of independence and a reminder to pause. To breathe. To laugh with friends. To watch the fireworks without holding your phone up the whole time. To be present—because life moves fast, and if we don’t stop to enjoy it, it will pass us by. We get 168 hours each week.…
Read MoreOne Month In: How Outlook Folders + Microsoft Copilot Transformed My Workflow
About a month ago, I decided to take control of my inbox. I paired a new Outlook folder structure—Action, Read Later, Waiting On, and Archive, with Outlook Rules and Microsoft Copilot. Honestly, that first week felt like I was adding complexity to my already chaotic workflow, too many folders, rules, and decisions. But I gave…
Read MoreWhat’s your daily ritual?Coffee, Calendars, and Craft: How a Daily Ritual Became a Source of Joy (and ROI)What’s your daily ritual?
Let’s talk about coffee, not just as a beverage but as a practice + a pause, a ritual, a spark of curiosity that’s quietly changed my mornings, my mindset, and, yes… even my meetings. For me, coffee isn’t just caffeine. It’s a connection to time, place, people, and myself. Calendar-Controlled Coffee Time It started with a…
Read MoreTime Management Tricks That Actually Work (Because Your Calendar is Lying to You)
Let’s be honest: your calendar isn’t managing your time — it’s just logging everyone else’s priorities. If your day looks like this: Then you’re not bad at time management. You’re just managing time in a world that’s rigged against it. Shift your mindset from “How much can I get done?” to “What’s worth doing?” Before we jump…
Read MoreBreaking Free from the Infinite Workday
I read a recent piece from Morning Brew titled Employees Are Imprisoned in an Infinite Workday, and it hit hard. The headline alone says it all:We’re not just working more—we’re working always. There’s no clear line between “on” and “off” anymore.Emails hit our phones at dinner. Teams pings interrupt workouts. Vacations come with disclaimers: “I’ll be offline… but reachable.” We…
Read MoreThe Morning Hour That Changed Everything
Over the past year, I’ve shared a lot about time management—from managing inbox chaos to owning your calendar, learning to say no, and most recently, reframing your week around the 168 hours we all get. That last one hit a nerve. People were surprised to realize that even with a full-time job, sleep, and family…
Read MoreYou Don’t Have 24 Hours. You Have 168.
I recently read this article by Jeff Haden, and it completely reframed how I think about time. We’re all given 168 hours each week. The difference isn’t who has more. It’s how we use it. Instead of thinking about my days, I’ve started thinking in weekly energy blocks: I didn’t believe it at first, either. But when…
Read MoreCleaning Up My Inbox Changed My Day
Email is where productivity goes to die + unless you build a system that works for you. As someone who toggles between Outlook/M365 and Apple Mail across devices, I lived in chaos. Emails would disappear, rules wouldn’t sync, and I never felt “caught up.” I knew something had to change. Here’s what helped: Now, I…
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