The Productivity Show

Asian Efficiency

Asian Efficiency is the leading website on time management and productivity. Learn how to be efficient, get things done (GTD), and stay motivated.

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24 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes24

Newest first

Wednesday · 7 min
Your 10-Minute Habit That Ends the Chaos
Does your to-do list go off the rails before lunch? For fast-moving professionals in high-growth environments, the plan you make at 8am can be obsolete by 9. New clients, broken systems, back-to-back meetings — the day hijacks your priorities, and by 5pm you’re taking the laptop home just to catch up on the work you meant to do hours ago. In this encore episode, we share the simple skill that pulls order out of that chaos, and it’s the difference between feeling perpetually behind and staying on top of your game. If you’ve ever ended a busy day wondering where all your time went, this one’s worth ten minutes. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Upwork 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!
Monday · 48 min
AI Is Boosting Productivity, But Only for the Fluent (TPS623)
Most people think the gap is between those who use AI and those who don’t. It’s not. The real gap is between people who are AI-curious and people who are AI-fluent. In this episode, we break down the three levels of AI fluency—from casual assistance to workflows to autonomous agents—and show you exactly why access to AI isn’t the advantage. Fluency is. Learn the framework that separates people getting massive productivity gains from those stuck at square one. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet The productivity gap nobody’s talking about — and it’s not access [2:00] Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50] The answer that made people swear off AI for good [6:45] The accountant who’d never opened a terminal, and the demo that flipped a skeptical senior dev [10:36] Assistant, workflow, agent: the three-level map that shows exactly where you’re stuck [19:29] The two-word question that beats hours of Googling “how do I…” [26:17] The “wedge” that turns an AI skeptic into someone who calls Claude their best friend [34:47] Why measuring AI adoption by token spend backfires — plus the Ford layoff cautionary tale [42:49] Links Upwork DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off Even Realities — promo code TPS Masterclass — at least 15% off annual membership 25X Productivity Coaching Recomendo newsletter Worse on Purpose Lenny’s Podcast — Building the most AI-pilled engineering team (Fiona Fung) Apple Sports Claude Claude Design OpenAI Codex Productivity Academy 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!
July 22 · 7 min
You Are Drowning in Micro-Decisions
Decision fatigue is not about mental collapse. It is about subtle quality decay. The more choices your day demands, the more likely you are to procrastinate, default, or choose what is easy instead of what matters. Here are three rules to stop it. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Use promo code TPS at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Even Realities (Even G2) 25X Productivity Coaching Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy 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!
July 20 · 47 min
Break These Productivity Rules (If They’re Not Working) (TPS622)
Should you really eat that frog first thing every morning? We aren’t so sure, and in this encore episode, we’re throwing out four pieces of productivity advice so widely repeated that most people follow them without ever asking whether they actually work. From the classics to the modern assumptions, we make the case that some of the most popular productivity wisdom might be quietly holding you back. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass: Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:31] Why the early risers really win — and the “time arbitrage” idea behind it [5:17] The “crazy” one-day meeting fix that gave back the whole week [11:16] What actually happened after every meeting moved to Wednesday [17:00] The productivity lever nobody in this industry talks about [24:12] No budget? How to buy back time when you’re starting from zero [35:00] The take that might get Brooks fired: skip eating the frog [39:56] Links Masterclass Even Realities HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching Grailed Daylio Snapseed 8 Strategies for Waking Up Early and Becoming a Morning Person (TPS130) Scaling Up by Verne Harnish 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) TaskRabbit Instacart Whole Foods Market Bodybuilding.com WebMD How I Spend $5,000/Month to Win Back Time Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy Erin Chase — $5 Dinners Structuring the Day and Week w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) 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!
July 15 · 9 min
AI Meeting Assistants: Stop Transcribing and Start Saving Time
Most AI meeting assistants create transcripts, but few actually save time. We rank the top tools like Otter, Fireflies, and Fathom based on ruthless practicality. Learn how to automate your follow-up, reclaim 10 to 20 hours a week, and close deals faster by eliminating post-meeting admin work. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop 25X Productivity Coaching Otter Fireflies Fathom Zoom AI Companion Granola Read AI Lindy Todoist Attio 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!
July 13 · 45 min
Rethinking Email, Focus & Doing Less w/ Ari Meisel (TPS621)
How many good decisions do you actually have in you each day? Ari Meisel says the answer is about two dozen — which means your inbox, with its thousands of tiny choices, is quietly bankrupting you before lunch. In this encore conversation, the founder of Less Doing joins us to reframe email as a decision-making problem rather than a communication one, and to explain why he’s replaced almost all of his messaging with asynchronous voice. He shares how he runs a coaching business, closes sales, and stays close with far-flung friends without a single call on his calendar — and how those constraints made him more effective, not less. If you’re looking for genuinely unconventional ways to do less and get more done, this one’s worth your time. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:43] The diagnosis that cut an 18-hour workday down to one [4:05] Forget “eat the frog” — the prioritization rule most people miss [6:32] Why your inbox isn’t an email problem at all [11:11] How he closed a $1,500 sale in 8 minutes of voice notes [19:40] Drowning in a new inbox? The four-times-speed fix [26:10] The hospital night that turned him into a data geek [34:59] The one non-negotiable he wishes he’d started sooner [40:35] Where to find Ari [44:39] Links DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off your first order Mint Mobile Keeper — 60% off personal and family plans 25X Productivity Coaching Voxer Smart Nora Emergency by Neil Strauss Less Doing Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy Double Double by Cameron Herold Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold Oura Ring Levels Dexcom Viome 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!
July 8 · 8 min
Focus Isn’t the Problem You Think It Is
Why did reading twenty books a year suddenly become impossible? Thanh used to fly through books and podcasts without a second thought — until his ability to concentrate quietly started slipping away, and no amount of blocking notifications or silencing his phone fixed it. The distraction wasn’t coming from his devices. It was coming from inside his own head. In this encore episode, Thanh breaks down what actually happened, the strange mix of experiments he ran to fix it, and the concept of attention management that came out the other side — a shift in thinking that helped him concentrate for 90 minutes or more at a stretch. If you’ve noticed your own focus fading and assumed it was just a willpower problem, this episode makes the case that it isn’t. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Keeper Security 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!
July 6 · 45 min
The Subtraction Strategy: Why Removing Friction Beats Adding Goals Every Time (TPS620)
Most productivity advice tells you to add: more goals, more apps, more habits, more trackers, more systems. But what if the fastest path to better results isn’t adding anything at all—it’s subtraction? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks explore why removing friction beats adding motivation, and how a subtraction audit can transform your productivity faster than any new resolution. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Shopify: Own your customer relationships. Own your revenue. Start with a free trial at shopify.com/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:37] The weekly review question that uncovers hidden hours you didn’t know you had [7:24] The one-inbox rule that made it easier to capture — and actually find — ideas later [11:24] The new device ritual both hosts use to make every app earn its place back [21:44] The 15-minutes-a-day method that makes decluttering actually stick [29:40] Why “maybe” is just another way of saying no [35:45] The AI side effect that quietly cancelled Thanh’s app subscriptions [38:50] Links Shopify Keeper Security Even Realities 25X Productivity Coaching Obsidian Web Clipper Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman OmniFocus Drafts Evernote Things DEVONthink Mike Vardy OpenAI Codex NAPO Hell Yeah or No — Derek Sivers (article) Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers David Sparks / MacSparky 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!
July 1 · 8 min
One Wish vs. a Thousand: A Lesson on Health and Happiness
When was the last time you actually counted how many wishes you have? In this episode, Thanh unpacks a line that’s stuck with him for years: when we’re sick, we only want one thing back, but when we’re healthy, we have a thousand wishes. That idea comes from one of the most-gifted books in his library, built on interviews with people near the end of their lives about the lessons they wanted to pass on — and it reshaped how Thanh thinks about productivity itself. Thanh breaks down why relationships, purpose, and health are the real foundation of happiness, and why optimizing for happiness, not just output, is what actually makes us more productive. He also shares the simple gratitude practice he uses every morning to keep this front of mind. It’s a quick, honest reminder that no task on your list is worth sacrificing the people and moments that matter most. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans Productivity Academy 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!
June 29 · 54 min
Decision Fatigue: Why Every Choice Drains You (And the 3 Rules to Stop It) (TPS619)
Ever find yourself staring at your to-do list at 3 PM, unable to decide what to do next? Or ordering the same lunch every day because choosing feels impossible? You are not bad at follow-through. You are drowning in micro-decisions. Decision fatigue isn’t a dramatic mental collapse. It’s a subtle quality decay that creeps in as your day accumulates choices—each one nibbling away at your capacity to judge, prioritize, and choose well. By the time you hit the afternoon, you’re not lazy. You’re depleted. In this episode, we break down what decision fatigue actually feels like (hint: it’s not what the pop-psych headlines say), where it comes from, and the three rules that stop it cold: decide once, decide earlier, decide smaller. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:39] The decision-fatigue study you’ve heard a hundred times — and why it might be wrong [6:23] Why AI doesn’t reduce your decisions — it concentrates them [10:38] Brooks’s podcast confession about what he wears every day [18:19] The simple rule that stops your team from asking ‘can I do this?’ [25:32] The one hour a week Thanh blocks off just to think [27:43] The 70-document folder that makes Thanh’s AI know him better [38:02] The 3-step way to make any AI actually know you [42:15] The ‘lower the altitude’ trick for decisions that feel too big to make [47:37] This week’s challenge: find the one decision you keep making over and over [53:01] Links Masterclass HomeServe Keeper Even Realities 25X Productivity Coaching Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote AirPods Max Eight Sleep Oura Ring TEA Framework Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish The Perfect Bar Claude Wispr Flow Getting Things Done (GTD) 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!
June 24 · 8 min
Summer Reset Framework: How To Be Productive in June-Aug With 3 Tips
If your brain feels weird in summer, it is not a character flaw. It is a systems mismatch. Learn why your brain works differently in June than January and how to use the Summer Reset framework to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks to the hottest parts of the day. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop 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!
June 22 · 50 min
AI Meeting Assistants Ranked: Which Actually Save Time (And Which Are Hype) (TPS618)
Most AI meeting assistants save notes, but fewer actually save time. In this episode, we move past the hype to rank tools like Otter, Fireflies, Fathom, and Zoom AI Companion based on ruthless practicality. We evaluate them to help you find the one that reliably removes post-meeting work rather than just creating prettier transcripts. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:01] The meeting where AI bots outnumbered the actual humans [5:32] Why some meeting organizers are now blocking AI notetakers outright [8:16] The strange email problem you get when your AI drafts everything for you [12:03] The one popular meeting assistant that never actually joins your call [22:39] How your action items could update your task list without you lifting a finger [25:16] How one offhand story in a meeting becomes content gold automatically [32:10] The one type of meeting where an AI assistant is a bad idea [40:45] The parking-lot trick people use to hide that their smart glasses are recording [47:45] The 15-minute fix that could save you months of repeated meetings [50:03] Links DripDrop Claude Keeper Even Realities 25X Productivity Coaching How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer TextSniper Tech Brew Ride Home Lindy Otter Fireflies Fathom Granola MacWhisper Zapier Make 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!
June 17 · 9 min
The Energy Audit: How to Reclaim Your Vitality (TPS617W)
Stop managing time and start managing energy. Learn how to identify the physical, mental, and emotional drains killing your productivity. We explore the Energy Audit framework, sleep hygiene, and recovery rituals to help you rebuild capacity and perform at your peak. Discover why vitality is the real secret to getting things done without burning out. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Claude.ai/tps 25X Productivity Coaching Pomodoro Technique TEA Framework SXSW Clearing to Neutral 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!
June 15 · 45 min
The Summer Reset: How Your Brain Works Differently (And What to Do About It) (TPS617)
If your brain feels “off” in July, it’s not a character flaw—it’s a systems mismatch. Summer changes the biological inputs your brain responds to: more daylight, intense heat, and schedule volatility. In this episode, we break down the science of why your January operating system fails in July and share a Summer Reset framework to redesign your workflow around seasonal reality. Learn how to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks strategically to stay productive without the guilt. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:11] Why your January productivity system quietly breaks every summer [5:45] The kid factor and the coworker factor: two things that derail even disciplined summers [7:28] The underappreciated reason you can’t think straight when it’s hot outside [16:21] The backlog season: when your someday-maybe list finally becomes your to-do list [21:06] The case for “chill goals” and giving yourself grace when summer disrupts your plans [24:49] The counterintuitive time to buy winter clothes (and other summer spending moves) [34:21] The friend you only see in summer — and what that says about your seasonal schedule [38:17] Lighter rum, bigger ice cubes, and the one routine tweak to try this summer [43:34] Links Shopify Mint Mobile Claude Keeper Security 25X Productivity Coaching Dell UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U5226KW) BetterDisplay Anker Laptop Power Bank, 25,000mAh TEA Framework Eisenhower Matrix 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!
June 10 · 9 min
The Case for Strategic Laziness
How is it possible that doing less could make you more productive? It sounds like a contradiction, but the truth is most of us are grinding through the day in a way that’s quietly working against us — skipping breaks, ignoring hunger, running on empty — and calling it discipline. It’s not. It’s just exhaustion with good PR. In this encore episode, we make the case for building intentional renewal into your day — not as a luxury, but as a performance strategy. From 10-second micro breaks to the surprisingly powerful nap, you’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to recharge without losing your flow. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is strategically stop. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Upwork 25X Productivity Coaching 25X Productivity System Pomodoro Technique 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!
June 8 · 52 min
When AI Makes You Less Productive: 7 Warning Signs (TPS616)
Is AI actually saving you time, or just creating a productivity mirage? In this episode, we explore the “jagged technological frontier” and identify 7 warning signs that your AI tools are quietly increasing the drag on your work. From “workslop” to the verification trap, we break down how to ensure AI remains a force multiplier rather than a place to hide. Learn the AE rule for subtracting friction and audit your workflow for real results. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:59] How AI turned a devoted monotasker into someone juggling 8 simultaneous agent terminals [10:09] The 80/10/10 rule that reframes whether you still need to single-task in the AI era [19:46] The automation trap: why jumping to AI before you’ve done something yourself is a mistake [24:39] The silent credibility killer in your AI-generated content (that no one will tell you about) [28:14] A simple habit that makes AI-drafted emails sound like you actually wrote them [34:51] Flipping the lens: where AI actually earns its keep [41:52] The “one tweak at a time” method that beats building a big AI workflow from scratch [42:24] The prompting move that makes AI interview you instead of the other way around [46:09] Getting polished motion graphics from AI when you have zero visual instincts [48:37] Links Masterclass Upwork Even Realities G2 25X Productivity Coaching Center Stage (Apple’s camera framing feature) Lungo Amphetamine Setapp Open: An Autobiography — Andre Agassi Claude ChatGPT Gemini OpenAI Codex Claude Code OmniFocus Alfred 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!
June 3 · 7 min
Find Your Life Leverage and Finally Focus
How much of your to-do list actually requires you? Most people grind through endless tasks without pausing to ask that question — and it’s costing them their focus, energy, and joy in their work. In this encore episode, we introduce the concept of “life leverage”: a simple but powerful filter for identifying the tasks that only you can do, and letting go of everything else. Once you find your life leverage, delegation stops feeling like a luxury and starts feeling obvious. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com — promo code: TPS Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off your first order 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!
June 1 · 46 min
The “Have It All” Trap (And How to Escape It) (TPS615)
Does your work calendar bleed into your personal life? Do your personal tasks creep into your workday? You’re not disorganized — you’re caught in the “have it all” trap: the belief that keeping everything together means staying on top of everything. It doesn’t. It just means everything competes for your attention, all the time. In this encore episode, we break down four practical strategies for separating work and personal productivity — so you can actually be present at work when you’re working, and present at home when you’re not. If you’ve ever felt like you’re always half-focused on two things instead of fully focused on one, this episode is your way out. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com — use promo code tps Get 60% off personal and family plans at keepersecurity.com/TPS Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:28] Why keeping everything “together” is quietly wrecking your focus [3:26] The counterintuitive first move: cut before you organize [6:54] How to stop tasks and information from falling through the cracks [22:28] Build a system that makes distraction nearly impossible [32:24] Why “balance” is a trap — and what to pursue instead [41:10] Links Shopify DripDrop — promo code tps Keeper Security 25X Productivity Coaching LegalShield Fantastical TripMode OmniFocus BusyCal Postbox Mailplane Spark Drafts Field Notes Instacart TaskRabbit Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein TPS241 — Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year TPS242 — 4 Tools to Automate Your Technology and Save 100+ Hours a Year TPS282 — Web Automation: The Easiest Way to Be More Productive Online Why You Need to Color-Code Your Calendar — Asian Efficiency 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!
May 27 · 9 min
How to Get Your Best Work Done Without Working Harder
When’s the last time you felt totally locked in? Ideas flowing, focus sharp, getting more done in two hours than you normally do all day? That feeling isn’t random luck. It’s your biology working in your favor, and you can engineer it to happen on purpose. Your brain runs on a predictable 24-hour energy cycle, and most people are unknowingly scheduling their hardest work during their worst hours. Peak positioning is the simple strategy of mapping your most important tasks to the moments when your mind is naturally at its sharpest. In this encore episode, we break down the science behind your daily energy peaks and valleys, and you’ll discover a dead-simple formula to find yours — no fancy gear required. Once you know your pattern, everything changes. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching RISE Science app TEA Framework (Time, Energy, Attention) — Asian Efficiency 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!
May 25 · 55 min
The Productivity Stack: Apps and Tools We Actually Use Every Day (TPS614)
Discover the real-world productivity stack the Asian Efficiency team relies on daily. We move beyond the hype to explore how tools should support your systems, not create overhead. Learn our criteria for choosing apps by role, when simple tools beat complex ones, and our specific recommendations for capture, task management, calendars, and automation. Whether you’re looking to audit your setup or simplify your workflow, this episode provides concrete examples of what works, what we abandoned, and how to build a stack that supports your time, energy, and attention. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29] The first category of apps about to be replaced by your AI chat window [7:17] The hidden feature that decides which apps survive the AI era [10:44] The boring task an Atlassian button quietly killed for Brooks [14:26] Brooks’s surprising “central hub” for everything he does — and it isn’t his task manager [20:52] Why Thanh ditched his task app for a spreadsheet (and let agents work the board) [25:37] The beautiful little app Thanh thinks AI is about to eat [30:55] The password manager trick that lets AI agents log in for you [35:48] The “tried and true” apps still earning their place after the AI takeover [37:32] The drag-and-drop trick that ended Brooks’s AppleScript problem for good [45:12] Why Codex might be a quietly great choice for desktop automation [47:43] The apps we’d build tomorrow if we had a free weekend [50:39] Inside the “mission control” dashboard Thanh built to fire off agents with one click [51:57] Links HomeServe Claude Keeper Upwork 25X Productivity Coaching Mike Vardy Wispr Flow Elgato Stream Deck Pedal Granola MyFitnessPal Lose It OmniFocus Todoist Lindy Atlassian Rovo Obsidian Fantastical Airtable OpenClaw Hermes Agent Evernote Soulver OpenAI Realtime Day One TextExpander Spotify Tailscale NordVPN Jump Desktop HomeControl Menu for HomeKit Elgato Stream Deck Keyboard Maestro Setapp Bartender Dropzone OpenAI Codex 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!

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