Learn and Work Smarter

Katie Azevedo
  • 5.0 (22)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Whether you're a student or a working professional, the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast delivers the clarity, strategies, and encouragement you need to stay focused, organized, and on top of your tasks.  Hosted by Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.—a private executive function coach with 20 years of teaching experience and a deep background in ADHD and cognitive science—this show is your practical guide to building the real-life skills that school and work demand but rarely teach. Episodes cover a range of topics, including time management, productivity, studying smarter, focus strategies, task initiation, and executive function habits. Each topic is approached through a lens of neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and deep compassion. You’ll learn systems that are teachable, sustainable, and immediately actionable. No fluff. No hype. Just real strategies for getting things done, reducing stress, and showing up as the most capable version of yourself.

  1. 117. Building a Personal Operating System to Manage Information

    2D AGO

    117. Building a Personal Operating System to Manage Information

    The way I teach it, a personal operating system is a set of systems and routines we use to manage the information that comes at us all day long. Whether we're students or professionals, we're constantly bombarded with information we can ignore, information about tasks we need to act on, and information we might need in the future. And if we don't have a way to capture, track, and manage these bits of info during the day, we become overwhelmed, stressed out, and forgetful. That's why we need a personal operating system. In this episode, I teach you the four simple components of a good personal operating system and exactly how to set yours up today. What You Learn: The negative impact of being bombarded all day long with information you don’t want to forget, but always doWhat a personal operating system is and why exactly you need oneThe negative impact of NOT having a personal operating systemThe 4 components of a solid personal operating system2 real-life scenarios of personal operating systems in action (student and professional examples)Exactly how to set up your personal operating system and what step to begin with if you’re overwhelmed with the process🔗 Resources Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 5- How to Create a Task Management SystemEpisode 31 - How to Take Notes at MeetingsEpisode 28 - Tips for Organizing PapersEpisode 94 - How to Simplify Your Task Management SystemEpisode 102 - The Friday Review: A Weekly Habit for Calm Productivity❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube ✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    43 min
  2. 116. Understanding What You Read and How to Know If You're Performing Well at Work (Q&A)

    MAR 5

    116. Understanding What You Read and How to Know If You're Performing Well at Work (Q&A)

    You're putting in the work. You're doing the readings. You're showing up. So why does it still feel like you're missing the mark? In this month's Q&A episode, I'm answering two listener questions that are completely different on the surface, but have the same root issue. Question One is from a grad student who's annotating and highlighting every reading but still feels lost in class discussions Question Two is from someone two years into their first corporate job who keeps getting decent reviews but can't shake the feeling they're underperforming. Different situations. Same root problem. And today I'm giving you the strategies to solve it. What You Learn: The 3 levels of reading comprehension and why most students are stuck at level oneWhy annotation only works when it has a specific purpose (and how to set one)The two self-check questions to ask after every chunk of reading that will tell you exactly where your comprehension standsWhy "priming your mental schema" before you read dramatically improves how much you understandWhy the transition from school to work is harder than people give it credit for — and the cognitive distortion that makes it worseThe 4-question audit for collecting real data about your actual performanceHow to reverse-engineer the rubric your workplace will never hand youWhat a personal performance dashboard is and how to build one that  helps you self-evaluate over time 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 71 - Grad School OverloadEpisode 37 - How to Accept Feedback (and What to Do With It) ❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    38 min
  3. 115. How to Be Dangerous at School and Work (10 Traits of People Who Are Hard to Overwhelm)

    FEB 26

    115. How to Be Dangerous at School and Work (10 Traits of People Who Are Hard to Overwhelm)

    The most dangerous people in school and work aren't always the smartest in the room or the ones grinding the hardest. They're the ones who are steady, focused, and nearly impossible to knock off course. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I'm sharing 10 characteristics of people who are hard to overwhelm — and spoiler: underneath all 10 of them are really just four foundational concepts: how we manage our attention, whether we finish what we start, keeping our word, and acting from our values instead of our moods. This is a really important one. Grab your pens. What You Learn: Why dangerous people aren't the most talented, motivated, or hardest working4 foundational concepts underneath all 10 traitsHow dangerous people engineer focus Why clarity is the byproduct of action Why a packed calendar is not a sign of successWhat real resilience looks likeWhy waiting to feel motivated is holding you back🔗 Resources + Episodes Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 5 - Task ManagementEpisode 12 - How to Know If Your Systems Are BrokenEpisode 15 - Email ManagementEpisode 55 - Body DoublingEpisode 64 - How to Do Hard ThingsEpisode 72 - How to Finish Unfinished ProjectsEpisode 80 - Work SprintsEpisode 89 - Task Completion StrategiesEpisode 104 - Why Your Study Systems Don't Work❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterest✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    30 min
  4. 114. Working Late AGAIN? 5 Reasons Why You're Still at the Office that Have Nothing to Do With Workload

    FEB 19

    114. Working Late AGAIN? 5 Reasons Why You're Still at the Office that Have Nothing to Do With Workload

    It's 5 PM, everyone is leaving the office, but you’re staring at your to-do list thinking, “Oh my gosh, I’m going to be here all night.” When we regularly can’t get our work done within typical office hours, we’re quick to think it’s because we have too much work. And while that might sometimes be the case, usually there’s another reason (or 5) at play. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share the top 5 reasons you can never leave the office on time and what to do about it. Believe it or not, none of them have to do with work overload. What You Learn: Why staying late usually isn't about workloadThe 5 hidden operational mistakes adding hours to your dayHow poor task clarification costs you time and sanityThe real reason deep work doesn't happen until 6 PMHow to figure out if you genuinely have too much workSix strategies to fix your workflow and leave on time🔗 Resources + Episodes Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University: (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 3 - Admin Block SystemEpisode 18 - Batching StrategyEpisode 38 - How to Be a Resourceful Person Who Can Figure Things OutEpisode 45 - Are You Doing Too Much?❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterest✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    38 min
  5. 113. The 6-System Ecosystem for School and Work (And Why Working Harder Isn't Enough)

    FEB 12

    113. The 6-System Ecosystem for School and Work (And Why Working Harder Isn't Enough)

    Struggling to perform in school or work is rarely the result of just one missing skill. Sure, your procrastination tendencies might have to do with poor time management skills, but that's not the full picture.  Academic and professional success is the result of having a functioning ECOSYSTEM of skills that not only work by themselves but also interlock together. In other words, if even just one skill is weak or missing, the whole ecosystem collapses in on itself. There are 6 core systems to a healthy productivity ecosystem, and we break them all down in this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast. What You Learn: Why fixing just one productivity problem rarely leads to lasting improvementThe 6 interconnected systems that separate high performers from chronic strugglersHow weak skills create cascading failures across your entire workflowWhich system breakdowns cause the most common academic and professional struggles🔗 Resources + Episodes Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University: (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 92 - Your Kid Needs THESE SkillsEpisode 104 - 3 Reasons Your Study Methods Stopped Working❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterest✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    39 min
  6. 112. Office Transition Strategies and the Power of Color in Study Methods(Q&A)

    FEB 5

    112. Office Transition Strategies and the Power of Color in Study Methods(Q&A)

    In this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. Question 1: A working professional asks for tips as he transitions back to in-person office work after years of working from home. Question 2: A student asks about the benefits of using color (specifically colored index cards) in his study methods. What You Learn: The reality of returning to office work, and why trying to recreate your home setup is setting yourself up for frustrationThe simple boundary-setting script that trains colleagues to respect your focus time without you having to explain yourself or seem difficultWhy you should bring a desk lamp to the office (yes, really)... plus other unexpected items that can transform a sterile workspaceThe truth about colored flashcards: when color theory actually helps memory and when you're just adding cognitive load for no reasonWhy your study method isn't working (hint: the structure isn't the strategy, and most students confuse the two)🔗 Resources + Episodes Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University: (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 94 - Simplifying Task Management and Staying Focused despite DistractionsEpisode 03 - How to Use an Admin Block for Increased Productivity❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterest✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    24 min
  7. 111. What to Do When You Don't Like Your Boss or Teacher

    JAN 29

    111. What to Do When You Don't Like Your Boss or Teacher

    ALL relationships are hard. But the hardest ones are those we can't avoid, like at school and work.  In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we dive into the reality that sometimes we don't like our boss or our teacher. Whether it's a personality clash or differences in communication, sometimes people just aren't compatible. But what do we do when we don't like our boss or teacher? We can't avoid them or ignore them... that just makes things worse...so, again, what do we do? Don't worry: I've got you covered with tips, strategies, and some sneaky little mindset hacks to tolerate those teachers and bosses you don't like.  What You Learn: Why identifying the specific thing that bothers you about your teacher or boss changes everything (most people skip this step)The pattern recognition strategy that makes difficult authority relationships more manageable, even when you think they're being unreasonable (and even when you’re so obviously right)How to protect your grades, job performance, and future options without compromising your values or losing your identityThe biggest mistakes people make when dealing with teachers or bosses they don't like (and why these tempting approaches backfire)Practical tactics for getting through the really hard days when you REALLY can’t stand your teacher or boss🔗 Resources + Episodes Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University: (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 60 - How to Handle Workplace Conflict (with HR expert Jessica Alvarez)Episode 46 - How to Be Professional❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterest✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    38 min
  8. 110. How to Think: Why It's Hard, Why It Matters, and How to Do It in an AI World

    JAN 22

    110. How to Think: Why It's Hard, Why It Matters, and How to Do It in an AI World

    Thinking is supposed to be hard. It's supposed to be messy and fragmented and dead-endy. It's supposed to make us feel vulnerable and like we don't know the answer, the solution, or the idea. That's the nature of thinking. It's SUPPOSED to be that way. But more than ever, I see students and professionals quit the thinking process before they've even begun it. They outsource their thinking to AI, falling victim to the ridiculous idea that a faster answer is better than the one you came up with yourself. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I dive deep into something we could all use a masterclass in: how to think. We talk about what it's supposed to look like (in our heads and in writing), why it's hard, and a whole bunch of strategies and frameworks to make thinking easier and encourage your thoughts to flow. No AI needed (or invited to the party in the first place. humph.). What You Learn: Why thinking is supposed to feel uncomfortable, messy, and slow, and how this discomfort is a sign you're doing it rightThe real danger of outsourcing your thinking to AI, including recent studies showing actual brain atrophy in people who use it regularly (!!)Tool-based strategies for externalizing your thoughts and organizing them on paperSpace-based strategies that create ideal conditions for breakthrough ideas and deeper problem-solvingHow to give yourself permission to sit in the "I don't know" phase long enough to generate something original instead of copping out with generic AI slopAnd most importantly: why you need to care about this. Seriously. You need to care.Resources Mentioned: Episode website with transcript⭐SchoolHabits University: (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐The College Note-Taking Power System (CollegeNoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode 67 - The Case for Critical Thinking, with Professor Mark MassaroHow to Do a Mind Map✏️Get my $47 Note-Taking Course: collegenotetakingsystem.com Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com. Subscribe on YouTube(@LearnAndWorkSmarter) Connect on Instagram (@SchoolHabits) Connect on Facebook (SchoolHabitsKatie)

    35 min
See All (117)

Trailer

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Whether you're a student or a working professional, the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast delivers the clarity, strategies, and encouragement you need to stay focused, organized, and on top of your tasks.  Hosted by Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.—a private executive function coach with 20 years of teaching experience and a deep background in ADHD and cognitive science—this show is your practical guide to building the real-life skills that school and work demand but rarely teach. Episodes cover a range of topics, including time management, productivity, studying smarter, focus strategies, task initiation, and executive function habits. Each topic is approached through a lens of neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and deep compassion. You’ll learn systems that are teachable, sustainable, and immediately actionable. No fluff. No hype. Just real strategies for getting things done, reducing stress, and showing up as the most capable version of yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Azevedo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Learn and Work Smarter
  • Show Website
    Learn and Work Smarter