The Productivity Lab Mark & Kyle

Productivity Lab is going on hiatus. Kyle and Mark are taking a much needed break for some rest, relaxation, and to focus on other life projects. As with all, things can get very hectic, so you have to remember when to take some time away for yourself. Productivity isn’t about how much you can do—it’s about how you’re being intentional with your time.







We’ll be gone for a few weeks, but if you miss us, you can always replay a few past episodes to check out a challenge or a book you’ve been thinking about. Or you can take this as your own productivity signal and slow down. Enjoy a book, a walk in the park, some coffee or tea. Enjoy the process and not the outcome.







Until next time, stay productive.







-MarkP.S. Illustration by Mark (@askmarkio)







More from The Productivity Lab







* TheProductivityLab.show* Follow us on Twitter @ProductiveLab* Check us out on Instagram @ProductiveLab







More from Mark & Kyle







* Mark’s personal website: askmark.io* Mark’s Instagram & Twitter* Mark’s fortnightly newsletter: The [Input|Output]’s of Mark* Kyle’s personal website: quadrantnine.net* Kyle’s fortnightly newsletter: Dispatches from Quadrant Nine* Kyle’s Instagram & Twitter







Credits







Logo & BrandingDesign for The Productivity Lab is provided by Adam Dodson DesignsMusic“Getting it Done” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Do you like journals? You know we do! In this episode, we will be taking a look at the Theme System Journal from Cortex. We talk about themes, so how does this work? Dive into this episode to find out what Kyle and Mark think about the journal and how they use it in their daily lives. All of this and more in this episode of the Productivity Lab.







Resources and Fun Stuff:







* 2022 Themes – TPL* Cortex Podcast* TheThemeSystem.com* The Pen Addict* Strange Habits – TPL* CGP Grey’s Video on how he uses his journal* Common Place Book* The Daily Stoic* Stoic Week – TPL* UgMonk* Exist* Exist Review – TPL* Almond Blossom by van Gogh* PARA Method







More from The Productivity Lab







* TheProductivityLab.show* Follow us on Twitter @ProductiveLab* Check us out on Instagram @ProductiveLab







More from Mark & Kyle







* Mark’s personal website: askmark.io* Mark’s Instagram & Twitter* Mark’s fortnightly newsletter: The [Input|Output]’s of Mark* Kyle’s personal website: a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.quadrantnine.

Coming off a holiday break, the duo talks about long breaks.What is a long break for you? A week? Two weeks? Maybe three months? We all need them, but we don’t all get them. Join Kyle and Mark as they discuss what long breaks mean to them and how to make the best of them. Get all this and more in this episode of the Productivity Lab.







Resources and Fun Stuff:







* Mark’s End of Year Lists* 2022 Yearly Themes – TPL* Mark’s The Practice review * Different Work Stations – TPL* Hyperfocus Book Review – TPL* Hyperfocus & Scatter Focus – TPL* Digital Minimalism – TPL* B******t Jobs* Cal Newport’s Challenge* Algorithms to Live By – TPL







More from The Productivity Lab







* TheProductivityLab.show* Follow us on Twitter @ProductiveLab* Check us out on Instagram @ProductiveLab







More from Mark & Kyle







* Mark’s personal website: askmark.io* Mark’s Instagram & Twitter* Mark’s fortnightly newsletter: The [Input|Output]’s of Mark* Kyle’s personal website: quadrantnine.net* Kyle’s fortnightly newsletter: Dispatches from Quadrant Nine* Kyle’s a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http:/...

Another year another round of themes complete. Themes are an important framework for us here at The Productivity Lab. Unlike resolutions, a theme is more flexible and functions more as a guiding star than a solid goal. Themes, unlike resolutions, are (nearly) impenetrable to failure which is why we love so much.







In this episode, we explain what themes are, recap our previous themes for 2021, and share our themes (and focuses) for 2022. We hope that this episode inspires you to find the right theme for twenty twenty-two!







Resources & Fun Stuff







* Seeking Permission – Mark’s Post* Mark’s unboxing video of Hansel & Grettle and Other Stories* Folio Society* Eaton Press* Waited by Mark (Amazon / Apple)* Deep Work Book Review – The Productivity Lab* CGP Grey’s Video on Yearly Themes* Cortex* 2022 Themes Cortex* TheThemeSystem.com* Theme System Journals* 2021 Yearly Themes – The Productivity Lab* Mark’s Newsletter* How We Plan – The Productivity Lab* Focused Podcast* Focused Wall Calendar* Digital Minimalism Book Review – The Productivity Lab* The Practice Book Review – The Productivity Lab* Refuse to Choose Book Review – The Productivity Lab







More from Mark & Kyle







* Mark’s personal website: askmark.io* Mark’s Instagram & Twitter* Mark’s fortnightly newsletter: The [Input|Output]’s of Mark* Kyle’s personal website: quadrantnine.net* Kyle’s fortnightly newsletter: Dispatches from Quadrant Nine* Kyle’s Instagram & Twitter







Credits

It’s finally here! Often discussed, finally reviewed: Deep Work by Cal Newport.Deep Work is “the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.” In this episode, Kyle and Mark dive into a “deep” discussion about the purpose of the book, its philosophies and strategies. Is “Deep Work” possible? Does our work life prevent it? Find out in this episode of the Productivity Lab.







Resources and Fun Stuff:







* Mark’s latest post that he wanted to trash* In Every Mirror She’s Black* TPL – How We Plan* TPL – Digital Minimalism* Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport* So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport* Deep Questions Podcast* Hyperfocus Review – TPL* Ultralearning – TPL* The superstar effect  – Cal Newport blog post* Walter Issacson, Author* TPL – Don’t Break the Chain* TPL – Time Blocking* FocusMe* Freedom* TPL – Refuse to Choose







More from The Productivity Lab

Planning is essential for getting stuff done, some would say it’s just as important as doing. In this episode, Kyle & Mark share their current systems for planning, from the tools they use to their planning philosophies. From Todoist to Trello, from daily planning to year-long projects, learn how the hosts of The Productivity Lab plan their lives.







Resources and Fun Stuff:







* Waited by Mark* Mix Tape by Mark* The Writer’s Field Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Michael Noll* The Copy Editor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing & Coportate Communications by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz* 2021 Yearly Themes – The Productivity Lab* 2020 Yearly Themes – The Productivity Lab* Daily Themes – The Productivity Lab* Notion* Obsidian* Cloth & Paper* Cloth & Paper Disk Bound Planner* Trello* PARA Method* Todoist* Refuse to Choose! by Barabra Sher* Kyleban Boards – The Productivity Lab* Time Blocking – The Productivity Lab* SMART Goals







More from The Productivity Lab







* TheProductivityLab.show* Follow us on Twitter @ProductiveLab* Check us out on Instagram @ProductiveLab







More from Mark & Kyle







* Mark’s personal website: askmark.io* Mark’s Instagram & Twitter* Kyle’s personal website: quadrantnine.net* Kyle’s Instagram & Twitter







Credits







Logo & BrandingDesign for The Productivity Lab is provided by Adam Dodson DesignsMusic“Getting it Done” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.