This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.

This episode is the latest in our monthly series PM Talks, where Patrick Rhone and I dive into ideas that shape the way we approach work, time, and life. In this conversation, we explore the theme of clarity—how it shows up in our days, why it matters, and what can get in the way of it.

Patrick and I both share personal stories—from missed football games to unexpected ISP issues—that highlight how clarity isn’t something we stumble upon, but something we need to cultivate. We talk about how structure and spontaneity coexist, and how clarity can be found even when life throws curveballs (or waves, as one Zen monk would put it).

Six Discussion Points

• Why sports outcomes and emotional responses can affect clarity in daily life
• The value of scaffolding (like time theming) to provide focus without rigidity
• Lessons from the New Yorker article Can You Really Live One Day at a Time?
• Insights from Paul Loomans’ Time Surfing and how it relates to productivity practices
• The role of feelings: how they can cloud or create clarity
• The practice of taking a “Clarity Day” to step back, reflect, and reset

Three Connection Points

• Patrick Rhone’s Website
• The Productivity Diet by Mike Vardy
• “Can You Really Live One Day at a Time?” – The New Yorker

Clarity isn’t about controlling every moment—it’s about navigating the waves of life with intention and awareness. I hope this episode gives you a chance to pause, reflect, and maybe even consider setting aside your own Clarity Day.

If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.