Productivity with Zest

Is it brain fog… or just your to-do list playing tricks on you?

In this powerful and practical episode, I am joined by Vikki Ellison, Advanced Menopause Specialist Nurse Practitioner and founder of the Calm Menopause & Wellbeing Clinic, to explore the real impact of perimenopause and menopause on how we work, think, and feel.

Whether you're running a business, leading a team, juggling kids, or simply trying to remember what day it is... this one’s for you.

Together, we dig into:

• What perimenopause and menopause actually are (and why symptoms like anxiety, forgetfulness, and fatigue can sneak up on you)
• Why productivity can feel impossible during this season, and what to do about it
• How to advocate for yourself at work (yes, including meetings with HR!)
• Simple tweaks to your routine that can ease symptoms and boost focus
• When to consider HRT, what the options are, and what to know about supplements like magnesium and ashwagandha.

You’ll also hear Vikki’s take on how to build a menopause-friendly workplace culture, and my personal reflections on why it’s time to stop blaming ourselves for “not being productive enough.”

You are not broken. Your to-do list just needs a little compassion (and maybe a fan).

🎧 Links & Resources:

• Visit Vikki’s website and take the Greene Climacteric Scale
• Follow Vikki on Instagram and Facebook @CalmMenopause
• Read the Blog

💌 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend, tag me @jasmineclarkecoach, and leave a review wherever you listen!

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Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

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What if the secret to more sales wasn’t doing more... but doing less, better?

After chatting with this week’s guest, I found myself seriously rethinking how often my love of efficiency turns into just ticking things off the to-do list, without enough thought, intention, or breathing space. Lisa York challenged me (in the best way) to slow down, get clear on what actually moves the needle in my business, and then do those things really, really well.

Lisa is a digital sales strategist and the founder of Sell More Stuff. She helps small business owners to transform their marketing efforts into sales by optimising their sales funnel and creating emails that people actually want to read.

She doesn't use social media in any way, shape or form,

That’s right: she doesn’t use social media. At all.

Instead, she cherry-picks her marketing channels, keeps things intentional, and runs a tight ship with a small but mighty email list that converts like a dream.

This conversation is full of gold (and confessions from me) especially if you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or caught in the trap of trying to be everywhere. Lisa proves you don’t need to do it all. You just need to focus on what works… and then do it brilliantly.

 This episode is for you if:

• You want to build a business without relying on social media
• You’re tired of half-doing too many things and want to focus
• You’re curious how email can actually become your best sales tool
• You love the idea of being productive without being busy

Want to see how she does it? Head to her website Sell More Stuff!, join her email list and experience her high-converting, high-personality email strategy in action. One list, one click and plenty of inspiration.

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Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

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You know the one.
You signed up with the best intentions. It felt like this was going to be the thing.
But now it’s somewhere between Module 1 and "Where did I put that login again?"

In this episode of Productivity with Zest, we are going to explore how we take courses and actually learn from them, because it’s not about cramming more in, it’s about learning in a way your brain actually likes.

I’ll show you how to:
 ✅ Block time like a boss (and actually stick to it)
 ✅ Take baby steps that build momentum instead of overwhelm
 ✅ Use accountability (the real secret sauce) to stay on track
 ✅ Ditch the perfectionism and celebrate real progress

And I’ve got a FREE mini-course to take this even further…

Access the Productivity Pre-Course Action Plan free mini course
👉 zestproductivity.com/course
It’s super short, very practical, rooted in psychology, and will change the way you approach any course from now on.

Are You a Course Creator?

Want your students to actually complete your course and rave about the results?
This mini-course makes a brilliant bonus to add to your programme and it’s completely free for you to use.

Just drop me a message or head to zestproductivity.com/contact to get in touch about adding it to your course toolkit.

Listen in and let’s go from “I should really do that course” to “Look at me smashing it.”

💛 You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.

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Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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This one’s part productivity chat, part wizardry. I’m joined by the brilliant Amy Downes – the Content Wizard herself – for a refreshingly real convo about juggling business, mum life, and social media without losing your mind or your mission.

We dive into:
 📱 How to scroll mindfully (and stop frying your brain)
 🧙‍♀️ The Hogwarts Express of productivity tools
 ♻️ Why reusing content is smarter than reinventing the wheel every week
 💬 The 4 “Cons” of social media that’ll actually help your business
 🚫 And why sometimes the most productive thing you can do is log off

Whether you're burnt out by Instagram, avoiding LinkedIn like the plague, or just want some top tips to make content feel fun again – this episode's got you.

Amy Downes, also known as The Content Wizard, is a social media manager and strategist on a mission to help female business owners find more confidence, consistency, and connection through their content. She believes social media doesn't have to be stressful or time-consuming - and with the right support, it can even feel a little magical.

Amy is committed to sharing the lessons she’s learned as a social media manager to help others create a better balance between business and life. Her approach blends focus and flexibility to make content creation feel more doable, more joyful, and ultimately more effective. Sometimes, all it takes is one small tweak to make a magical, transformational difference.

Connect with Amy:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/contentwizarduk
• Group: www.facebook.com/groups/contentwizards
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/contentwizarduk
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/amy-downes-wizard

FREE GUIDE: Conserve Your Magic” – a mini guide to calmer social media: subscribepage.io/8IlQ3e 

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Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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The doors are officially open!

This is your invitation to join The Productivity Gym, a completely different kind of membership for business owners, professionals, and anyone tired of trying to figure it all out on their own.

No more abandoning planners after two weeks.
No more trying to fix everything at once.
No more doing it alone.

In this episode, I share:

• Why I created The Productivity Gym (and why it’s not like anything else out there)
• How the Productivity Fitness Test helps you pinpoint what to work on and track real progress
• What you get inside the membership (hint: it’s packed with support, structure, and small steps that stick)
• Why founding members matter and the bonuses you’ll unlock when you join now (the annual bonus is bonkers... the value of it means you're getting your whole year's membership for £10...)
• The real value of what’s included vs. what you’ll pay (spoiler: it’s a huge saving)
  
  

If you’re craving clarity, consistency, and a community that helps you follow through… this is your moment.

Doors close Monday 19th May (or sooner if spaces fill).

Join here: https://zestproductivity.com/TPG

Give it six months. See what shifts.

Because you don’t need to do more, you need to do what matters, consistently, with support.

Let’s get started. 

See you at the gym 💪

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Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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We’re back! In this special Season 2 opener, I’m sharing the top takeaways from the podcast listener survey, what to expect in this new season, and revealing a BIG announcement… 

Introducing: The Productivity Gym. Sweat Less, Achieve More.

Tired of learning productivity tips but struggling to follow through? You’re not alone… and that’s exactly why I created The Productivity Gym (TPG).

The Productivity Gym is not a course, not more theory, and not about doing more. It’s a doing space, designed to help you take consistent action on what matters most, with the right mix of support, structure, and momentum (plus a dose of fun and community along the way).

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

• The Productivity Fitness Test: Find your starting point, identify your focus area, and measure your progress over time, were talking rewards, milestones, and digital badges to celebrate every win.
• Group Coaching Calls: Bring your productivity blocks, goals, or messy middle and I’ll coach you through them in real-time. Get personal support in a more accessible, low-pressure setting.
• A Private Community That Gets It: You don’t have to do this alone anymore. Surround yourself with kind, motivated people who are also committed to growing, adjusting, and doing their important work with less overwhelm.
• More Zest: A Private Podcast Feed: Exclusive audio content for members only, perfect for when you want that little nudge or spark of inspiration between public episodes.
• Monthly Core Workout Workshops: Live deep-dives into the 10 core areas of sustainable productivity, packed with real-life examples, system-building support, and lots of aha moments.
• Weekly Application Kits: Simple, practical prompts each week to help you apply what you’re learning from the podcast (and beyond). No fluff. Just focused, doable steps you can take right now.
• Productivity HIIT Sessions: These 30-minute co-working power sessions are designed to get you in, focused, and feeling clear and accomplished. Think of it as your productivity warm-up and cool-down, all in one.

Doors open Friday 9th May and close Monday 19th May (unless founding members places fill before then).

Founding Members get: 
✅ Lifetime access to the lowest price ever: just £21/month
✅ Direct input into shaping the experience
✅ Extra personalised support as the group grows

Pop your name on the waitlist now at zestproductivity.com/tpg so you don’t miss the opening!

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Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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We did it – Season 1 is complete! 🎉
After 6 months, 25 episodes, nearly 3,500 downloads, and listeners from 385 cities across 49 countries, I’m officially wrapping up Season 1 of Productivity with Zest.

In this short announcement episode, I share the journey we’ve been on so far—from quick productivity hacks to exploring what it really means to work in a way that feels aligned, purposeful, and full of zest.

🎁 Have your say + win a £20 Amazon voucher!
I’d love your thoughts as I plan what’s next. Take 3 minutes to fill out this quick survey and let me know what you'd love to hear more (or less) of in Season 2.

All entries before midnight on 20th April will be entered into a draw to win a £20 Amazon voucher!
 👉 Complete the short survey and enter the draw!

📌 Quick links:
🎧 Catch up on past episodes: zestproductivity.com/podcast
📝 Take the survey: productivity.fillout.com/podcastseason1
🧠 Try the Productivity Superpowers Quiz: https://productivity.fillout.com/productivitysuperpowers

I’ll be back in May!

Thanks for being part of this journey with me. Season 2 of Productivity with Zest returns in May with fresh energy, more real talk, and plenty of practical strategies to help you work and live with zest 🍋

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Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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Lou thought she knew her goal... until this coaching session flipped everything.

What if the goal you’ve been working towards isn’t actually serving you?

What if it’s not even fully yours?

In this experimental episode, I’m lifting the lid on something I’ve never done before on the podcast – a real, raw coaching session. You’ll hear me coach the brilliant Lou through something I see time and time again: a well-meaning goal that turns out to be misaligned, overwhelming, or just plain unachievable… because it’s not fully in our control.

There’s a powerful shift midway through the session – a moment where Lou’s whole energy changes. Her voice lights up. Her new goal actually fits, and you can feel it.

This is the magic of coaching. It’s intuitive, it’s challenging, and sometimes it shakes things up in the best possible way. If you like this format, let me know—I’d love to do more.

🔥 Inside this episode:

• Why some goals leave us stuck, even when we “want” them
• What a well-formed outcome is (and how to create one)
• How to reframe your goal so it actually works for you
• The moment Lou’s goal lit her up—and how to spot that in yourself!
• What happens when you prioritise based on alignment, not obligation
  
  

📄 Extra Resources:
 → Download the Well-Formed Outcomes Coaching Questions
→ Interested in coaching with me? Find out more here 

🎧 This one’s a little different—and I’m so excited for you to hear it - let me know what you think!

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Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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Meetings are devouring our workdays at an alarming rate. The average UK worker spends over 23 days annually in meetings—almost an entire working month! When we honestly examine our calendars, many of us discover that meetings consume more than half our available work time, forcing us to complete actual tasks during personal time.

This episode tackles the meeting problem head-on with practical solutions to regain control of your calendar and boost your productivity. I walk you through the essential first step—a meeting audit—to help you understand where your time is going and which meetings are truly valuable. Then I share five game-changing strategies: setting firm boundaries to avoid overscheduling, filtering meeting invitations ruthlessly, reducing meeting length, scheduling buffer time between meetings, and maximizing productivity within the meetings you do attend.

These aren't just theoretical concepts—they're battlefield-tested approaches that can transform your workday. Imagine having dedicated time for deep work, arriving at meetings refreshed rather than frazzled, and leaving discussions with clear action plans instead of vague commitments. The transformation begins with small changes that build momentum toward a more productive work culture.

Ready to break free from the meeting trap? Try implementing one strategy this week and watch how much time you reclaim. Share this episode with colleagues who might be feeling the same meeting fatigue. Together, we can shift workplace culture from endless talking about work to actually doing the meaningful work that moves us forward.

🔎 Meeting Audit Questions
 🕒 Total time spent in meetings – How many hours?
 📆 Meeting frequency – How many per week/day?
 ⏳ Meeting length – Were they 30 minutes? An hour? Longer?
 👤 Your role – Were you leading? Contributing? Just listening?
 🎯 Effectiveness – Did it result in clear action steps or just more talk?

Rate each meeting (1 = not at all, 5 = absolutely):
 ✔️ Was it necessary? Did this require real-time discussion?
 ✔️ Was I the right person to be there? Could someone else have attended?
 ✔️ Did it result in clear action points? Or was it just a chat?
 ✔️ Did it help me make progress on my actual priorities?

Next step: Look for patterns! Are you in too many meetings? Can you eliminate, shorten, or delegate some? Time to take action!

Ep 7: Productivity Is Not What You Think It Is 
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 📚 Get it here* *affiliate link

⏳ Want to get more done in less time? Take my free Productivity Superpower Quiz! 🔗 Click here 

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Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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We’re often told that decisive people get ahead—quick decisions, fast action, no hesitation. But what if I told you that sometimes, the most productive move you can make is to pause a decision?

In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden power of deferring a decision with purpose. You’ll learn:
✔️ Why decision fatigue drains your productivity (and how to prevent it)
✔️ The key signs that now isn’t the right time to decide
✔️ How to hit pause without falling into avoidance
✔️ Three simple steps to make a decision with confidence when the time is right

If you’ve got a decision hanging over you—one you keep circling back to—this episode is for you. We’ll unpack when stepping back is the smartest choice and how to make decisions without regret when you’re ready.

For more, head to zestproductivity.com/episode23

👉 Loved this episode? Share it with one person who needs to hear this today!
💬 Join the conversation: DM me on Instagram @JasmineClarkeCoach or share your thoughts in the Productivity with Zest Facebook group.
🎧 Up next: How to make meetings actually productive (and cut down the time you spend in them!). Don’t miss it!

Listen now and live with zest! 🍋✨

Message me!

Let’s Stay Connected!
Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going - connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Mini Fitness Test - How fit is your Productivity? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

If this episode helped you, I’d love it if you could rate it and leave a quick review - it makes a huge difference! Just drop me a note if you do at [email protected] so I can say thanks.

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