Productivity with Zest

In this episode of Productivity with Zest, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges remote workers face: mentally clocking out at the end of the day. With 41% of people in the UK working from home at least part-time, it’s all too easy to fall into the 'always-on' trap - where work bleeds into your evenings and weekends, leaving you feeling burned out and overwhelmed.

But what if there was a way to reclaim your evenings without compromising your productivity? Enter The New Commute - a simple system designed to help you transition smoothly from work mode to personal mode, even when your home is your office.

We’ll explore the common traps remote workers fall into, why transitions matter for your brain, and, most importantly, how to build your own New Commute in three simple steps. Plus, I’ll share a real-life success story of how one of my clients broke free from the work-from-home trap and found balance again.

So, if you’re tired of feeling like work never truly ends, this episode is for you!

📌 What You’ll Learn

• The most common work-from-home traps that keep you stuck in work mode.
• Why your brain needs clear transitions between work and home life.
• How to build The New Commute in 3 steps:
  1. Identify What Your Old Commute Gave You: Reflect on what your old commute offered—time to decompress, a clear endpoint to the workday, or even just a few moments of solitude.
  2. Set a Hard Stop: Learn the power of setting a firm finish time for your workday and how to wrap up those mental open loops.
  3. Create a Closing Ritual: Discover simple end-of-day habits that signal to your brain that work is officially over.
• Tips for reinforcing boundaries with family, clients, and colleagues so they respect your off-hours.
• A real-life success story of a client who transformed his work-from-home experience with these strategies.

💪 Listener Challenge

This week, I challenge you to create your own New Commute with what you learn in this episode!

Test it out this week and let me know how it goes! Share your experience in the Productivity with Zest Facebook community or tag me on Instagram at @JasmineClarkeCoach.

🔗 Resources & Links

• Join the Facebook Community: Productivity with Zest
• Follow on Instagram: @JasmineClarkeCoach
• Podcast Episode Page: zestproductivity.com/episode22
• Stay Updated: Subscribe to Productivity with Zest for more tips and strategies to boost your productivity without the burnout!

Hit subscribe, give the challenge a go, and until next time, stay productive, stay energised, and keep living with zest! 🎉

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You’ve closed your laptop, left the office (or at least your desk), and told yourself you’re done for the day… yet your brain has other ideas.

👉 You’re mentally replying to emails while brushing your teeth.
👉 You’re replaying a conversation from earlier.
👉 You’re worrying about tomorrow’s to-do list instead of enjoying your evening.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Work-life boundaries have become more blurred than ever, and it’s making it harder to truly switch off.

🚨 But here’s the good news: You CAN train your brain to let work go. 🚨

In this episode, I’m sharing five powerful steps to stop work from creeping into your personal time—so you can reclaim your evenings, weekends, and headspace.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
✔️ Why your brain clings to unfinished tasks (and how to break free from the cycle)
✔️ The ‘Mental Closure Ritual’ that signals to your brain that work is DONE
✔️ How to create work-life boundaries that actually work (even if you’re self-employed!)
✔️ The simple trick to stop checking work emails at the worst possible times
✔️ Why ‘attention residue’ is hijacking your downtime—and how to fix it

Plus, I’m sharing a real-life coaching story about Rebecca (name changed), a business owner who transformed her work-life balance using these strategies.

✨ Listener Challenge: What’s one boundary you’re going to reinforce this week? DM me on Instagram (@JasmineClarkeCoach) or join the conversation in my Facebook group, Productivity with Zest!

📌 Resources & Links:
🔗 Take my free Productivity Quiz
🔗 Learn about 1:1 coaching with me
🔗 Join my free Facebook group: Productivity with Zest

🎧 Next Week’s Episode: The New Commute System —If you work from home and find it hard to switch off, this system will change the game. Hit subscribe so you don’t miss it!

Until next time—stay productive, stay energised, and keep living 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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Ever tried a productivity hack that just didn’t work for you? 🙋‍♀️ Maybe you love structure, but time-blocking made you feel trapped. Or you tried digital planning, only to realise you need the feel of pen and paper. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to productivity!

In this episode, we’re diving into productivity experiments - how to test different methods, figure out what actually works for you, and pivot quickly if something isn’t the right fit. I’ll walk you through:

✅ Why productivity is like trying on clothes, you need to experiment to find the perfect fit.
✅ How to test new strategies (without overwhelming yourself!).
✅ A simple 4-step framework for experimenting with productivity hacks.
✅ The key question to ask before trying any new method: ‘Will this make my life easier or harder?’
✅ Why quitting a method that isn’t working isn’t failure.

🎯 Ready to experiment with your productivity and find a system that actually works for you? Tune in now!

🔗 Resources & Mentions:
✨ Take the Productivity Quiz
✨ Related Episodes:

• Ep 16: Sticking to Your Plan – Tips for Real-Life Productivity
• Ep 19: Focus – My Productivity Superpower (And How to Build Yours)
• Ep 15: The Power of Short-Term Planning – 6 Steps That Will Boost Your Productivity

Get in touch to find out if you can get coaching through your organisation - click here.

👉 Let’s experiment! Pick one new productivity method this week and let me know how it goes - DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn! 💬

📢 If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who’s on their own productivity journey!

Next week, we’re talking about boundaries, how to stop work from creeping into your personal life and make the most of your focused work time! Don’t miss it. 🎧

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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Take the Productivity Quiz now!

Ever feel like your day disappears in a blur of distractions? You sit down to work, but within minutes, you’re checking your phone, switching between tabs, or getting pulled into yet another email. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone!

In this episode of Productivity with Zest, I’m diving into what I believe is my biggest productivity superpower: FOCUS. And the best part? It’s not something you’re born with, it’s a skill you can train.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why focus is more important than time management
✅ The surprising science behind attention residue and why multitasking actually makes you LESS productive 
✅ The biggest focus-killers (notifications, task-switching, mental overload, and unclear priorities) 
✅ My top strategies for building laser-sharp focus
✅ How to recover quickly when you lose focus (because let’s be real, we all do!).

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📥 Free Guide: How to Create a Productive Environment – Download it here 🧠 Take the Productivity Superpower Quiz! Find out your strongest productivity strength (and what might be holding you back). Take the quiz now and take targeted action


📩 Email Me! Once you take the quiz, let me know your results at [email protected] I’d love to hear what resonates with you!

Listener Challenge!

This week, I challenge you to:
1️⃣ Identify your biggest focus-killer. Is it notifications, unclear priorities, task-switching, or mental overwhelm?
2️⃣ Try ONE focus-boosting strategy today. Whether it’s eating the frog, turning off notifications, or setting up a focus-friendly workspace—commit to making a small change!
3️⃣ Take the Productivity Quiz and send me your results! Can you guess what my weakest area is? (Hint: It’s one of these—procrastination, motivation, weekly planning, long-term planning & goals, focus, balance, prioritisation, or habits!)

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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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NEW Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Quiz - What is holding you back? Take the quiz now and take targeted action

Perfectionism might feel like a good thing - it makes us strive for excellence, right? But in reality, it often slows us down, fuels procrastination, and keeps us from finishing (or even starting) important work.

In this episode of Productivity with Zest, we’re breaking down why perfectionism feels like a safety net but is actually holding you back. If you’ve ever tweaked, edited, or overthought something to the point of exhaustion, this one’s for you.

We’ll cover:
✔ Why perfectionism isn’t about high standards—it’s about avoiding failure
✔ How to shift from chasing “perfect” to achieving excellence without obsession
✔ The hidden costs of perfectionism on productivity, stress, and creativity
✔ Practical ways to move forward, finish projects, and free yourself from perfectionism’s grip

Let’s stop aiming for perfect and start aiming for progress. Tune in now!

👉 Links & Resources: head to www.zestproductivity.com/episode18 for more on this episode

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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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Big news—I’ve rebranded! What was Productivity Hacks is now Productivity with Zest! 🎉

In this short episode, I’m sharing why I made this shift, what it means for you, and how this new name better reflects my approach to productivity - one that’s focused on energy, joy, and sustainable success (not just quick fixes).

The content you love isn’t changing, just the name! So let’s celebrate this fresh start together. Tune in, and 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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Ever wondered what books could truly transform your life? In this episode of Productivity Hacks, I’m sharing 8 incredible reads that have shaped the way I live and work. From habit-building to deep work, and even letting go of perfectionism, these books are packed with actionable insights. Plus, I’ll give you my top tips for getting the most out of your reading. Whether you're a bookworm or just looking for your next inspiring read, this episode is for you. Grab a cuppa and tune in—you won’t want to miss this one!

Want to jump to a particular book?*:
00:24 The Power of Books
00:45 Atomic Habits by James Clear
02:42 Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
04:33 Daring Greatly by Brené Brown 
06:15 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
07:55 Make Change That Lasts by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee 
09:44 The Source by Dr. Tara Swart
10:48 The Attention Fix by Dr. Anders Hansen
13:18 Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport  
14:30 Reading Tips

*affiliate links

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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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Ever feel like your carefully crafted plans go out the window once life gets busy? In this episode of Productivity Hacks, we dive into real-world strategies for sticking to your plans, without feeling like you’re chained to them. Learn the importance of realistic planning, discover practical tools like time-blocking and the Pomodoro technique, and explore how to regroup when things go sideways. Plus, I’ll share how my word for the year, ‘Aligned Adventure,’ keeps my planning personal and purposeful. Ready to make your plans work for you? Grab a cuppa and join me!

01:27 Today's Topic: Staying on Track with Your Plan
02:36 The Importance of Sticking to a Plan
03:14 Realistic Planning and Self-Reflection
05:05 Paper vs. Digital Planning
07:56 Top Tactics for Staying on Track
12:59 Scheduling High-Quality Leisure Time
15:00 Regrouping When Things Go Off Track

Links to the books I referenced (affiliate links):
Deep Work: Rules for Focuser Success in a Distracted World (Cal Newport)
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World (Cal Newport)
Atomic Habits (James Clear)
Eat That Frog!: Get More Of The Important Things Done Today (Brian Tracy)

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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.

🔔 Don’t Miss the Next Episode! Hit Follow and share this with a friend who needs it!

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Struggling to stay on top of your goals amidst the chaos of daily tasks? In this episode of Productivity Hacks, I’m breaking down the power of short-term planning and how you can master your week with ease.

I’ll walk you through my 6-step process that will help you take control of your week, prioritise what truly matters, and tackle your tasks with focus and confidence. From weekly planning to daily goal-setting, these simple yet powerful strategies will reduce overwhelm, boost your motivation, and keep you on track for success, no matter how busy you are.

If you're ready to get more done, feel more in control, and feel the satisfaction of turning your intentions into actions, this episode is for you. Tune in and start planning your way to a more productive and purposeful week!

To save time and use my favourite meal planning service Gousto (available in the UK) - you can currently get 65% off your first box and 25% off for 2 months here.

For the new video version of this podcast - check it out on Youtube 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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In this episode of Productivity Hacks, we’re diving into the secret sauce that turns big, ambitious dreams into real, tangible progress: medium-term planning. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your long-term vision and the daily grind, this episode is for you. I share why quarterly and monthly planning is essential for staying focused and motivated, introduce the psychology behind its effectiveness (Goal Gradient Effect!), and reveal common blockers that can derail your plans - plus practical tips for overcoming them.

With this 5-step process, you’ll learn how to break down your big goals into quarterly sprints and monthly milestones, creating a clear roadmap toward success. Whether you're overwhelmed by too many goals, battling the all-or-nothing mindset, or just struggling to find time to plan, this episode will help you build a system that works for you.

You will learn.......
• The importance of medium-term planning for achieving long-term goals
• The goal gradient effect and its impact on motivation
• The benefits of regularly reviewing progress and adjusting goals
• Common blockers to medium-term planning and how to overcome them
• Strategies for maintaining momentum and avoiding an all-or-nothing mindset
• A step-by-step framework for creating effective quarterly and monthly plans

Ready to make 2025 your most productive year yet? Grab your pen, hit play, and start mastering your monthly and quarterly plans today!

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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.

🔔 Don’t Miss the Next Episode! Hit Follow and share this with a friend who needs it!