Purposeful Productivity Podcast

Show Summary: “Different stressors require different approaches and amounts of attention.”
Is burnout an emotional response or something more?
Should you ignore its symptoms when your body feels it?
Or, should you give time and attention to addressing it so it won't pile up and slowly destroy your peace & health?
Burnout is now considered a legitimate medical disorder. And it happens when your resources to cope with your stressors are exhausted, leaving you frustrated, drained, and demotivated. Sadly, these negative emotions are similar to the symptoms of depression. Moreover, stressors come in different forms, and each of them needs a different approach. In the same way, a cup of water may be sufficient for a baby plant and highly insufficient for a dying plant.
Inability to adapt to environmental changes can intensify your stress. Pushing yourself to do more when negativities are piling up or doing an overnight solution such as "isang tulog lang yan" or "bibili nalang ako ng gamit sa Shopee" depletes your reserves more because the root cause is being shrugged off. 
In this episode, I discuss how burnout emerges, and some resources that prove it is a trauma response and not just an emotional response. I also deep dive into why you should give quality attention to it and ways to manage it effectively so you can achieve a healthy mind and body connection and productivity. 
Don't forget to share with your loved ones who need guidance in releasing their inner stress.  
Show Highlights:
What are the risk factors for mental and physical health problems?
7:07 Celz 

• According to WHO, there is consistent evidence that high-job demands, low control, effort-reward imbalance are all risk factors for mental and physical health problems. 

• Basically, a demanding boss, a stressful environment, a lack of autonomy and recognition can make you feel less worthy and lose your patience.

Burnout experiment in two groups
10:45 Celz

• A study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden did an experiment to diagnose burnout symptoms and their effects. What they did was they put two groups (a burnout group and a non-burnout group) in observation.

• They found out that the burnout group had more difficulty modulating negative responses. This means that whenever we feel burnout, it is valid. We are not "maarte" or overreacting. It is just how our body reacts though our logical thinking responds otherwise.

How asking for help can prevent burnout
30:08 Celz

• Proper communication with the people around your workplace is a great help to prevent burnout so they can understand your needs. It would also allow you to see if you're working with the right people or not. 

• In my experience, my client felt my need to take a rest. It was so lovely of her to notice that & proactively tell me to "Stop working for a while and take a leave." That's why I knew I was working with the right person.

• But you don't always have to wait for your client or employer to tell you that you have to pause. There are times that you have to stand up for yourself and be vocal about what you feel.

I’ll be having a giveaway as a way of saying “THANK YOU” for your continuous support. Here’s how to join
27:30 Celz
To celebrate the Purposeful Productivity Podcast wins of podcast charts I'll be giving away:

• 900 peso worth of Grab vouchers for 3 people (300 each)
• 5000 peso worth of one-on-one productivity coaching call with me
• 10,000 peso worth of group coaching for 4 people (Valued at 2500 pesos for each)

To submit an entry, here are the mechanics:

• Share with me your greatest takeaway from this podcast by leaving a review using this link.
• Screenshot it and send it via email to [email protected] with the subject line "Podcast Giveaway."

Don't forget to share this with your friends and family! Super grateful that I have you with me on this journey! 
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Links Mentioned:


Burnout experience
Burnout and the Brain
Staff Burn-Out

Work-Related Chronic Stress

Show Summary: “You deserve to be rewarded for your hard work.”
Trixie Arce is a part-time project manager, food entrepreneur, colleague, and one of my closest friends. She started her business, Trixie’s Kitchen, in 2017 as a hobby that first introduced her lechon belly to her family, friends, and neighbors. Fast forward to the present day, Trixie’s Kitchen can service big companies during their major celebrations and sells 200 kilos of lechon belly per season.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Trixie worked in advertising for almost four years. In her own words, it was a patayan culture where 2 hours of sleep was considered a luxury. Then the pandemic hit and one of the industries badly affected was events and advertising. Trixie lost her job. However, it was the blessing in disguise that Trixie did not expect. She finally had the time to do activities she always wanted, like blogging, vlogging, and hosting. Freelancing opportunities also opened up for Trixie. Most importantly, she can focus on Trixie’s Kitchen and grow the business.
In today’s episode, we go one-on-one with Trixie to talk about her journey transitioning from the corporate world to the online community and all the struggles in between. She gives us tips on how she stays on track, how she juggles her day job and Trixie’s Kitchen, and the importance of self-care and prioritizing your health above all.
So please listen to the full episode, follow Trixie’s inspiring story, and share it with your family and friends. 
Show Highlights:
Why is it important to reward ourselves? How did you start practicing self-care?
13:03 Trixie

• When I started freelancing, I was earning more and had more time for myself. I began practicing self-care to reward myself for the hard work that I do. I spent little by little until I set a fixed budget of P1,000 per payday for self-care. And after realizing I had hypertension due to my sleepless nights in my previous job, I saw the value of prioritizing my health. I made sure to sleep 7-8 hours every night to get enough rest.

• Accept that you deserve to spend for yourself a portion of your hard-earned money.  When you put yourself in a position where you don’t receive love for yourself, that’s when you feel like exploding. And we don’t want that to happen. 

What made you start a food business?
21:09 Trixie

• Trixie’s Kitchen was born during the New Year celebration of 2018. My mom asked me to cook something new as our main viand. As I like challenging myself, I thought of making lechon belly. I watched eight different Youtube videos on how to make it. I mixed and matched the recipes from those videos, added my flare, and poured my love into making my first ever lechon belly. The ending was that my family LOVED it. 

• My friends also loved my lechon belly during our intimate parties. They encouraged me to offer it to other people as well. And I did. My first test market was a success, so I decided to go big and public with my lechon belly. 

How was it like transitioning from the corporate world to freelancing?
49:35 Trixie

• Transitioning was a very long learning curve for me. I cried many times. There were a lot of tools required that I didn’t have experience with. I was clueless, made many mistakes, and was called out for them a lot of times. I had to sit down and learn the different project management apps and tools of the online world. It took me about 4-5 months to get the vibe of freelancing. 

How do you manage your time and productivity while juggling your day job and food business?
48:19 Trixie

• Effective time management requires being on top of your schedule and knowing your heavier and lighter days. In my case, I would cook more for Trixie’s Kitchen during the lighter days of my day job and on weekends. I’m thankful for freelancing because I have more freedom and flexibility to schedule my activities. I have time to rest, do errands, self-care, and time for my business. 

Important Links:
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Show Summary: “Productivity should not be an uphill battle.”
Are you more creative and intuitive than logical and systematic? Do you consider yourself a right-brained human being? If yes, then today’s session is about you. 
In our last few episodes, I’ve introduced you to my friend Ate RJ Vargas, who is a highly emotional and intuitive person but is also someone who didn’t know how to stay productive. In today’s episode, we relive her story, share with you the strategies I’ve used to help her find her purpose and increase her productivity, and talk about the science behind the techniques. 
Through Human First Productivity, aka productivity for normal people living normal lives, we go into a deeper understanding of ourselves, our working habits, our chronotype, and our likes and dislikes. The objective is to find the right productivity technique that suits us best. For example, in Ate RJ’s case, an important strategy I used is energy matching, where we matched her high-energy tasks with when she’s most energetic. This allows for flexible work hours, which Ate RJ is most comfortable with. The moment she feels tired and her energy drained, she stops working. Through this approach, Ate RJ no longer feels overwhelmed, lazy, and unproductive. In fact, it increased her efficiency and maximized her output. 
So take the time to truly know yourself. Don’t force yourself into a strategy that doesn’t align with your personality. Don’t work for the technique. Make the technique work for YOU.
Don’t forget to share this episode with your equally creative family and friends!
Show Highlights:
What is a chronotype, and how does it relate to productivity?
12:18 

• By definition, a chronotype is a unique classification that defines your sleep and productivity schedules. It tells you when your brain is most alert and active during the day.

• Knowing your chronotype helps you synchronize your brain with your daily tasks and physical activities so you can become more efficient and productive. 

How does energy matching work?
11:05

• Simply put, energy matching means matching high-energy tasks during high-energy states of mind. When you’re an emotional person who relies on your energy to get you through your activities, this approach will help you deliver more without subjecting you to strict schedules and time blocking.

• The science behind energy matching coincides with the use of our brainpower. Each task that we do requires different levels of brainpower. For example, dedicating an hour to writing a novel uses more brainpower than simply processing emails. It is only logical that you write (or any other high-energy task) when your mind is most active. This approach gives you flexibility with your time yet enables you to stay productive and complete your deliverables.

Important Links:
Episode 4

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Show Summary: “No effort or time that you invest in yourself is ever wasted.”
Forming habits is one of the most challenging tasks that we take on in our lives. This is especially true when the goals we set are too high that they become unsustainable. More often than not, we end up not meeting our goals and giving up almost instantly. We punish ourselves and think that we're such a failure. We compare ourselves to others and feel disappointed. Some even fall into “paralysis,” like what happened with my friend RJ Vargas from the last two episodes. And with every failure, we feel as though our time and energy have been wasted, and we are back to square one. 
But this is where I stop you and tell you that it's not true. Whether you decide to change careers, build new habits, or even switch goals midway, all the efforts that you've put in are NEVER A WASTE. There are many ways and aspects in your life to apply everything you've learned in the past. Release your creative juices and think outside the box. I swear to you, walang matatapon. Don't let the feeling of panghihinayang stop you from pursuing what you want. 
And when it comes to forming new goals and habits, the key to achieving them is setting REALISTIC targets. Scope them down. Learning new things takes time, time that you should be kind enough to give to yourself. 
If you have a friend or family going through the same thing, please share this episode with them. 
Show Highlights:
What is "sunk cost," and how does it relate to our lives?
06:45

• In economics, sunk cost means money that's already been spent and can't be recovered. In life, this is the feeling of panghihinayang. It happens when we feel our efforts and energy have been wasted whenever we fail at meeting goals or become inconsistent with our habits. It's the same emotion when we move to a new job, end a relationship, or switch plans midway. We feel as though we're starting from scratch again. 

What exactly is lateral thinking, and how does it help our productivity?
19:58 

• Lateral thinking is when you connect two things that are not directly related. In other words, it means being creative and thinking “outside the box.” This applies when we take on a new and unfamiliar task or when we’re solving a problem.

• In productivity, lateral thinking helps us reuse and reapply our previous skills and knowledge to our new goals or engagements, even if they’re entirely unrelated. No effort is wasted because you’re able to repurpose your skills in different ways.

P.S.
I’m doing a giveaway contest for you, my podcast listeners! Prizes include free group coaching with me. And if you’re already a newsletter subscriber, that already grants you an entry to win! You can check out the links below.
I will announce the winners in mid-November 2021! 

Important Links:
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Show Summary: “Know  yourself and be more productive.”
Do you know that one of the keys to achieving your goals is self-awareness?
It may not be easy but practicing it helps you better understand why certain things work for others and not for you.
It eliminates self-doubt every time you see others winning while you're still planting seeds, waiting for your turn to win.
It helps you find the TRUE YOU and the REAL HAPPINESS that only YOU can understand.
My friend, RJ Vargas, our guest in the 4th episode, once felt like she was a failure. Yes, she was earning a good amount of money, but she still felt stuck and lost. But instead of asking for the answer on a silver platter and sulking, she asked God to give her the means to get where she wanted to go. She made herself fully aware that having excessive pride could hinder her from getting through her struggles. So she asked for help from her mentors.
Asking for help is a tough decision to make for others because they're afraid to look weak. But admitting to yourself that you NEED help is a very courageous thing to do. It helps you grow exponentially and make decisions wisely.
Remember, you have a lot of unique things to offer. So humble yourself and always find strength in helping others and being helped.
Don't forget to share this with your family and friends who feel stuck in their journey!

Show Highlights:
How did RJ know that she’s with the right mentors and did she find her way to productivity?
11:12 

• Instinct and intuition; She used these to know if she was with the right mentors who helped her make the right decisions. She also followed the ethos, pathos, and logos framework, which screened and filtered people that came into her life.

• The standard productivity techniques don’t work for RJ since she doesn’t like fixed schedules. But I helped her identify how she can work optimally by integrating her current framework with daily operations.

As RJ’s productivity coach, how did you help in her specific situation?
12:07

• Human First Productivity. I wanted her to achieve her goals without getting burned out. So instead of insisting on a specific framework for her, I identified how she operates, her likes and dislikes. I evaluated the strategies and let her use those that best fit her personality.

How do you know yourself better?
19:44 

• Try things out. Do something that makes sense to you. If you already have an idea of where you want to go, go for it. I'm giving you my permission to do that thing you want to do. So now, it's time you permit yourself to do it too. 

• We already know what we want to do. But the thing that holds us back is fear and not permitting ourselves to do it. So allow yourself to be challenged. Step out of your comfort zone and find out who you truly are and what you're meant to become.

RJ Vargas' Facebook
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
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RJ’s struggles are all too relatable for us. At some point in our lives, we were an RJ Vargas too. But remember that you are a unique individual. And what works for others may not always work for you. Like RJ, she wasn’t your typical systematic person. Rigid schedules are not for her. Instead, she relies on her bursts of energy as her driving force. And it works! From becoming a copywriter and storyteller, she’s now authored and published her first book, which she wrote for only five days! How cool is that?

Show Summary: “Productivity is 50% systems and 50% mindset.”
In this episode, we talk about the commonly downplayed facets in our life that affect how we work and show up. These factors have nothing to do with our work or business but can significantly impact our productivity.
First is our environment, our workspace. Pause for a bit and take a look around your work area. Is it a space that’s conducive for working? Are there no distractions? Are your chair and table comfortable for long hours of work? A sub-factor related to the physical environment is the consistency of where you work. Pick one spot at home or in the office as your designated workspace and be consistent with it, so your brain is conditioned to associate that spot with work and focus. 
The second element to consider is our interpersonal relationships. If you have bad relationships at home or in the office, it’s hard to maintain your focus. Conversely, saying yes to everything asked of you is also not good. Setting boundaries is key to staying productive.
Lastly, we tackle our emotions, feelings, or mental state as the last factor affecting our efficiency. Bottling up strong emotions is not healthy. You need to take a break to process these feelings. The clearer your head is, the more focused you become. 
I hope this episode helps you reflect on the small but powerful steps you can take to improve your focus and productivity. Feel free to reach out and share your thoughts with me! And if you’re enjoying today’s session, don’t forget to share it with your family and friends!
Show Highlights:
What are the physical distractions to consider when finding a good workspace?

• When working from home, the common external distractions are household members who are either noisy or are constantly disturbing you. These members may even include your fur babies who demand attention from you.  

• Apart from household members, clutter on your desk can also affect your focus. If you find it hard to concentrate while working because of the mess on your table, then you need to start de-cluttering and clearing the space.

How do I process my negative emotions while staying productive at the same time?

• It’s okay to feel these emotions. You need to heal from these emotions. Your productivity and feelings do not have to be at odds with each other. Give yourself some time to rest and dwell on your sadness, frustration, disappointment, or whatever it is that you’re feeling. The time can be from as short as 20 minutes to as long as half a day. But don’t let these feelings take over you. When you’ve released the negativity from your mind, start working again.

Why is it important to be consistent with where I work?

• Our brain has been conditioned to associate certain areas at home or in the office with different kinds of activity. If you work while sitting on your bed, your brain will think it’s time for relaxation, and it will be hard for you to keep your focus. The same goes for working at the dining table or other areas at home or office that are not intended for working. Be consistent in working at the same desk every time. This routine signals to your brain that it’s work time and nothing else when you’re at your desk.

What simple changes can I make to improve my workspace?

• Invest in an ergonomic chair, table, and computer equipment (keyboard, mouse, etc.). Whatever type of worker you are, it helps to have a physical space that you like working in. So go ahead and get that comfy gaming chair you’ve been wanting. They are not “kaartehan”. You’ll be surprised how these simple upgrades make your work life so much easier. 

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Show Summary: “Saying no to good things allows you to say yes to greater things.”
“I’m so disorganized. I don’t even know where to start.” 
“I feel so lazy. I can’t finish anything.”
Are these lines familiar? At one point, have these thoughts crossed your mind? Or perhaps, you know someone who has this mindset? In today’s episode, we’ll deep-dive into the meaning behind these statements.
There are many emotions and underlying reasons for feeling lazy. One of the most common is mental exhaustion. You’re not lazy. You’re overwhelmed. Having too many items on your plate eats up your “pizza” of attention until there’s no more slice left for you. Your brain can no longer process new things. 
Another emotion that you may have is fear. You’re not lazy. You’re afraid. Maybe it’s the fear of rejection, failure, or judgment that’s causing you to feel immobile. In reality, procrastination has become your defense mechanism. It’s the only thing that keeps you away from all the pressure surrounding you.
The third common feeling is fatigue. You’re not lazy. You’re just really exhausted. Putting the needs of others above yours has taken its toll on your body. You have lost the energy and focus to do more. 
If any of these three scenarios sounds like you, then that means you’re not the problem. There’s a solution that you can do to address the root cause of these sentiments. Listen to the full episode as we break down the fix for each scenario and how you can become purposefully productive and stay that way. Don’t forget to share this episode with your family and friends who can gain value from today’s reflections.
Show Highlights:
How do I deal with my mental exhaustion?
10:49 

• Even a simple 5-minute break helps clear your mind. Take a step back from what you’re working on. Go for a walk. Watch nature. Meditate. Have a quick snack. Spend time with your pet. Message a loved one. And when you’re more relaxed, go back to your to-do list and reassess. Do you have to do everything now? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to complete everything? Can you delegate some of the tasks?

• It may feel counterintuitive to take a rest when you know you have a lot of things on your plate. However, to become focused again, you need time to slow down and breathe.

How do I say no when I know my plate is already full?
16:16

• Saying no doesn’t make you a bad person. You don’t owe everyone your yes. If you already have a lot on your to-do list, it’s okay to say no. As long as you say it nicely, it should be fine. Your sanity and growth should be your priority.

“My fear of being judged by other people hinders me from doing what I intend to do.”
12:52

• There will always be people who will not like you. They will judge you no matter what you do, whether you succeed or fail. There’s no point in worrying and wasting your energy in explaining yourself to them. Your self-worth is not tied to other people’s opinion of you. 

14:30 

• Instead of focusing on negative people, find the ones who will resonate with you. These people will wholeheartedly listen to you and hear your thoughts. 

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Show Summary: “The more you understand yourself, the more purposeful you become.”
What if I tell you that you can be productive without sacrificing your time and health so much? Imagine a world where everyone had the chance to live the life they wanted and carry out the purpose in their hearts. What are the things you would pursue once you have the headspace, energy, and time to do it?
In this episode, I invite you to go on this journey with me to explore what being purposeful means and how it works with productivity. Allow me to help you navigate this landscape to accomplish things without getting overwhelmed and burned out.
Understanding productivity means understanding ourselves first. Productivity is very personal. To find out what makes us productive, we must know what we like and don’t like, how we work, the kinds of people we attract and are attracted to. The better we know ourselves, the better the decisions we make. We become purposeful.
Throughout the show, we’ll not only talk about feelings, but we’ll be discussing the science, strategies, and systems behind purposeful productivity. We will embrace the idea that it’s okay to mess up sometimes. We’re only humans. Just because we mess up doesn’t mean we are lazy.
My takeaway question for you for this session is, “What is productivity to you?” I would love to hear your thoughts about how you define and measure your productivity. Please shoot me an email with your response at [email protected]. Don’t forget to share this episode with your family and friends who want to understand the true meaning of being productive. 
Show Highlights:
Why did you become a productivity coach?
1:41

• I became a coach on productivity because it’s my passion. I’ve experienced being on both ends of the spectrum. I used to be a lazy, procrastinating person who’s become a burden to other people. On the other hand, I have also had my moments of overworking myself to the point of burnout.

5:06 

• As a coach, I offer to the table the experiences I’ve had, the stories I’ve heard, and the strategies I’ve read about to help people reflect on these things.

What does productivity mean to you?
9:59

• Productivity to me is being able to do what I set out to do when I want to do it. For example, I intended to do five tasks for today and was able to complete them at the end of the day, then that means I had a productive day. 

• However, if I planned a whole day of rest but suddenly worked on a few items, that’s not productive. It’s not about how much you do. What matters is that you do what you intend to do for that day.

What is your vision for productivity?
3:09

• My vision is to reclaim productivity for what it’s meant to be - that is, being able to do what we aim to do without sacrificing the most important things to us: our time, health, and family. 

• I want to help you out so you can spend your time on what matters the most and what you value. 

What can we expect from this show?
14:38

• This podcast is going to be a no-judgment zone. This show will be your safe space to discuss issues or dilemmas you think only you are experiencing. 

• We’ll talk about increasing your productivity by tweaking your systems and maybe making adjustments to your habits and discipline. We’ll embrace the values of openness and learning.

Important Links:
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Show Summary: “It’s not about how much you do but what you’re doing that matters.”

Welcome to the Purposeful Productivity Podcast! My name is Coach Celz, and I am the host of this podcast.

Let me give you a quick background of myself. When I’m not doing this podcast, I do productivity coaching and Notion consulting, as well as other forms of content. I used to be a chronic procrastinator years ago but am now a recovering perfectionist.

So why am I doing this podcast? My Miss Universe answer is that I envision the hustle culture to stop: the mindset of sacrificing your health and relationships to get what you want out of your career or business. Staying up late or not getting enough rest is not something to be proud of. I want to change this way of thinking and raise awareness on creating a healthy relationship with work and forming realistic expectations of ourselves. I will share with you unexpected productivity strategies that work.

I want to help YOU become more productive without going insane.

Show Highlights:

What can we expect from the show?

1:25

I will share with you my experiences, failures, and the lessons I’ve learned in life. I will bring to the table my unique perspective as someone who works with people to increase their productivity and overcome hindrances.

Why start a podcast?

3:22

I think podcasting is fun. I want to explore and try out new content. My word for 2021 is “dauntless,” which means I’m pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. And podcasting is one way of doing that. I also want to make friends through this channel.

I am a big believer in sharing, not just for generosity’s sake. I believe that whatever you give out, it will come back to you.

Who is this podcast for?

4:16

While the strategies are primarily universal and can apply to various people and circumstances, I will be speaking from a female point of view. If you’re a female entrepreneur, freelancer, or business owner, then you would resonate the most with my content. Of course, this podcast is still for everyone who can relate to us and want to hang out.

When are new episodes of the Purposeful Productivity Podcast released? How long is each episode?

4:46

I will publish new content every Monday and work on being consistent with that schedule.
Episode length will vary. If it’s just me, I will keep it short - about 15 to 20 minutes only. For episodes with guests, these would be longer - around 45 to 60 minutes since I love talking to people.

What kinds of guests will you bring to the show?

5:20

I want a wide variety of voices to be on my show. The guests could be from my network, ranging from young professionals to well-established experts in their fields. I want to deep dive into productivity with them and understand what makes them do the things they do and what helps them stay productive.


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