My Intentional Day
Welcome to My Intentional Day
For over 30 years, people have hired me to clean up digital chaos and messes.
Sometimes those messes involved information management … sometimes digital distractions and time management. More recently, they involve helping people figure out how artificial intelligence fits into their lives.
No matter the challenge, I’ve noticed the same pattern.
People are overwhelmed.
Inboxes are overflowing. Calendars are packed. Phones and computers never stop buzzing from notifications. Every new technology promises to save time, yet many of us feel busier, more distracted, and more exhausted than ever.
Along my journey, I learned something very significant.
The goal shouldn’t be productivity.
While increased productivity is often desired, the goal should be self-care.
Productivity always follows when we take better care of ourselves.
Earlier this year, I underwent major liver surgery related to my battle with polycystic kidney and liver disease. The surgery removed nearly 40% of my liver along with a half-dozen very large cysts. The recovery was far more difficult than I expected, and there were days when simply getting through the next hour felt like enough.
Experiences like that have a way of clarifying things.
They remind you in the deepest way that time is not an unlimited resource. They remind you that being busy and living well are not the same thing. Most of all, they remind you that productivity should not be the goal.
Life is the goal. Treating people with kindness and respect is the goal, but you can only achieve these things if you first take care of yourself. What does the flight attendant always say before takeoff? … If the cabin loses pressure, put YOUR oxygen mask on first!
That experience is one of the reasons I’m starting this newsletter as I enter the next phase of my life.
When most people hear “time management,” they picture color-coded calendars, elaborate systems, and squeezing more work into every hour. The purpose of better time management isn’t to become a more efficient machine. It’s to become a more intentional human being.
Technology plays a huge role in that equation. Used thoughtfully, technology can eliminate friction, reduce stress, and help us focus on what matters most. Used poorly, it can consume every spare moment and leave us feeling perpetually behind.
The same is true for artificial intelligence. The future shouldn’t be about doing more simply because technology allows us to do more. The future should be about using technology to create more space for the things that matter most, professionally and personally.
That’s what this newsletter is about.
In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll share practical ideas on:
Life hacks
Time management
Attention management
Digital organization
Mindful technology use
Artificial intelligence
Productivity systems
Focus and concentration
Creating more margin in our lives
Some posts will be tactical. Some will be philosophical. Some may simply be observations from the road, from a conference, my front porch, a book I’m reading, or my own attempts to live a more intentional life.
My hope is that each issue leaves you with at least one useful idea you can put into practice immediately.
Thank you for joining me at the beginning of this journey.
Let’s build more intentional days together.
— Paul