In this bite-sized episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy gets into the surprisingly sneaky impact of unfinished tasks...or as she calls them, “pesky little loops.” If you’ve ever ended your day with a foggy head and a vague sense of dread, this one’s for you.

Drawing on ideas from productivity legends David Allen and Cal Newport, Kathy explores how vague to-dos (like “LinkedIn” or “Mum”) quietly eat away at your focus, drain your brain juice, and sabotage your ability to rest.

And yes, there’s a reason you feel overwhelmed before you’ve even started.

Listeners will learn:

• Why your brain hates unresolved tasks

• How to turn fuzzy thoughts into actionable steps

• Why writing things down isn’t just helpful — it’s essential

• Simple rituals to help you close loops and end the day with a clear head

Whether your task list looks more like a mind map of chaos or you’re just tired of thinking about the same thing on repeat, this mini-episode is a gentle but practical nudge to stop holding everything in your head.

Because sometimes, the smartest thing you can do for your productivity is to write it down and walk away.

Ever set a KPI and then instantly regretted it? You're not alone.

This week on Productivity Nerd, Kathy gets cosy with KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) — those tricky little metrics that promise focus and progress, but sometimes deliver burnout and box-ticking.

She is joined by Angela Peden from HJP Chartered Accountants, who knows her way around business goals, bonus schemes, and how to design a KPI that actually works (rather than one that ruins your weekend).

They dig into:

• What KPIs really are — and how they impact productivity, motivation, and morale

• The biggest mistakes businesses make when setting targets

• Whether tying KPIs to pay is genius… or just asking for trouble

• How to spot (and ditch) the KPIs that are quietly doing more harm than good

• Personal productivity KPIs — are they helpful, or just another to-do list in disguise?

If you’ve ever wondered whether your KPIs are working for you - or you’re just using them to look busy while quietly spiralling - this one’s for you.

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Ever heard the word “sprint” thrown around in meetings and nodded like you knew what it meant? Same.In this bite-sized episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy finally got to grips with what a sprint actually is — where it came from (hello, Agile and Scrum), how it works, and why it’s such a powerful tool for focused productivity.Whether you’re a techie, a founder, a freelancer, or just trying to finish something this century, this episode breaks down:✅ What sprints are and where they started✅ How Google Ventures runs a 5-day Design Sprint✅ The pros (focus! momentum! clarity!)✅ And the cons (burnout, anyone?)Plus, some thoughts on when to sprint… and when to slow the heck down.📚 Mentioned: Sprint by Jake Knapp – worth a read if you like structure and speed.Learn how to use sprints for writing, marketing, project work, and beyond — even if you’ve never coded a thing in your life.#SprintsExplained #DesignSprint #AgileProductivity #WorkSmarter #ProductivityPodcast #TimeBoxing #FocusWork #ScrumMethodology #GVDesignSprint #SprintProductivity #PersonallyVirtual #ProductivityNerd #ExecutiveAssistantSupport