If you've ever ended a workday wondering who actually decided how it was going to go, this one's for you.

I'm walking you through the four moves I built into my My Intentional Day planner: 1.Starting the day emotionally on purpose (grounded in Barbara Fredrickson's research on positive emotions)

2.Choosing three goals instead of ten,

3. Planning for my body and not just my brain

4. The Energy Wheel to actually recharge instead of just reaching for coffee.

I share the confession I get the most messages about (yes, I dance at my desk), and why the order of these steps matters more than any single one on its own. This isn't about squeezing more out of yourself. It's about building a work day that's shaped like you, not one you're constantly trying to survive.

Download the free Planner : https://shanaelsee.myflodesk.com/u7nq33edz9

In this episode I talk about something I call "the pull."

It's the difference between a workspace you have to force yourself to sit down in and one that draws you in. Because your environment isn't just the container for your work, your environment can energize you or drain you. I share the research showing that a space with life in it, one you had a hand in creating, can boost your productivity by up to 32 percent. And I leave you with one simple question to ask about your own workspace: what's the pull?

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When you work from home, accountability doesn't just happen — you have to build it yourself. In this episode, I break down why an accountability partner might be the most underrated productivity tool for WFH life. Backed by research showing success rates jumping from 10% to 95%, this is less about systems and more about not carrying everything alone. Simple, powerful, and easier to start than you think.

https://shanaelsee.com/

Working from home was supposed to make life easier—but for many moms, it’s layered with guilt. In this episode, I sit down with Avital, founder of “Hi Fam,” to unpack the emotional weight so many mothers carry while juggling work and home under one roof.

With a rare blend of clarity and compassion, Avital helps us reassess where that guilt comes from, why it lingers, and how to move through it without losing ourselves in the process. This is an honest, grounding conversation about redefining balance, softening expectations, and finding a way forward that actually works for you.

Do you start your day by opening your inbox — or by deciding what actually matters?

In this episode, we explore how email has quietly become the architect of our workdays — and how that shift is impacting our focus, stress levels, and sense of autonomy. Drawing on Microsoft’s research around the “Infinite Workday,” I share a simple but powerful alternative: plan your day before you open your inbox.

This isn’t about ignoring email — it’s about repositioning it. Because unless you’re a brain surgeon, most things aren’t truly urgent. And when you take ownership of your priorities first, everything changes.

A practical, reflective episode for anyone who wants to work with more intention and less reactivity.

The Multitasking Myth: Why Doing More Makes You Achieve Less

In this episode, we break down the hidden cost of multitasking—and why your brain isn’t built to juggle it all. Discover how attention switching quietly drains your energy, slows your progress, and lowers your decision quality. You’ll learn why “busy” doesn’t mean productive, and how single-tasking in short, focused bursts can help you think clearer, work faster, and feel less exhausted.

This week: stop multitasking. Start noticing. One task, one moment at a time.

Renewable Energy is a research-based episode that challenges one of the most ingrained productivity beliefs: that time is our most valuable resource. Drawing on the work of Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy, this episode explores a different lens—one that shifts the focus from managing time to managing energy. We break down the four dimensions of energy (physical, emotional, mental, and purpose), why traditional time management often fails, and what performance research reveals about rhythms, recovery, and sustainable focus. This episode isn’t about doing more—it’s about understanding how energy actually works, and why learning to renew it is the key to clarity, effectiveness, and long-term performance.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Mira Feldman to explore a common work-from-home challenge: constant distractions and interruptions from family members. Drawing on her clinical experience, Mira guides us through the delicate family dynamic and shares practical, positive ways to set clear boundary systems—ones that actually last with kids and spouses. This conversation is about creating sustainable, effective solutions that support both your work and your home life.