June 2025

If you’re new around here or somehow missed this about me, I’ll bring you up to speed on my love of podcasts. My friend jokes that if she had a dollar for every time I mentioned a podcast… Well, I’d be sponsoring her Starbucks habit. But I won’t apologize for it because I love learning and making my time driving productive by listening to something great – and sharing what I’ve learned with others.

Recently I shifted my listening time to an audiobook, and I have to tell you about it! (But do I have to give my friend a dollar?)

My favorite movie is Say Anything, so when Ione Skye released her memoir Say Everything, I dove right into it. It’s so powerful, and I kept stopping to take in her important messages. One anecdote she told really resonated with me and my principles of productivity.

She shared her and writer and director Cameron Crowe’s efforts to get John Cusack to be in the film. He had to be convinced, she says, and she recalls Cameron Crowe telling him he gets to be a “warrior for optimism.”

I think that answer is really wise but what I really love is the question: Why should I do something?

Asking why you might choose to do something or not is really important. We all make choices about how we spend our time, and sometimes they’re hard choices.

But, we have to make them and sometimes dig deep to think about the why – why for yourself, a friend, family, whatever contributes to the why for you in any situation.

I also like this approach when we observe how long something stays on a to-do list without getting done. If you keep kicking the can down the road, take it off the list! The why clearly isn’t important or relevant enough, or maybe just needs to be reconsidered or delegated.

Why is an important question for productive lives, so definitely take whatever time you need to answer it.

And, while you’re thinking about the things you need to do – and why – please consider why you’d join me for a Notebooks with Ronna workshop on July 15th. I’ll help get you started.

Why do the next Notebooks with Ronna workshop? 

• You will feel less stress. 

• You will have time for things that really matter, things that make you happy.

• You’ll be living proactively with all of your to-dos, cutting out the scramble. 

• You will find more peace in your household.

Ask yourself why. And then click here to register!

- Ronna

My Favorite Things 

It’s finally heating up here in the Midwest as we launch into our short-but-sweet summer - my favorite season! There are many reasons I love it, but one of the biggest is because my yoga practice takes to the water in the summer for SUP Yoga with Standup and Flow.

My Friday mornings all summer are blocked and allocated to something I love, something that is non-negotiable self-care and often requires some discipline to make happen. While it can be hard to stay committed even to things we love, and on occasion I have to be flexible (I have a seminar this summer so I’ll SUP on a Saturday that week), protecting your time for work and play is critical for productive lives.

Summer goes by fast so I work hard to be disciplined with my yeses and protect my favorite things, all without minimizing my work and family commitments, too.

I recently heard Gretchen Rubin talk on her podcast (another dollar!) about having a “Summer of Thinking Differently,” which is based on a similar tenet: embrace the season as an opportunity to look inward and make careful choices about how to spend time.

For me, one element really resonates: Create a sense of distinctiveness. Rubin encourages to make summer feel special and unique with an activity or ritual and to make the most of the season.

To that, from the middle of the lake on my board, I’ll say: Namaste.

The path next to my house

What I’m Thinking About

When I’m working at home, I’m at a standing desk in my dining room. There are birds chirping in a pretty bush right outside the window, and then there’s him.

He’s there every day at 2:45 p.m., rain or shine. He’s got his gym bag swung over his shoulder, and he’s walking the path next to my house that exits the neighborhood and ends at the fitness center. He’s there every day. He’s consistent.

And he reminds me of something very important: it’s simple but not easy to be consistent. And it’s also very important.

If you’re operating a business like me, consistency in social media is imperative. I know when I’m consistent, I’ll see results.

If you’re trying new processes like Notebooks with Ronna, consistency matters. (There’s a workshop open this month, register here!) Consistency is a key to learning the process and progressing as you’re working toward less stress and more time for things that really matter and make you happy.

Be consistent like he is because he’s in his 60s, he’s fit, and he’s reliable no matter the weather. He’s consistent and sees results.

Are you ready to explore how to avoid burnout, relieve stress and be more productive with customized time-management tools?

Fill out my contact form to set up a free 30-minute consultation.