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With the year flying past (we are already past half way of 2016 – crazy), it is a great time to revisit those start of the year goals for you and the business.
And the number two goal for the majority of us (number one obviously being to get rid of that holiday tummy) has been to be more productive and get more done.
So let’s be honest with ourselves, are you being the most productive you could be? Are you accomplishing everything you want?
If not, today is a great day to kick our butts back into gear.
And where’s the best place to start, PODCASTS!
Podcasts exploded last year and now you can see one for nearly every niche under the sun. The popularity rose as more and more people saw the huge benefits of taking those wasted hours (in the car, waiting in line, at the gym) where they can take the opportunity to learn something new and interesting every day.
However, now with its popularity, there are thousands of podcasts to choose from, leaving you in a state of analysis paralysis – so let me help.
But first, let’s look at the best apps to listen to podcasts.
Best Apps to Listen to Podcasts
For your Apple device:
For your Android device:
- Podcast Addict (Free) Download
- Pocket Casts ($3.99) Download | Website
- Podcast Republic (Free) Download | Website
For your Windows device:
For your browser:
** And of course Spotify
The Biggest Mistakes People make when Listening to Podcasts
Soon we will go through my favourite productivity podcasts for 2016, but I urge you to follow my one rule of podcast listening:
“Listen to only one podcast author for a week at a time.”
This lesson took me some time to realise – after suffering to listen to the 30 podcasts, it all gets a bit overwhelming.
Allowing yourself to only listen to one podcast a week gives you time to focus on the story the presenter, really absorb the personality of the podcast and the lessons in what is not said, which can sometimes be just as profound as the spoken lessons.
Mistake 1: Try to listen to too many podcasts at a time.
Listening to one podcast for the week also gives you time to engage with the community. So many podcasts have a dedicated following and an active community. Getting involved in group discussions can be massively beneficial for your particular issues, but these communities can also be your accountability group to ensure you are getting the most out of the podcast.
Mistake 2: Not engaging with the community.
I constantly see this mistake. Often when people are listening to podcasts, they are actively listening and following along, but once a lesson is learnt, or some form of action is required, they just continue on to the next podcast.
They get lost in trying to stay busy by listening to all the podcasts in one go, rather than stopping and taking the action required to really absorb the lessons.
I know some podcasts are just there to listen to, but the following productivity podcasts have key lessons that actually require work to really get the most out of them!
Mistake 3: Don’t take the time to let the lesson sink in and take the work required.
Now that you know the mistakes to avoid and the key way to listen to the podcasts, it’s time to get into the 5 Best Podcasts for productivity in 2016 – in no particular order.
The Top 2016 Productivity Podcasts
The 5 AM Miracle with Jeff Sanders
Started 30th June 2013 | 160 Episodes | Released Weekly | Average Length: 30 min
The 5 AM Miracle is a weekly podcast dedicated to dominating your day before breakfast. It’s goal is to help you bounce out of bed with enthusiasm, create powerful lifelong habits, and tackle your grandest goals with extraordinary energy. For more information on achieving your own 5 AM Miracle visit JeffSanders.com.
Ideal For: Business Owners that are passionate about self development.
My Favourite Episodes:
- 7 Productive Habits to Complete Before 7:00AM [Podcast #151]
- How to Prioritize Your Projects in 5 Stages [Podcast #129]
- A Sharper Perspective on Getting Things DOne [Podcast #116]
Extreme Productivity with Kevin Kruse
Started 28th January 2016 | 26 Episodes | Released Weekly | Average Length: 10 min
Would you like to 10x your productivity while adding at least one extra hour of free time to your day? Join Kevin Kruse, a New York Times bestselling author and Inc 500 serial entrepreneur as he shares time management tips, tools and actionable advice from entrepreneurs, self-made millionaires, Olympic athletes, straight-A students and other ultra-productive people.
Ideal For: Busy professionals that need that quick productivity fix.
My Favourite Episodes:
- Hire An Assistant, Even If You Think You Can’t Afford One
- 6 Secrets to Beat ‘Overworked & Overwhelmed’
- 9 Step Procrastination Cure
The Productivityist Podcast
Started 27th August 2014 | 102 Episodes | Released Weekly | Average Length: 35 min
Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, The Productivityist Podcast is a weekly show that discusses tips, tools, tactics, and tricks that are designed to help you take your productivity, time management, goals, to do lists, habits, and workflow to new heights - both at work and at home. If you're looking to focus your efforts on getting the right things done and start living the good life, then this weekly conversational podcast – crafted in the tradition of Slate's Working, Back to Work, and HBR IdeaCast – is for you.
Ideal For: Professionals that want to learn the productivity secrets of other professionals.
My Favourite Episodes:
- Being Truly Productive with Michael Dolan
- Finding Your Signature Strengths with Scott Barlow
- Getting Reading Done with Mike Dariano
Beyond the To Do List | Personal Productivity Perspectives
Started 20th August 2012 | 142 Episodes | Released Weekly | Average Length: 40 min
Learn how to choose the right projects, tasks, and goals in work and life. Go Beyond the To-Do List! This show will help you do that with conversations with the people behind the productivity. It features talks with people on all aspects of productivity, including getting the right work done, getting good work done, and the true end goal of productivity: living a meaningful life. Erik Fisher talks with real people who practically implement productivity strategies in their professional and personal lives. You'll be refreshed and inspired after hearing how others fail and succeed at daily productivity and get ideas on how to move forward yourself.
Ideal For: Creative professionals that want to learn to master their craft from other professionals.
My Favourite Episodes:
- Processes: Pamela Wilson on systems, processes and collaboration - BTTDL140
- Peak Productivity: Charles Duhigg on becoming Smarter, Faster and Better - BTTDL138
- Action: Chris Brogan on taking action on the right things - BTTDL131
The Productivity Show
Started 2nd January 2015 | 100 Episodes | Released Weekly | Average Length: 30 min
Learn everything about time management, life hacks, productivity and getting things done (GTD). A weekly podcast that teaches you tips, techniques and habits for fighting procrastination, staying motivated, managing your email, inbox zero, eat that frog and the Pomodoro Technique. It also shares which productivity apps, tools, systems and platforms experts (such as David Allen, Tim Ferriss, Merlin Mann and others) use to stay productive and efficient. You will also find out the best way to set goals, organize your to-do list, calendar and your files, folders and documents.
Ideal For: Professionals that suffer with procrastination and doing work to be busy rather than results.
My Favourite Episodes:
- TPS97: Planning in 90-day Periods w/ Kendra Wright
- TPS:89: Stop Email Overload w/ Dmitri Leonov of SaneBox
- TPS 75: Simple Systems
In Conclusion…
Podcasts are a great way to spend the wasted time in commute, in line, or on the run to learn something new – especially from the list above. Just remember to not fall into the mistakes of listening to too many podcasts, not taking action on the lessons and not engaging with the community!
