James Clear wanted to start flossing, but he never managed to follow through. Despite his best intentions, his dental floss sat unused in a bathroom drawer.

Fortunately, James had learned a thing or two about human behavior and habit formation. As a self-improvement writer, he’d spent hours pouring over scientific data about behavior changes. He decided to apply a few of these concepts to his own quest.

First, he placed the floss on the bathroom counter, rather than tucking it inside a drawer. He made the floss visible.

Second, he realized he didn’t enjoy the tactile sensation of wrapping floss around his fingers, so he replaced it with floss picks. He made the floss more enjoyable.

Finally, he decided to floss immediately after brushing his teeth. He used a technique called “habit stacking,” in which a new habit is more likely to stick if it’s tied, or triggered, by an existing habit like toothbrushing.

Thanks to these techniques, James built a flossing habit. He shares these tactics and more in today’s podcast episode.

James Clear is one of the most well-respected and widely-known thinkers and writers in the world of habit formation and behavior change.

His website, jamesclear.com, gets more than one million visitors every month.

In this week’s episode, we deep-dive into how to create impressive habits and how to break the terrible habits that hold you back

If you’d like to start new habits like exercising, saving more, investing, meditating, journaling, practicing yoga or flossing, but despite your best intentions you can’t seem to make the habit stick, then this week’s podcast episode is for you.

 

Resources Mentioned:

---

Thanks to our sponsors!

MasterClass
With MasterClass you can learn from the best to become your best. Get 15% off any annual membership at MasterClass.com/afford.

---

Shopify
Sign up for your one month, one dollar per month trial period and start selling today at shopify.com/paula

---

Indeed
If you’re looking for amazing talent to bolster your team, you need Indeed. Go to indeed.com/paula and start hiring with a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit.

This episode is the latest in our monthly PM Talks series, where I’m joined by my friend Patrick Rhone to explore timeless ideas around productivity, creativity, and everything in between. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into what it really means to be creative—especially when you’re busy, overwhelmed, or stuck in perfectionism.

We unpack how constraints can fuel creativity, how time and space are both essential and elusive, and why imperfection might be your creative superpower. There’s a lot of riffing, real talk, and reflection in this one—and if you’ve felt like your creative well is running dry, this might be the refill you’ve been waiting for.

---

Six Discussion Points

• The relationship between speed, structure, and creativity
• Why constraints can actually enhance creativity (yes, really)
• John Cleese’s insight: creativity requires both time and space
• How perfectionism can sabotage creative flow
• Turning mundane tasks into creative opportunities
• The importance of being your own audience—and knowing what’s “for you”

Three Connection Points

This episode is a reminder that creativity isn’t just for artists—it’s for anyone trying to make something meaningful with their time. Whether you’re juggling routines, deadlines, or just trying to show up a little more intentionally each day, the ideas we explore here can help unlock creative momentum—even in life’s most constrained moments.

Want to support the podcast? You can subscribe to the show and leave quick rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts.

---

In this very special “Ask Mike Anything” edition of the podcast, the tables turn. TimeCrafting Trust Premium member and all-around thoughtful guy Tim O’Hare steps in to host and ask me questions submitted by listeners—and some of his own. From the value of journaling to the nuances of urgency, we explore what it truly means to right the ship when your time management feels off course.

This is a raw and reflective episode, recorded live with audience interaction. We talk through everything from tech transitions and app overload to the dangers of measuring productivity purely by numbers. If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but still can’t quite get it done, there’s something here for you.

---

Six Discussion Points

• Why journaling is my go-to tool for daily course correction—and why it’s easier than most people think
• How to close the gap between vision and reality using urgency, importance, and thoughtful task breakdown
• Navigating forced software transitions without losing your workflow (or your mind)
• How AI can help (or hurt) your attention and task clarity, depending on how you use it
• How to make progress on tasks you’re procrastinating—even if you “know better”
• Why I focus more on productiveness than productivity, and how to measure what really matters

Three Connection Points

Whether you’re new to TimeCrafting or a longtime practitioner, this conversation highlights what so many of us wrestle with: the difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. If you’ve been stuck, scattered, or just seeking clarity, I hope these answers light a way forward.

Want to support the podcast? You can subscribe to the show and leave quick rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts.

---