Before Breakfast
In each bite-sized, daily episode of Before Breakfast, host Laura Vanderkam shares a time management strategy or an answer to a listener’s schedule question. How can listeners make the most of their time, both at work and at home? The mission is to give listeners practical tools to feel less busy and get more done.
Our Editor's Take
Before Breakfast is a podcast that provides listeners with productivity tips. The host of the podcast is Laura Vanderkam. She is best known for her TedTalk, "How To Gain Control of Your Free Time," which has over eight million hits on YouTube.
The Before Breakfast podcast host is also the author of several books on productivity and time management. Tranquility by Tuesday and Make Time For What Matters are her bestselling works. Vanderkam also hosts three podcasts. She does all these things while raising five children. So when Vanderkam says she's an expert on time management, one might believe her.
Vanderkam's philosophy on time management is simple. There's always time for the fun stuff. The little pleasures are as important as the other things. Prioritizing them is key. Of course, the other stuff needs to get done. Through her planning method, Before Breakfast podcast listeners can work toward setting priorities.
Episodes of Before Breakfast last up to five minutes. During that time, Vanderkam gives listeners one tip for the idea. She would like listeners to listen to the tip at the very beginning of the day as a way to get it started.
The tips vary widely. Some focus on self-improvement. For example, she invites listeners to focus on the process as a way to reach goals. Other episodes help listeners thrive in the workplace. She recommends saying "Thank you for your patience" instead of "Sorry I'm late." Shifting from apology to gratitude can transform interactions. She thinks travel time is important, even for Zoom meetings. It's when mental preparation and transitions happen.
Listeners may enjoy the "Second Cup" episodes of Before Breakfast. Those are the productivity tips that don't pertain to work. They focus on how to get the most out of one's free time. For example, Vanderkam encourages listeners to find activities that lure them away from screen time. She suggests using lunchtime to plan.
Listeners will find Before Breakfast to be a great source of advice. The podcast might be a fantastic companion to a quiet morning cup of coffee.
Episodes