My Pocket Psych

In this episode, we take a look at the role that productivity tools play in our ability to get stuff done at work.
Don't worry - this isn't an episode reviewing all the latest apps! But rather, we look at the essential categories of tools needed for the typical knowledge worker. Somewhere to manage their tasks and projects, somewhere to gather information and knowledge, and somewhere to manage their commitments. 
And just like all tools, we need to learn how to use these properly, avoid switching to the 'latest fad', and match the tool to the task at hand. 
Get in touch with your thoughts and questions, examples of your own productivity toolkit, and to share your tips for getting the most from these valuable tools. Email us at 'podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com' or join WorkLifeSpark and join the conversation there.
As ever, thanks for listening! 
Resources for this episode
Join our conversation about productivity on WorkLifeSpark and watch the recording of this month's Learn at Lunch: https://www.worklifespark.com/sign-up 
Blog post - How to choose a task management app: https://www.worklifepsych.com/how-to-choose-a-task-management-app/ 
Blost post - Personal knowledge management: Getting organised with PARA https://www.worklifepsych.com/para/

Richard is joined by Pilar Orti and Brie Caggiati , co-authors of 'Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams', a book that grew out of a season of the 21st Century Work Life podcast. 
They discuss the misconceptions that exist about remote work (and co-located office work!) and the role that organisational leaders, managers and individual employees can play in improving connection - whatever their work set-up. They flag the importance of job design, intentional communication, and the latitude individual employees have to make their remote working day work for them. 
How do you and your colleagues navigate the remote work challenge? Have you been summoned back to the office? How do you make remote work into something that works for you? Let us know via email (podcast at worklifepsych dot com) or by joining WorkLife Spark and joining the conversation there. 
As always, thanks for listening!
Resources for this episode
Connect and Thrive: the guide from WorkLifePsych to help combat loneliness and disconnection at work
Buy Connection and Disconnection in Remote teams from the Virtual not Distant website
Join WorkLifeSpark to keep the conversation going!
About our guests
Pilar Orti
After many years of teaching, training and collaborating with others, Pilar has finally settled down to a more solitary (but not lonely!) way of working, focusing on her work as a writer, voiceover and mat Pilates teacher. She's currently putting the finishing touches to 'All the World's a Workplace', a personal commentary on how remote work affects us emotionally and cognitively (to be published this Autumn 2026 by Blue Goat Books). She's already started laying down the foundations of her next book, which is leading her down memory lane as she discovers the origin of popular Spanish phrases. Pilar still hosts the 21st Century Work Life podcast, and is the voice of GoJetters' Xuli. The Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, in ebook and paperback format, can be purchased from online retailers. You can also buy the ebook directly from www.virtualnotdistant.com/books
Bree Caggiati 
Bree Caggiati is the co-author of Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams. She lives in Melbourne, Australia where she works as a journalist. She writes for Asiafruit Magazine and Produce Plus Magazine and has been published in Broadsheet, The Herald Sun, Silverkris and Escape Australia, among others. She has previously worked in marketing and brand journalism in the HR Tech sector, where she supported both companies and individual executives to become thought leaders in the future of work space.
During this time, Bree hosted the Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams podcast season on Virtual not Distant's 21st Century Work Life podcast.

In this third episode exploring the benefits of reflection, I take a look at how reflection can exist on a continuum of time and complexity. From a few moments in between meetings through to taking the time to review the week, month or even year gone by! It needn't be an enormously time-consuming activity, or one that requires us to maintain a complex and all-consuming diary of thoughts, feelings and events. 
Don't forget, I'll be facilitating a masterclass on how to make reflection a habit on April 29th, and you can find out more and reserve your place via the link in the resources below. 
Thanks for listening!
Resources for this episode
Find out more and register for this month's masterclass on reflection: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986208577322?aff=oddtdtcreator 
Join WorkLifeSpark, our online personal development community: https://www.worklifespark.com/sign-up 
Ep 207 - Tackling your procrastination habit: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/207/
Beating your procrastination: A psychological approach that actually works - https://www.worklifepsych.com/beating-your-procrastination-a-psychological-approach-that-actually-works/

In this second part of our focus on reflection and self-awareness, we take a look at the role of feedback. While it's not always comfortable to ask for - or receive! - feedback from our colleagues can make a valuable contribution to self-awareness and personal development. Others' perspectives can round out the view we hold about our own skills, behaviour and performance. 
In this episode, we look at how to request feedback from others, how to deal with the emotions we feel when we receive it, and how to make sense of what we receive. 
As always, thanks for listening! 
Resources for this episode
You can join our personal development community WorkLifeSpark here: https://www.worklifespark.com/sign-up 
You can find out more about this month's Masterclass all about personal reflection and self-awareness here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986208577322?aff=oddtdtcreator 
Check out the last episode, where we set the scene for reflection and self-awareness: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/209 
Find out more about our Coach on Tap solution here: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coachontap/

In this episode, we take a look at a key element of personal development and growth: reflection.
While so many of us feel we're too busy to engage in reflection, or worry that it's too time-consuming, this episode illustrates that we can start with tiny steps and grow from there. But it's not just thinking about our experiences. It's about sense-making and identifying ways that we can turn our insights into action.
And don't forget about this month's masterclass on reflection, where you'll learn how to structure your reflection, ensure you have a accessible record of your experiences, and know how to turn your experiences into helpful, workable actions. You can sign up via the link below.
In the next episode, we'll look at how to use feedback to support our reflection and growth - especially when the feedback isn't exactly what we'd like to hear!
For now, thanks for listening!
Resources for this episode
Register for this month's masterclass on developing a reflective practice
Join our online personal development community: https://www.worklifespark.com/sign-up 
Find out more about the Kolb Learning Cycle