Focus on This
by Full Focus
Start loving Mondays! Join Marissa & Joel each week for practical strategies, weekly rhythms, and honest insights to help you slow down, show up, and live intentionally. Based on the proven Full Focus methods used in the Full Focus Planner™, each episode offers habits, mindset shifts, and real support so you can quiet the noise, follow through, and build a life that feels good to live. Ready to focus on what really matters?
Episodes
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What's Actually Worth Your Time?
Not all work is created equal. Some of what fills your days is gold: high-value work that directly drives results. The rest falls along a spectrum, from full-on “fake work” to lower-leverage work that feels productive but simply isn’t as valuable. Today, Joel and Marissa get into how to pan for...
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The Self-Awareness Advantage
“Know thyself.” It’s ancient advice that still applies in the modern workplace. In this episode, Joel and Marissa continue unpacking The Priority Filter by considering how self-awareness serves you on the clock and why it’s a key consideration as you determine what you do today. They dig into...
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The Difference Between Busy and Productive
You can work really hard on the wrong stuff. In fact, most people do. Unfortunately, work can look and feel productive without being productive. Most wasted effort happens because tasks pass two of the Priority Filter’s tests but fail the third. When that happens, you’re stuck in an overlap trap....
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How to Decide What to Do Today
The average professional carries dozens of items on their to-do list, and not all of them are worth doing: you’re only doing them because someone asked, it caught your attention, you noticed it needed doing, or you’ve always done it. When our to-do lists are too long, we think working better and...
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The Improviser: The Half-Life of a Good Idea
The Improviser follows curiosity wherever it leads (usually leaving a trail of half-finished projects behind them). They’re creative problem-solvers who see connections nobody else sees, forge new paths when the standard approach isn’t working, and can produce extraordinary work when the stakes…
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The Optimizer: The Fine Print of High Standards
The Optimizer is quick to notice the gaps between what is and what could be, but they’re slower to recognize when finished work is good enough. They make sure the work gets done right, the first time. That’s a recipe for excellence, but also for exhaustion—often tied up with some unintentional...
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The Juggler: The Gravity of Keeping Everything Airborne
The Juggler is the person you hand something to and never think about again—but they’re also the person carrying a load nobody around them can fully see. The relentless capability of this WorkStyle powers the Juggler’s ability to hold more than most people can track and pivot on the turn of a…
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The Achiever: The Inertia of Being Unstoppable
The Achiever is the person to call when you want to expand the limits of what’s possible—but they’re also the person most likely to push past their own limits and ride their momentum right into the ground. The relentless drive of this WorkStyle powers the Achiever’s ability to finish fast and...
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The Giver: The Dilemma of Being Dependable
The Givers in our midst—the ones who anticipate needs, listen deeply, and jump in to help—are often the people holding our teams and our society together. But their generosity can be a double-edged sword, leaving them run-down while the people who depend on them fail to notice they’re flagging.…
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Introducing Your WorkStyle: Why the Same Advice Keeps Not Working
You’ve tried the system, the reset, the earlier alarm, the batched tasks, the protected mornings—and somehow you keep landing in the same place. In this episode, Joel and Marissa return from hiatus to introduce the WorkStyle Assessment and explain why one-size-fits-all productivity advice keeps...
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We're Back!
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: How to Clear Your Calendar in Your Busiest Seasons
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Creating Effective Habits with Amy Porterfield
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: 10 Activities to Get Off Your Screens and Back to Real Life
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Overcoming the Thinking That Holds You Back
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Mastermind It: 4 Ways to Win with Friends
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: 4 Tactics for Building Goal Momentum
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Fireside Chat: Establishing Your Planner Habit
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: 6 Questions to Level Up Your Next Quarter
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: 4 Categories of Powerful Professional Goals
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Unlock the “Fresh Start Effect” with Weekly Preview
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: Helpline: How to Make Progress on “Off” Days
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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SUMMER REPLAY: The Power of Constraints: Do Less, Achieve More
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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What's Ahead This Summer
Watch on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/OYJgPIaC48E This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
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What to Do When Life Hits the Fan?
Everyone has a plan until life punches them in the face. In this episode, Joel and Hannah tackle what to do when chaos strikes—a family crisis, a health scare, an unexpected bill, a work emergency—and how to stay productive, grounded, and sane while you're in the thick of it. The answer isn't...
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The Question That Cuts Through Everything
Most of us are working hard, but not always on the right things. In this episode, Joel and Hannah dig into the one question that cuts through overwhelm, busyness, and the pressure to do it all: What's most important right now? Simple to ask, harder to live—but the rewards on the other side are...
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The Human Superpower That's Making Life Harder
We’re wired to read other people's minds, or at least to think we can. And most of the time, we don't even realize we're doing it. In this episode, Joel and Hannah unpack the fascinating neuroscience behind mind reading, why it's both essential and deeply flawed, and what it actually costs us…
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Procrastination: The Dungeons & Dragons Edition
Procrastination has a reputation problem. We treat it like a character flaw, but what if some procrastination is actually the smartest move you can make? In this episode, Joel and Hannah borrow a framework from Dungeons & Dragons to map out four distinct types of procrastination. Once you know…
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Gremlins!
Announcement for April 6th & April 13th episodes
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Work Is Never Finished (So Stop Waiting for It to Be)
Work is never really finished—so if you're waiting for the to-do list to run dry before you close your laptop, you'll be there all night. In this episode, Joel and Marissa tackle one of the most common struggles inside the Full Focus community: how to actually end your workday. From the always-on...
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The Deeper Problem with Distractions
You know what distracts you. But do you know why? In this episode, Joel and Marissa dig into the real source of distraction—and it's not your phone, your boss, or the pile of laundry calling your name. Nearly half the time, we're interrupting ourselves. The good news: once you understand what’s...
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Want to Succeed? Stop Thinking About Your Goal
What if the fastest way to reach your goals is to stop fixating on the finish line? In this episode, Marissa and Joel explain why goal-obsession leads to discouragement, procrastination, and rigidity — and why progress actually accelerates when you focus on the process. Nine times out of ten,...
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Spring Clean Your Life (for Your Sanity)
Spring is a natural reset—and not just for your junk drawer. In this episode, Marissa and Joel explore what it looks like to spring clean your life by removing what’s creating friction: too many goals, overly complicated routines, and nagging clutter that drains your attention. They talk about…
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Breaking Out of “Busy” (Planning 2.0 Pt. 2)
Do your weeks feel overstuffed—even when you’re trying to be intentional? In part two of this series, Marissa and Joel finish their conversation on Elizabeth Stanley’s Planning 2.0 (from Widen the Window) and get extremely practical: they break down how to use the Ideal Week as a “time budget”…
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Moving From Anxiety to Peace (Planning 2.0 Pt. 1)
How do we cope with an unpredictable world? Most of us overplan—rehearsing scenarios and bracing for every outcome—and then wonder why we feel anxious. In this episode, Marissa and Joel contrast Planning 1.0 (fear-driven contingency planning) with Planning 2.0 (intentional, flexible planning…
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Your Energy Audit: Why Your Days Feel Harder Than They Should
You can’t manufacture more time—but you can restore and expand your energy. In this episode, Marissa and Joel explore the “time-energy paradox” and why so many productivity strategies backfire by leaving you exhausted. They unpack three major energy drains and share practical strategies to give...
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Your Worst Productivity Habit (It Isn’t Your Phone)
Most people blame their phones for their lack of productivity, but the real culprit is sneakier: overestimation. In this episode, Marissa and Joel unpack why we consistently plan for best-case scenarios and then spiral when real life doesn’t cooperate. You’ll learn how overestimating your…
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Work with Your Season, Not Against It
Would you plant flowers in December—or plan a ski trip in June? Probably not. But many of us do the equivalent with our goals: we try to force outcomes that don’t match our actual capacity, energy, or reality. In this episode, Marissa and Joel walk through five “seasons” you may find yourself...
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Your Essential Year-End Reset
2025 probably didn’t go according to plan—and that’s exactly why it’s worth paying attention to. In this episode, Marissa and Joel walk you through a simple reflection process for the last 11 months: naming what worked, facing what hurt, and deciding what you actually want to carry into 2026....
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Do Less and Enjoy More During the Holidays
The holidays can feel like a sprint with a suitcase. Marissa and Joel show you how to lighten the load with four concrete moves: define non-negotiables, eliminate what doesn’t matter, delegate what doesn’t require you, and (yes) procrastinate strategically. You’ll get scripts, shortcuts, and a...
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The Gratitude Advantage
As we head into Thanksgiving (in the United States), Joel and Marissa get practical about gratitude—the tiny habit that expands your perspective, steadies your pace, and strengthens relationships. From a coffee-cup thought experiment to a one-line script you can use today, you’ll learn how...
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Time Wasters Stealing Your Focus
Most stalled days aren’t about willpower—they’re about constant context-switching. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller break down the science of interruptions, how internal distractions amplify them, and practical ways to protect your best hours. Expect notification triage, deep-work...
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How To Protect Your Priorities Before The Holidays Hit
Deadlines stack up. Daylight shrinks. Invitations multiply. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller show you how to defend what matters—at work and at home—so you can enjoy the season and finish the year well. You’ll get boundary scripts, simple rituals, and a right-sized Ideal Week you…
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The Daily Big 3: Your Key to Sanity
Long lists create stress and scattered effort. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller show how the Daily Big 3 turns overwhelm into progress. You’ll learn a practical, repeatable way to choose three high-impact tasks each day—grounded in your Weekly and Quarterly Big 3—so you can be...
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The Double Win at Work and Home
Work–life balance is a baseline—flourishing is the goal. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller unpack the evolved Double Win: 6 life-giving practices that move you toward joy. You’ll learn why different generations get stuck in opposite ditches, and the simple rhythms that help you feel...
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Winning Monday Starts on Sunday
Sunday scaries are real—but what if they don’t have to be? In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller show you exactly how to win every Monday by doing a Weekly Preview by Sundays. You’ll learn why “the scaries” happen, how to calm your system with clarity, and the practical steps to enter...
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Fall Reset: How to Recalibrate for Q4
Q4 can feel like calendar compression—year-end deadlines, next-year planning, and nonstop personal commitments. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller share a clear, compassionate plan to reset for fall. You’ll explore six Practices of Flourishing, simple ways to reclaim presence, and...
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Focus is Your Superpower
Focus on This is back with a brand-new season—and a brand-new co-host. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt welcomes Joel Miller, Chief Content Officer at Full Focus, to talk about why focus matters more than ever in 2025. Together, they unpack the state of distraction we’re all living in, the…
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6 Questions to Level Up Your Next Quarter
The first quarter of 2025 is almost over. Are you where you thought you’d be? Whether you’re ahead of schedule or feeling behind, now’s the perfect time to reset. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Ken Freire walk you through six essential questions to help you reflect on Q1, refocus for Q2, and...
About this show
Start loving Mondays! Join Marissa & Joel each week for practical strategies, weekly rhythms, and honest insights to help you slow down, show up, and live intentionally. Based on the proven Full Focus methods used in the Full Focus Planner™, each episode offers habits, mindset shifts, and real support so you can quiet the noise, follow through, and build a life that feels good to live. Ready to focus on what really matters?
Hosted by
Full Focus