Learn and Work Smarter

125. Making Your Commute Productive and Leading When You're Unmotivated (Q&A)

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send me a message!🤓In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show.Question 1: How can I make my commute...

124. How to Meet Tight Deadlines (Without Losing Your Mind)

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send me a message!🤓Deadlines don't care how overwhelmed you feel. Tight deadlines? Those require a completely different approach — more urge...

123. 5 Steps for Applying for Scholarships – with Expert Dave Peterson

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send me a message!🤓⭐Get the Scholarship Summer Camp + Note-Taking Power System Bundle right here: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/katie (you get m...

122. The Biggest Lie We Tell Struggling Students: Why Studying MORE Isn't the Answer

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send me a message!🤓⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProMost struggling students are in the situation they’re i...

121. Frustration Tolerance: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Build It

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Frustration tolerance is one's ability to sustain attention, endurance and emotional composure during frustrating tasks.While we all get frustrat...

120. Note-Taking During Phone Calls, ADHD Accommodations at Work and School, and Supporting College Students (Q&A)

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I answer three questions submitted by listeners of the show.Question 1: How to take not...

119. My Top 10 Favorite Tools for Productivity and Organization

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The work we do is more important than the tools we use. But that said, having the right tools can make a difference in how productive and organized we...

118. The Real Reason for Test Anxiety — And Why It Has Nothing to Do With Nerves

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sweaty palms. Racing breath. A pit in your stomach. And the worst one of all, a blank mind.Test anxiety does not feel good, and it most certainly does...

117. Building a Personal Operating System to Manage Information

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The way I teach it, a personal operating system is a set of systems and routines we use to manage the information that comes at us all day long.Whethe...

116. Understanding What You Read and How to Know If You're Performing Well at Work (Q&A)

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You're putting in the work. You're doing the readings. You're showing up. So why does it still feel like you're missing the mark?I...

115. How to Be Dangerous at School and Work (10 Traits of People Who Are Hard to Overwhelm)

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The most dangerous people in school and work aren't always the smartest in the room or the ones grinding the hardest. They're the ones who a...

114. Working Late AGAIN? 5 Reasons Why You're Still at the Office that Have Nothing to Do With Workload

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's 5 PM, everyone is leaving the office, but you’re staring at your to-do list thinking, “Oh my gosh, I’m going to be here all night.”W...

113. The 6-System Ecosystem for School and Work (And Why Working Harder Isn't Enough)

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Struggling to perform in school or work is rarely the result of just one missing skill. Sure, your procrastination tendencies might have to do with po...

Office Transition Strategies and the Power of Color in Study Methods(Q&A)

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show.Question 1: A working...

111. What to Do When You Don't Like Your Boss or Teacher

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

ALL relationships are hard. But the hardest ones are those we can't avoid, like at school and work. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarte...

110. How to Think: Why It's Hard, Why It Matters, and How to Do It in an AI World

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking is supposed to be hard. It's supposed to be messy and fragmented and dead-endy. It's supposed to make us feel vulnerable and like w...

109. Work-Life Balance Is a Lie: 3 Better, Way More Practical Ways to Think About Balance

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone says you need balance. But what if the entire concept of “balance” is nonsense in the first place?In this episode of the Learn and Work S...

108. Three Things You’re Overcomplicating About Getting Things Done (That Should Be Simple)

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to make things way more complicated than they need to be. And honestly? It's because thinking and planning feels easier than actually sit...

107. Simplifying Multi-Client Task Management and Managing Afternoon Energy Slumps (Q&A)

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this monthly Q&A, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. While the questions are different in their details, the fundamenta...

106. The Anti-Goal Goal-Setting Strategy: 3 Tweaks That Change Everything

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most people set goals completely wrong. They focus on outcomes they can't control, ignore their real schedules and energy levels, and wait for Ja...

105. The High Performer's Trap: Why Being Capable is Exhausting You

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you someone who says yes because you can see exactly how to make it happen? Do people come to you because they know you'll deliver? And are y...

104. 3 Reasons Your Study Methods Stopped Working (And How to Fix Them)

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You had a study system that worked perfectly. Then suddenly... it didn't. What happened?In this episode, I'm breaking down the #1 reason why...

103. How Long Should I Study and How Do I Stay Motivated (Q&A)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this month's Q&A episode, I'm answering two questions that hit on some of the biggest study and productivity myths out there. Questi...

102. The Friday Review: A Simple Weekly Habit for Calm Productivity

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us end our week by simply stopping, closing the laptop, and walking away. But then we wonder all weekend long why we can’t stop thinking abo...

101. Digital Declutter Strategies for School and Work: 5 Clutter Zones and How to Handle Them

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Digital clutter is easier to ignore than physical clutter, because we can hide it behind folders and tabs. But eventually, digital clutter builds up s...

100 Tips to Learn and Work Smarter (Celebrating 100 Episodes!)

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is our 100th episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast! To celebrate this cool milestone, I've gone back into every single episode and e...

99. Traditional Jobs vs. Entrepreneurship, and Preparing for What Comes After College (Q&A)

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I’m answering two listener questions from college students who are both wondering wha...

98. Secret Meeting Skills Nobody Teaches (But Everybody Notices)

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s more to meetings than just showing up and trying to sound smart. In fact, there’s a whole hidden curriculum in most meetings that is more ...

97. How to Fix a Bad Day: Practical Strategies You Can Use When Your Day Falls Apart

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the strategies in the world won't protect you from having an occasional bad day. Bad days are just ... part of being human. But how we respon...

96. Bad Productivity Advice You're Probably Following

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're following all the productivity advice you see on the internet, you're waking up early, and getting to inbox zero, and doing all the &...

95. Why You Always Think Things Will Take Less Time Than They Do: Time Estimation Tips (ADHD Friendly)

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Accurately predicting how long tasks will take to complete is a core skill related to time management. It’s called time estimation, and many of us a...

94. Simplifying Task Management and Staying Focused Despite Disruptions (Q&A)

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two of the biggest barriers to our productivity as students and professionals are over-complicated systems that don’t work and disruptions to our fo...

93. The 10-Minute Habit That Makes Every Day Less Stressful and More Productive

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beating procrastination and lowering stress at school and at work requires getting crystal-clear about what you’re doing. Without clarity, your mind...

92. Your Kid Needs THESE Skills to Be Okay

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many smart students struggle in school because no one ever taught them the actual skills of learning.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter pod...

91. Why “I’ll Remember That” Is a Lie: Working Memory Strategies and Tips(ADHD-Friendly)

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our working memory has many strengths, like doing mental math and remembering the first part of a sentence as we read the second part. But the one th...

90. Building a Reading Habit and Chronic Illness Work Tips (Q&A)

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting more reading into your life isn’t just about willpower, and working productively with chronic illness isn’t just about “pushing through....

89. The 4-Stage Funnel for Finishing Work on Time: A System for Students and Professionals

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting work done and completed on time isn’t just about motivation or working harder. (It rarely ever is.) Instead, it’s about whether your tasks...

88. Background Tasking: A Smarter Approach to Focus

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Multitasking feels productive, but the science says otherwise. Every time we switch between tasks, we lose time, accuracy, and energy — up to 40% of...

87. Should You Take a Gap or PG Year?

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The most traditional journey after high school is directly to a 4-year college. But for many students, there's a smarter path.In this expert inte...

86. Underrated College Resources and Using Blank Planners for Task Management (Q&A)

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast.Question one comes from a student...

85. 3 Invisible Blocks to Motivation and Success

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the most powerful influences on your success aren’t your calendar, your study techniques, or your productivity apps. They’re quieter, more...

84. How to Fail Smarter: The Secret Skill of Bouncing Back

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Failing hurts. But the better we can extract meaning from our failures, the faster we can bounce back from them. In this (slightly vulnerable) episod...

83. Anxiety’s Hidden Cost in School and Work (And What to Do About It) - with Dr. Jackie Parke

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I interview Dr. Jackie Parke, founder of Through the Waters and a psychologist who specializes ...

82. Post-Grad Gap Years + Should You Check Email in the Morning? (Q&A)

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. Question One: A college student asks whether taking a yea...

81. Is Grad School Worth It? How to Decide If It's Right for You

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grad school can be a terrific way to gain industry knowledge, career advancement and a financial bump. But it’s also expensive, time-consuming, and ...

80. How to Do a Work Sprint (And Make Massive Progress Fast)

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Got a big project you’ve been avoiding? Or one you just need to make massive progress on, fast? In this episode, I walk you through one of my favori...

79. Rejection Sensitivity and The Missing Piece in ADHD Productivity Advice — with Lindsay Roberts

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most ADHD productivity advice skips something essential: the internal dialogue, the fear of being judged, and the deep self-doubt. In this episode, I...

78. Weekend Work: Smart Move or Bad Habit? And How to Regain Weekday Focus (Q&A)

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it okay to work on weekends? And what’s going on when you sit down to work during the week but just… can’t? In this Q&A episode, I’m a...

77. How to Use Time-Blocking for Better Focus and Productivity

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly wondering where your day went, time-blocking can help. And if you've tried time blocking befo...

76. 10 Digital Calendar Power Moves for Students and Professionals

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us have a digital calendar… but few of us are using it to its full potential. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I’m ...

75. How to Pay for College with Scholarships — with Expert Dave Peterson

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if your college education could cost just $1,500? Seem too good to be true?In this expert interview episode, I chat with Dave Peterson of Scholar...

74. Should You Change Jobs or Change Companies? And Protecting Your Time at Work (Q&A)

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Should you change jobs or change companies? And how do you protect your time at work without feeling guilty? In this Q&A episode, I answer two pow...

73. How to Get Better at Something: A 2-Pronged Approach that Works

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Want to get better at something, but not sure how? Do you read more about it? Practice more? Ask someone for help? Close your eyes and wing it?In this...

72. How to Finish Unfinished Projects (Or Let Them Go Without Guilt)

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we tackle one of the biggest energy drains no one talks about: unfinished projects.You’ll lea...

71. Task Management Gaps and Grad School Overload (Q&A)

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do you still forget tasks even though you write everything down? And how are you supposed to keep up with grad school reading when there’s more ...

70. Managing People and Projects: Real-World Leadership Lessons from Richard Regitano

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes someone a strong leader? How do you manage people without micromanaging? And how do systems help you lead with clarity and calm?In this exp...

69. Top 10 Executive Function Skills You Need in the Real World (And How to Build Them If You Don't Have Them)

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like you're smart and trying—but still constantly behind?You might be missing the one set of skills that makes everything else possib...

68. The Time Management Trap No One Talks About

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like your calendar should be manageable—but you’re still totally maxed out? In this episode, I unpack one of the most frustrating time t...

67. Why Critical Thinking Matters for School & Work – with Professor Mark Massaro

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it really mean to “think critically”? In this episode, I chat with college professor Mark Massaro about how students can build critical ...

66. How to Stop Wasting Time at Work & Between College Classes (Q&A)

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself wasting time at work or between college classes, even though you want to be productive? Despite your best intentions, you’...

65. The Sunday Reset: The Secret to a Less Stressful Week

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all know that feeling — Monday morning hits, and suddenly we’re overwhelmed, scrambling to figure out what’s due, what meetings we have, and ...

64. How to Do Hard Things: 7 Strategies to Move You Forward

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all know that feeling: you sit down to start something challenging, and suddenly, everything else feels more appealing. Your phone, a snack, even c...

63. How to Have a Productive Day: My 3-Bucket System for Getting It Done and Staying Balanced

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know how satisfying it is to have a good, solid productive day — a day where we accomplish what we set out to accomplish and make progress on ou...

62. Managing Email Inbox Chaos and Email Paralysis

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I tackle two questions submitted by listeners – both about email overwhelm and procrastinatio...

61. How to Prepare for Meetings (So You Look Good to Your Boss)

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Preparing for meetings isn't just about avoiding embarrassment. (Although it's certainly about that too!) Preparing adequately for meetings...

60. How to Handle Workplace Conflict: Tips from an HR Expert -- with Jessica Alvarez

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Workplace conflict is inevitable. That's because relationships with our colleagues are just like any relationship: they require communication, co...

59. 7 ADHD Organization Tips for Students and Professionals

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting and staying organized can be challenging for people with ADHD. While intricate systems and high-tech tools might seem appealing at first, they...

58. In-Person vs. Online Classes, and Jobs vs. Internships (Q&A)

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners.Question 1: A working professional headed to graduate school asks a...

57. 20 Tips for Balancing School and a Part-Time Job

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Adding a part-time job to your student resume has many benefits: skill building and college applications just to name a few.But working while going to...

56. Choosing a College Major: What Every Student & Parent Should Know -- with Lisa Marker Robbins

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the first interview episode on the Learn and Work Smarter podcast!I have an enlightening conversation with college and career expert Lisa Marke...

55. How to Use Body Doubling to Boost Focus (with or without ADHD)

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever heard of body doubling? If not, you’re SO in the right place. In this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, I talk about the power of body doubli...

54. The Secret Ingredient Behind Every Accomplishment Ever

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We watch as people around us get the promotion, pass the exam, reach the goal...and we wonder what they have that we don’t have. The truth? It’s n...

53. Facing Time Management Reality and Setting Work Boundaries (Q&A)

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast, we’re answering two questions submitted by listeners.Question One: A working ...

52. SOPs and Workflows: How to Create & Use them to Increase Productivity

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, we’re diving into the world of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and workflows. We cover what they are...

51. How to Rest and Still Get Things Done: A Holiday Survival Guide

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So you think rest and productivity are opposites? Not true. In this episode, learn how to recharge in micro-moments, find rest that actually works for...

50. Why You're Bad at Taking Tests (And What to Do About It)

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So you think you're a "bad" test taker? I don't buy it. In fact, there are usually just two reasons why someone is "bad"...

49. How to Make Decisions Better, Faster and More Confidently

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Decision-making is a key skill of top performers. If you don't yet have this skill, you're likely familiar with the anxiety, procrastination...

48. Task Management Tips and the #1 Skill for Career Success (Q&A)

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s another monthly Q&A episode where I answer questions submitted by the Learn and Work Smarter podcast listeners!In this episode, we dive int...

47. How to REALLY Change a Habit

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If changing our habits were easy, we’d all have checkmarks next to each of our goals. In fact, if changing our habits were easy, our entire lives wo...

46. How to Be Professional

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Professionalism is more than the sum of our experience and expertise; it’s a series of behaviors and habits that indicate we take our work seriously...

45. Are You Doing Too Much?

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you doing too much? If you’re experiencing the 5 signs I share in this video, you’re probably overbooked, overextended, and overwhelmed.But do...

44. October Q&A: Managing Burnout, Office Disruptions & Task Management

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s another Q&A episode where I answer questions submitted by listeners (that’s you!).We talk about how to handle academic burnout, tips for ...

43. How to Focus When You're Working From Home

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, working from home has its benefits. But it’s also super hard to concentrate when you live and work in the same space. In this week’s episod...

42. 100 Organization Tips for School and Work: Part 2 (51-100)

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Part 2 of this awesome 2-part series about work and school organization. (Did you miss Part 1 with tips 1-50? It's linked below.)In t...

41. 100 Organization Tips for School and Work: Part 1 (1-50)

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get your pens or notes app out, because this is an episode you want to take notes on! This is Part 1 of a 2-part series, so head to In a rapid-fire ap...

40. September Q&A: How to Study from a Textbook, and Increasing Study Motivation

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by Learn and Work Smarter listeners. Remember: Other people often ask questions we didn’t ...

39. How to Ask for Help (When Being Resourceful Isn't Enough)

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's a sweet spot between driving yourself bonkers to figure out something on your own and being overly reliant on others to figure things out...

38. How to Be a Resourceful Person Who Can Figure Things Out

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most valuable professional and academic skills we can ever have is resourcefulness. The more responsibilities we have, the more we have to ...

37. How to Accept Feedback in Work and School: 9 Tips

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feedback has a purpose. Whether we receive feedback at school or at work, the goal of feedback is to make us better.But the reality is that accepting ...

36. How to Stop Procrastinating: Tips that Actually Work

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Spoiler alert! There is no magic pill to stop procrastinating. There's no secret mantra, no miracle will-power solution -- just you and the actio...

35. Executive Function Coaching: What Is It and Is It for You?

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Executive functions are some of the most important skills you could ever possess. (Strong claim, yep.) Because they’re so important, I’ve dedicat...

34. August Q&A: College Freshman Advice, Annotating Used Books, and Staying Relevant at Work

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for our August Q&A episode! This is where I answer questions submitted by listeners -- yes, that's you!In this week's Q&a...

33. Resume Tips for Students

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, you learn everything you need to know about building a student resume that sets you apart from ...

32. Pre-Vacation Prep: 3 Strategies to Return Stress-Free

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s nothing worse than taking time away from the office to relax, but then coming home to absolute chaos when you return.In this episode of the ...

31. How to Take Notes at Meetings (So You Work Smarter)

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we dive into the art of effective note-taking during meetings. Whether you’re a seasoned prof...

30. July Q&A: Tips for Your First Job and Saying No to Clients

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I answer two questions submitted by listeners in this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast.The first question is from a recen...

29. How to Take Useful Notes from Books

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we are talking about a skill that comes in handy for students, working professionals, and basic...

28. 6 Tips for Organizing Papers

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Although we live in a digital age, we’re somehow still surrounded by papers. Work papers, school papers, home papers – these can clutter our space...

27. How to Get Things Done With a Power Hour

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive into the concept of a Power Hour, a time management strategy designed to help working professionals and students make progres...

26. June Q&A: Maintaining Work Motivation and Double Majoring in College

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s another monthly Q&A episode where I answer questions submitted by listeners. (That’s YOU!) I answer two listener questions this month. ...