– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

[Music]

Hello everyone and welcome back to the

English Dialogue podcast. I'm Emma

joined as always by my co-host Mike. Hey

Emma. Hi everyone. Today's topic is one

that affects us all. Productivity and

time management.

Yes, these days everyone's juggling

multiple tasks. work, family, personal

goals. It can feel overwhelming.

Exactly. But we don't have to feel

powerless. There are strategies that can

help us make better use of our time and

energy. Mike, how do you define

productivity for yourself? For me,

productivity isn't just about doing more

and less time. It's about doing the

right things efficiently, focusing on

quality, not just quantity.

Right. Productivity is about aligning

our actions with our priorities so that

we're not just busy, but actually moving

forward in meaningful ways. Yes. And

time management is one of the tools that

help us get there. Setting schedules,

breaking down tasks, and making space

for what matters. I remember a time when

I tried to tackle everything at once

without any real system. I'd end up

stressed and exhausted. Eventually, I

realized I needed a structure. I started

using a planner, assigning tasks to

specific time blocks, and giving each

project the attention it deserved. That

changed everything. I felt more in

control and less overwhelmed.

That's a great example, Emma. Having a

system helps create boundaries between

tasks and prevents them from bleeding

into one another. Yes.

And when we allocate our time

consciously, we can prevent the feeling

of constant rushing. One technique I

find helpful is the Pomodoro technique.

Working in focused bursts and then

taking short breaks. I've tried that

too. How does it help you specifically?

When I use the Pomodoro technique, I

commit to say 25 minutes of deep focus

on one task. No phone checks, no email

distractions.

After that, I give myself a five minute

break. This method trains my brain to

concentrate in sprints, making even

challenging tasks more manageable. By

the end of a few cycles, I've

accomplished a lot without feeling

mentally drained. That's a solid

strategy. It also helps break large

tasks into smaller, more digestible

parts. Exactly. and it reduces

procrastination because you only have to

commit to 25 minutes at a time. Another

approach is to set clear, achievable

goals. Without goals, productivity can

become aimless. Right? If we don't know

what we're aiming for, we might work

hard all day but not get closer to what

truly matters. I found that setting SMR

goals specific, measurable, achievable,

relevant, and timebound helps me stay on

track. For example, instead of saying I

want to write more, I set a goal like

write 1,000 words for my blog by

Thursday evening. That gives me a clear

target and a deadline, helping me manage

my time effectively.

That's a great example. The clarity in

the goal helps with planning when and

how to do it. Yes. And knowing exactly

what done looks like makes it easier to

measure progress.

Also, learning to prioritize is crucial.

We often have more tasks than we can

handle, so choosing what comes first

matters. I find the Eisenhower matrix

helpful categorizing tasks by importance

and urgency. How do you use it in

practice? I list out my tasks and sort

them into four categories. Urgent and

important. Important but not urgent.

Urgent but not important. And neither

urgent nor important. Urgent and

important tasks get done first.

Important but not urgent tasks are

scheduled. Urgent but not important

tasks might be delegated if possible.

and tasks that are neither urgent nor

important can often be eliminated. This

helps me focus my time on what truly

moves the needle forward. That's a great

system. It cuts through the noise and

keeps us from spending time on trivial

distractions,

right? It forces us to be honest about

what really matters. Another aspect is

energy management. Some tasks require

deep focus, others less so. Yes, we

should schedule tasks according to our

peak energy times. When are you most

alert, Mike? I'm usually most focused in

the morning. That's when I try to tackle

complex tasks, writing reports,

analyzing data. Afternoons, when I'm a

bit less sharp, might be for responding

to emails, or having casual meetings. By

matching tasks with my natural energy

rhythms, I work more efficiently and

feel less fatigued. That makes sense.

We're not robots. Our energy fluctuates

throughout the day. Exactly. And if we

ignore that, we waste more time pushing

through tasks when we're not at our

best. We should also think about

minimizing

distractions. Notifications, social

media, and clutter all eat into

productivity.

Yes, even small interruptions can

disrupt the flow and cost us more time

than we realize. I've made a habit of

turning off non-essential notifications

during my focused work periods. I'll

close unnecessary browser tabs, set my

phone to silent, and sometimes even put

on noiseancelling headphones. Just

making that environment distractionfree

can double my output in the same amount

of time. Those small changes add up. We

often underestimate how much time we

lose to distractions.

Another tip, learn to say no when you're

at capacity. Taking on too much leads to

burnout and poor results.

Absolutely. Boundaries protect our time

and energy, ensuring we can do quality

work on what we've already committed to.

Sometimes it's hard to say no,

especially if we fear disappointing

others or missing opportunities. True.

But if we say yes to everything, we end

up

overextended. It's more respectful to

ourselves and others to be honest about

our limits. By saying no when necessary,

we're making sure we can deliver on what

we've agreed to. Quality over quantity

applies to our commitments as well as

our tasks. Well said. Being honest with

ourselves and others prevents stress and

maintains trust. Another factor is

regular review. Productivity isn't a set

it and forget it system. It needs

periodic adjustments.

How do you review your system? At the

end of each week, I look at what I

accomplished and what fell behind. I ask

myself, did I work on my top priorities?

Did I allocate my time well? Were there

unexpected

interruptions? This reflection helps me

refine my approach. Maybe I need a

different schedule or to delegate

certain tasks. Over time, these small

tweaks help me become more effective.

That's a strong practice. Reflection

ensures we keep evolving and improving

our time management.

Exactly. It's about continuous

improvement. We can also think about

automating or streamlining repetitive

tasks. Sometimes technology can save us

time.

Yes, from setting up email filters to

using productivity apps, we can offload

some tasks to tools. For instance, if I

notice I'm spending too much time

scheduling meetings, I might use a

scheduling tool that shows my

availability and lets others pick a

slot. This removes the back and forth

emails and frees up that time for more

meaningful work. Simple automations like

this can have a big impact in the long

run. Absolutely. Automation can remove

friction and streamline workflows.

And remember, productivity isn't just

about work. Managing our time well

creates room for relaxation, exercise,

and family. Right? Balanced time

management leads to a fuller, healthier

life overall, not just better work

output. We should schedule downtime to

time for hobbies, rest, and fun. Yes. If

we don't recharge, we risk burnout,

which ultimately hurts productivity.

I've realized that when I take care of

my well-being, sleeping enough, taking

breaks, exercising, I'm more focused and

efficient when I'm working. Those

non-work activities actually support my

productivity rather than detract from

it. It's about seeing the bigger

picture. We're holistic beings, not just

productivity machines. Very true. Good

time management includes caring for

ourselves too. Also, don't forget to

celebrate

accomplishments. Recognizing progress

keeps us motivated. Yes, acknowledging

what we've done well fuels us to keep

going. It's easy to focus on what's left

undone, but celebrating wins gives a

sense of satisfaction.

I keep a done list alongside my to-do

list. At the end of the day or week, I

review it to see what I achieved. It's a

small shift in perspective that reminds

me that I am moving forward. This builds

confidence and resilience, making it

easier to tackle future tasks with a

positive mindset. I love that idea.

Focusing on progress, not just pending

work, is uplifting.

So, productivity and time management

aren't just about cramming more into our

schedules. They're about aligning

efforts with priorities, using efficient

strategies, protecting our energy, and

maintaining balance.

Exactly. It's a holistic approach.

Knowing our goals, using tools that

help, setting boundaries, and nurturing

our well-being. We hope these insights

help you find a better rhythm in your

daily life. Thanks for joining us today

on the English Dialogue Podcast. Take

care everyone. Remember, time is a

resource. Use it wisely and kindly.

Until next time.

[Music]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
productivity /ˌproʊdʌkˈtɪvəti/ B2	noun - the state or quality of being productive
management /ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ B1	noun - the process of dealing with or controlling things or people.
tasks /tæsk/ A2	noun - a piece of work to be done or undertaken.
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. verb - to perform an activity involving mental or physical effort in order to achieve a purpose or result.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
goals /ɡoʊl/ B1	noun - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
energy /ˈenərdʒi/ A2	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.
system /ˈsɪstəm/ A2	noun - a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network.
focus /ˈfoʊkəs/ B1	verb - pay particular attention to noun - the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition
strategy /ˈstrætədʒi/ B2	noun - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
efficiently /ɪˈfɪʃntli/ B2	adverb - in a way that achieves maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
priorities /praɪˈɒrəti/ B2	noun - a thing that is regarded as more important than another.
boundaries /ˈbaʊndri/ B2	noun - a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.
progress /ˈproʊɡres/ B1	noun - forward or onward movement toward a destination. verb - move forward or onward toward a destination.
balance /ˈbæləns/ B1	noun - an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. verb - keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall.