You might be wondering how I survived the past six months of chaos and high cortisol levels. The answer? The same productivity habits and routines I have always leaned on — just adjusted to fit the circumstances. Because if there is one thing I have learned, it’s that flexibility is just as important as discipline.

For example, I was an early riser, hitting the exercise equipment at 5:30 AM to start the day with movement. But during the past few months, my body made it very clear that it needed more sleep. Pushing through exhaustion was not sustainable, so I listened. I adjusted. And I found a new way to keep movement in my routine without sacrificing the rest I needed.

Enter my new game changer: the walking pad.

With endless meetings filling my calendar — many critical but not necessarily requiring my direct input — I realized I could make better use of that time. Instead of staying seated for hours on end, I started using my walking pad during meetings where I was not presenting. Camera off, mic muted, and I was up and moving.

I cannot overstate how much of a difference this has made. I turned what felt like unproductive time into something actively beneficial for my health and focus. It is simple, easy to set up (wheels make it effortless to move), and has given me a small but meaningful way to stay active amidst the daily grind.

And with AI, I don’t have to worry about missing key details — I can use automated transcription tools to capture notes if needed. Since many of my meetings are department-wide check-ins to stay aligned during the migration, I do not have to be glued to the screen. Instead, I walk, listen, absorb, and surprisingly, focus even better than when I’m just sitting.
Sometimes, big adjustments are necessary to meet our goals. Other times, minor tweaks — like swapping the treadmill at dawn for a walking pad during the day — make all the difference. The key is to be open to change, listen to what you need, and experiment until you find what works.

What small adjustments have you made that have greatly impacted your productivity or well-being? I’d love to hear about it!