Episode 42.5 - Welcome to 2026: Are You Fast-Forwarding Through Life?

Hello shiny new year, fresh notebooks, and big plans! In this mini episode of Productivity Nerd , Kathy kicks off 2026 with a thought experiment inspired by productivity favourites Ali Abdaal, Will MacAskill (maybe?), and Stephen Bartlett. It’s a bit of a mash-up - like most good ideas - and it all centres around how we spend our time. Think of your hours like casino chips. You get 100 a week (after life’s essentials like sleep, snacks and showers). How are you spending them... and more importantly, would you choose to fast forward through some of them? Kathy introduces the “Fast Forward Test” , a simple but brilliant way to check in with how you’re using your time. Are you speeding through your days like a bad audiobook on 1.8x speed, or are you actually enjoying the moments that make up your life? It’s a gentle nudge to be more present, notice what brings real satisfaction, and maybe tweak the parts of your week that feel more chore than choice. Perfect for business owners, freelancers and permanently exhausted pigeons looking to make 2026 feel a little more intentional.