What if the secret to a happier, more productive life isn’t doing more, but designing your day differently?

I chat with Bruce Stanley about day crafting, the art of intentionally shaping your daily routines to support personal growth and well-being. Bruce takes us through his journey from graphic design to adult education and coaching, and why he believes that chasing big goals isn’t the way to create meaningful change.

We dig into the challenges of modern productivity, how the nine-to-five grind can drain your energy, and why paying attention to your energy and connections throughout the day matters more than hitting “peak performance” once in a while. Bruce shares practical ideas for experimenting with your daily routines, prioritizing self-care, and creating small, memorable moments that enrich life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your routine or overwhelmed by big goals, this episode will give you a fresh, practical way to rethink your day and your life, one small step at a time.

Key Takeaways:

Day crafting focuses on designing your day intentionally.

The good life is a daily practice, not a future goal.

Energy management is crucial for effective daily routines.

Small experiments can lead to significant changes in daily life.

Breaking free from the nine-to-five mindset can enhance creativity.

Play and innovation are interconnected in daily practices.

Creating memorable moments enriches our life stories.

Resources Mentioned:

⁠Daily Rituals by Mason Curry⁠

⁠Day Crafting Workbooks⁠

⁠Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Connect with Bruce:

Website: https://www.daycrafting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucestanley/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/day_crafting_/

More About Building Thinkers:

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.