The Productivity Hack That Changed My Leadership.

How Micro Pauses Boost Leadership (And Save Hours Every Week)

Today’s Mojo

• The power of micro moments
• Why saying no is the fastest productivity tool
• The one habit that changed my evenings

Research shows that protecting your energy through short resets sharpens decision-making, reduces stress, and increases productivity.

Many founders, business owners, idea makers and CEO's reading this all know; there is no strict measurement when you're building, creating, supporting and juggling so many aspects and responsibilities. 

There is a drive to do what ever it takes. It runs deeper than timesheets. This is the burden to bear as a leader. How we approach that - is the difference, it's the unique shift that can be the ultimate game changer. 

I don’t measure productivity by how many hours I can cram into a week. I do however, measure my productivity by how well I can show up — for myself, for my clients, for the people I care about.

That shift didn’t happen overnight. It came from years of watching CEOs and founders burn themselves out, and realising I was flirting with the same cycle. High growth, constant demands, endless flights, and very little time to breathe. 

I had burn out before in a corporate role early in my career and I was not prepared to go through that again. 

So I started doing things differently. A long time ago. In my daily life, and in business. Not hacks. Not “one perfect system.” Daily micro practices that I could stick to anywhere, whether I was in Noosa, Sydney, Queenstown, Miami, or sitting at my desk before a client call. 

They are my "Non Negotiable Micro Habits". 

Regardless of title or age: the motto needs to be Oxygen Mask First. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Micro Moments That Reset My Day

I don’t wait for big gaps of free time (because let’s be honest, they rarely appear). Instead, I deliberately build in small windows:

• Early morning is my ME time and it is non negotiable. 
• 3 minutes of breath work before turning on the computer and opening emails.
• A short walk or stretch between calls. Always. 
• A quick gratitude check-in and a list of to-dos are put pen to paper before bed. 

These tiny pauses keep me sharper than ever. They compound.

2. The 3-5-Second Filter Before You Take Any Next Step

When requests come in, I give myself 5 deep seconds to pause and consider before I do anything. My filter is simple:

• Does this align with my core mission, values and value?
• Can only I do this, or could someone else?
• Will it matter in five years?

If the answer isn’t a clear yes across the board, it’s a no. Create space to make solid decisions. Hard to implement at first as so often we want to say yes so we don't disappoint. However have a clear decision making framework has meant I could then drill that down into those 3 aspects above. This has saved me hundreds of hours and created space for the things that truly matter. 

3. Energy First, Always

I book training, movement, and sleep into my schedule with the same weight as a boardroom or strategy session. 

If I don’t protect my health, I can’t bring the clarity, calm, and focus that leaders expect when they work with me. I’ve learned that showing up exhausted serves no one.

I know this is not rocket science, it's not new. The question is - why are so many people still pushing through and not integrating healthy best practice as a key part of peak performance than invariably ensures you can have sustainable success. Don't wait until you are forced to do different.

We have to be the CEO of our life as well as our business. (If by any chance you have ANY of my books you will see this mantra anchored through them all). 

My challenge to those of you who are reading this and don't feel you have the time is the what I call the 25/25. At any time in the day can you super set a 25. 

"No time" Allocation: Examples

• 25 Squats / 25 Push Ups
• 25 Lunges/ 25 Star Jumps (Super great way to start the day - no joke)
• 25 Bicep Curls/25 Tricep Extensions - can do this in your office I promise :) 
•  Advance time allocation: Walk/Jog/Indoor Cycle or Row for 25 minutes / 25 mins Stretch/Yoga/Breath work. 

4. Surround Yourself With Truth-Tellers

The biggest trap for leaders is isolation — being surrounded by yes-people, or advisors who won’t push back. I’ve learned to value the people who challenge my thinking, ask uncomfortable questions, and remind me of the bigger picture. 

Those conversations are what stop me from drifting into autopilot. They are a vital ingredient in my life and I am eternally grateful. 

Choose wisely. Sometimes, yes there are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. It's not always easy to have vulnerable conversations. But those truly in your corner will be focused on your success and best interests and call you out where you may potentially be standing in your own way.

The impact of these practices above? Fearless Focus, Fun, Functionality and a day to day cadence that keeps me connected and able to regroup when things start to spiral as any day can do.

Overall these 4 GPS coordinates ensure:

• I’m clearer in my decisions.
• I recover faster from stress.
• I spend more time on the things I actually value.
• And the leaders I work with notice — they feel it in the way I hold space for them.

I don’t believe leadership is about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about subtracting the noise, protecting your energy, and creating space to lead with authenticity.

If you’re running on empty right now, don’t overhaul everything. Start with one thing: a micro moment, a no, a block of time for your health. See what shifts.

The leaders who thrive aren’t the ones who work the hardest. They’re the ones who work with intent, energy, and alignment.

A Little Wiser (In Less Than 10 Minutes)

Research from Harvard and Stanford shows that short “micro breaks” of 2–5 minutes can restore cognitive function and improve performance on problem-solving tasks. Leaders who insert intentional pauses — even walking to grab a coffee or some fresh air — come back sharper and make better decisions.

I’ve watched CEOs reclaim valuable hours per week by protecting these resets instead of trying to carve out impossible 3-hour blocks.

Which of these practices do you need most in your week right now? Let me know and I am happy to share whatever I can. Without a winning week you can't have a masterful month or a remarkable year. 

Whatever is going on around us, the ability to reset at any given moment and be fit mentally, physically and emotionally is an undeniable and essential asset to have.

No grand gestures. Just micro pauses that compound into clarity, energy, and focus.

These tiny practices have saved me — and my clients — from the trap of “busy but burnt out.”

If you do one thing this week, protect one micro moment in your day. Write it down, make it real, and watch the ripple effect it has on your decisions.

Better Today

Take one of these with you into the week:

• Protect one micro pause (a short walk, a breath reset, or a stretch between calls).
• Use the 3-5 second filter before saying yes or jumping to reply — if it’s not mission-critical, it’s a no (for now).
• Write tomorrow’s top 3 notes before you switch off tonight.

Need to check what really matters most and track positive habits. Grab this free GSD Sustainable Success Workbook - packed with setting intent, defining what great looks like and the trackable steps to hold you accountable. 

Nothing changes if nothing changes....

Nikki

Welcome to The Mojo Maker® Weekly

Every week, I help leaders cut through the noise and build sustainable success by simplifying the latest insights, sharing lived experience, and giving you practical tools you can apply in under 5 minutes.

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Nikki Fogden-Moore, The Mojo Maker©, is an award-winning leadership coach and bestselling author with 25 years of experience guiding CEOs and founders to sustainable success. Creator of the Healthy, Wealthy, Wise framework and founder of ClaraLunaAI™, she specialises in helping leaders master the art of work-life blend without compromise. Author of “Vitality” "Super Leaders," "Radical Self Belief," and "Fitpreneur." Working Globally, Based in Noosa, Australia. Connect: nikkifogdenmoore.com or email [email protected]