The Art of Living Well Podcast®

Stay Connected Beyond the Podcast Subscribe to our Substack to get episode updates, event announcements, wellness tips, and personal thoughts from Marnie and Stephanie delivered straight to your inbox. If you love the show and want to support what we're building, consider a paid subscription for $30 annually. Your support helps fund podcast production and allows us to continue bringing you meaningful, high-quality conversations. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/  _______________________________________ We all say we don't have enough time - but what if the real issue isn't time at all, but how intentionally we're using it? In this timely episode, we explore how to stop letting life happen by default and start designing your days, weeks, and year with purpose. In this practical and reflective solo episode of The Art of Living Well Podcast®, hosts Marnie Dachis Marmet and Stephanie May Potter break down how to intentionally plan and design your time in 2026. From understanding where your hours are really going to building simple systems that support your health, relationships, and energy, this conversation focuses on sustainable habits - not overwhelm.  Through real-life examples, personal experiments, and coaching insights, Marnie and Stephanie share actionable tools to help you step off the hamster wheel, reclaim your time, and create a year that actually feels good to live. _______________________________________ What You'll Learn in This Episode: ● How intention and systems matter more than motivation ● Why small, consistent habits outperform big goals ● How to design your year without overloading January ● The power of visual planning and seeing your year at a glance ● How to build habits in manageable 10-15 minute increments ● How to create anchors or buckets for health, work, relationships, and adventure ● Ways to reclaim time from distractions like phones and notifications ● Why flexibility and grace are essential when building new habits _______________________________________ Noteworthy Quotes from the Episode: ● "If you don't design your year, your year will design itself." - Marnie Dachis Marmet ● "If it's not on your calendar, it's not real." - Stephanie Potter ● "We don't rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems." - Stephanie Potter ● "Motivation is not going to tap you on the shoulder and say today's the day." - Marnie Dachis Marmet  ● "You are the only one who can make 2026 amazing for yourself." - Marnie Dachis Marmet ● "Small, consistent actions create momentum over time." - Stephanie Potter _______________________________________ Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: 00:00  - If you don't design your year, your year designs you 02:09  - The 8760-hour reality check where your time actually goes 03:40  - Why goals fail without systems (Atomic Habits logic) 06:55 - One habit every 90 days using the calendar method 08:24 - The 5-minute habit rule that changes your identity 17:02 - Three questions that decide how your 2026 will feel 21:36 - Non-negotiables and how to protect time for what matters   Episode with Erin Newkirk: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/blog/episode-10-learn-how-to-work-your-best-life-with-erin-newkirk _______________________________________ Our Favorite Wellness Support: Looking for a clean, plant-based boost for energy, focus, and immunity? We love ENERGYbits algae tablets - a simple, nutrient-dense superfood made from pure algae. 🌿 Get 20% off at energybits.com with code LIVING.   We're intentional about the oils we cook with, which is why we love Zero Acre. It's a stable, high-heat cooking oil made from fermented sugarcane with a clean, neutral taste - no seed oils, no weird aftertaste. Get 15% off your first order at zeroacre.com with code LIVINGWELL. _______________________________________ Join Our Minneapolis Hiking Collective: https://web.facebook.com/groups/1368978181038556/ _____________________________________ Follow & Connect: Follow The Art of Living Well Podcast® Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468 Connect with your Hosts here: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/about-us