The Better Workday Podcast

What does a better workday mean to you, and how do you achieve it?
In this episode of the Better Workday podcast, Niamh Moynihan breaks down what actually creates a better workday and why small improvements matter more than chasing perfection. Drawing on conversations with over 3,000 professionals, this episode explores the three core elements of a better workday: looking forward to work, making meaningful progress, and being able to properly switch off at the end of the day.
You'll also learn why continuous improvement, experimentation, and team collaboration are essential for creating healthier, more productive workplaces. If you're a leader, manager, or professional trying to improve workplace culture, reduce friction, and help teams work better, this episode gives you practical ideas to start making changes immediately.
00:00 What is a Better Workday?04:05 The Importance of Continuous Improvement07:50 The Role of The Team and Organisation
Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Is AI helping you be more productive - or just busier?
In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh shares strategies to work sustainably with AI, so you can unlock its benefits without risking AI fatigue or burnout.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by rising expectations or taking the first steps on the AI learning curve, this episode offers actionable steps to work smarter with AI in your workday.
00:00 Navigating AI in the Workplace01:44 Understanding Deep and Shallow Work05:28 Information Overload07:04 AI as a Team Member11:03 The Bottomless Pit of Possibility13:32 Embracing AI at Your Own Pace
Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Have you ever told yourself you'd just do "the important bits" while sick, only to pay for it later?
In this episode, Niamh breaks down the real impact of presenteeism at work and why logging on while sick might be doing more harm than good. You'll learn how working while unwell reduces productivity, creates rework, and sets unrealistic expectations within your team. Niamh also explains how remote work has evolved presenteeism, why it hides critical workflow issues, and what leaders can do to build more resilient teams.
00:00 What Presenteeism Looks Like in 202602:29 The Impact of Working While Unwell04:18 Single Points of Failure in Your Workflow07:07 Semi-presenteeism and The Expectations Problem09:25 What this means for managers and RTO policies
Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Do you ever feel like everyone else finds work easier than you do?
In this episode, Niamh explores how hybrid and remote work can create the illusion that our colleagues have everything figured out. When we only see the final output of someone's work, and not the messy process behind it, it can make us feel like we're the only ones struggling.
She explains why this happens, how it can lead to procrastination and perfectionism, and what individuals, managers, and teams can do to create more openness about the reality of work.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

You've organised your to-do list, blocked your calendar and turned off notifications. So why do you still end the day feeling behind?
In this episode, Niamh Moynihan goes back to basics and explains what time management actually is. She explains why your experience of time differs based on demands and resources, how to build realistic containers around your workday, and why even perfect time management won't make you productive without clarity on priorities, energy management, and how you work with others.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

If you want to create better presentations, start by doing one simple thing differently.
In this episode, Niamh Moynihan is joined by Fiona Walsh, a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP and the founder of Empower Presentations, to learn a smarter way to build presentations.
And the first lesson is that it doesn't start in PowerPoint.
They discuss:
Why opening slides first can slow you down
How to use a hook in workplace presentations
The importance of a clear call to action
Why most decks are structured backwards
Built-in PowerPoint tools that improve delivery
How to rehearse effectively and stay within time
Whether presenting to clients, leadership teams, or colleagues, this episode offers practical, immediately applicable advice to improve clarity, confidence, and impact.
Connect with Fiona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionawalsh1/ 
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Should you track your time — or is it just another productivity habit that adds pressure?
In this episode, Niamh and Tricia share what happened when they both tracked their time for two full weeks. From minute-by-minute logging to more flexible tracking, they explore what worked, what didn't, and what surprised them.
They discuss:
Time blindness and how it affects perception
Why you might feel busy even when you're not working as much as you think
The difference between task time and real-life time
How built-in buffer time changes everything
And whether time tracking actually improves your workday
If you've ever questioned your productivity, struggled with overwhelm, or wondered where your week went, this conversation will offer a practical, honest perspective.
Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations about building a better, more sustainable workday.
Related Resources
Toggl Track - https://toggl.com/ 
The HeadPlan (Niamh's Go-To) - https://amzn.to/4rRLgna 
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Ever spend more time planning than actually working? Niamh walks you through the sneaky ways planning can turn into procrastination, from colour-coded spreadsheets that go nowhere to plans that help us avoid difficult decisions.
She shares her own planning fails and introduces a practical "Goldilocks approach" to help you find the balance between planning too much and not enough.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Ever feel like you've twisted and turned a hundred times before lunch? In this episode, Niamh discusses how small everyday changes, like meeting changes, new deadlines, and more names on the email thread, can add up to something much bigger.
She shares five grounding questions and reset strategies to help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control, even on the most changeable days.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

Ever lie in bed Sunday night feeling anxious about Monday? Niamh and Tricia sit down to discuss the Sunday Scaries - that feeling of dread before the work week starts.
They talk about what causes them after time off versus during regular weeks, how they escalate when left unaddressed, and practical strategies to reclaim your Sunday evenings.
Get In Touch
Visit our website abetterworkday.com/
Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com