Originally published 30 Dec 2019. Last updated 21 Jan 2021.
Wondering what our most popular OLD episodes of 2019 are?
Here’s a list of the top two episodes (and their corresponding articles) which had the highest number of downloads each month!
You can also check out our top downloads list for 2018 and 2020 for Optimal Living Daily, and for Optimal Living Advice.
Top Downloads on Optimal Living Daily: Personal Development & Minimalism
January:
EPISODE 1133: How To Change Your Life In 30 Days by Benjamin Hardy (Listen | Read)
Summary: On willpower and creativity. Benjamin Hardy has been the top writer on Medium.com since late 2015.
Quote: “So just because something is working doesn’t give him permission to stop evolving.” – Benjamin Hardy
EPISODE 1127: Four Antidotes to Procrastination by Leo Babauta (Listen | Read)
Summary: Leo Babauta discusses how to get things done. Leo is the founder of Zen Habits, which helps you to find simplicity and mindfulness amid life’s chaos.
Quote: “Create the space, clear everything away, then get to it.” – Leo Babauta
February:
EPISODE 1155: Training the Mind: The Most Important Workout You’ll do in 2019 by Jay & Heather Harrington (Listen | Read)
Summary: Jay and Heather Harrington discuss how to strengthen your ability to tame your mind. Jay and Heather are the husband and wife team behind the Life and Whim website.
Quote: “Sometimes you need to break the script of your life (and your mind), to appreciate what’s in front of you, to see what’s possible, and to slow life down.” – Jay and Heather Harrington
EPISODE 1152: Living Life To The Fullest by Allison Carmen (Listen | Read)
Summary: Allison Carmen shares the importance of gratitude and positivity. Allison Carmen practiced law for 15 years before transitioning into business coaching and consulting.
Quote: “With gratitude we change our hyper-focus on the things that are bothering us and we expand to see the entire vista of our lives.” – Allison Carmen
March:
EPISODE 1176: Weak Communication Habits You Should Shed by Isaac Morehouse (Listen | Read)
Summary: Isaac Morehouse shares tips on clear communication in professional and other settings. Isaac is the founder and CEO of Praxis, a startup apprenticeship program that makes degrees irrelevant in terms of pursuing a career.
Quote: “Decide what you want to say. Say it. Mean it.” – Isaac Morehouse
EPISODE 1182: How To Build Habits Like An Entrepreneur by Anthony Ongaro (Listen | Read)
Summary: Anthony Ongaro discusses how to build new habits that lead to results. Anthony is the creator of Break the Twitch, which focuses on minimizing distractions to spend more time on what matters.
Quote: “Taking your minimally viable action and pivoting when it’s not working will lead you to what ends up working.” – Anthony Ongaro
April:
EPISODE 1221: The One Habit That Keeps 99% Of People From Getting Rich by James Altucher (Listen | Read)
Summary: James Altucher talks about the power of the word “no.” James is an American hedge fund manager whose book Choose Yourself was named by USA Today as one of the 12 Best Business Books of All Time.
Quote: “If it’s not a ‘Hell, Yeah!’… it’s a NO!” – Derek Sivers via James Altucher
EPISODE 1210: How to Achieve Your Goals By Creating an Enemy by Nir Eyal (Listen | Read)
Summary: Nir Eyal discusses a creative way to stay motivated and inspired. The M.I.T. Technology Review dubbed Nir Eyal, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”
Quote: “If we believe we’re powerless, we don’t even try not to fail.” – Nir Eyal
May:
EPISODE 1237: My Favorite 3 Anti-Laziness Tactics (I Use These) by Ramit Sethi (Listen | Read)
Summary: Ramit Sethi shares his tactics for combating inertia. Ramit runs the website I Will Teach You To Be Rich and has written an NYT bestselling book and been profiled in a Fortune article.
Quote: “We say, ‘I need motivation,' but really, we already have enough — we’re just spending it one ounce at a time on tiny B.S.” – Ramit Sethi
EPISODE 1242: Minimalism: 7 Reasons that Keep People From Getting Started by Joshua Becker (Listen | Read)
Summary: Joshua Becker shares how to get started with minimalism and intentionally living with less. Joshua runs Becoming Minimalist, which helps others find more life through minimalism.
Quote: “Intentionally living with less results in a life of less debt, less stress, and less anxiety.” – Joshua Becker
June:
EPISODE 1283: How to Make Big Change Small (8 simple ways to close one chapter and begin another) Courtney Carver (Listen | Read)
Summary: Courtney Carver shares how to break down big changes into manageable steps. Courtney used to be an overwhelmed advertising director who now spends each morning on self-care and being engaged with the people she loves.
Quote: “Big change is the result of hundreds of tiny steps and they all count.” – Courtney Carver
EPISODE 1272: Living a Life of Purpose on the Mountaintop or in the Valley by Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui (Listen | Read)
Summary: Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui shares five tenets for living a life of purpose. Her mission as a Joyful Living Educator is to help messy humans show up fully to their imperfect and beautiful lives.
Quote: “You’re imperfect. Life is messy. Show up anyway.” – Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui
July:
EPISODE 1320: Wise People Have Rules For Themselves by David Cain (Listen | Read)
Summary: David Cain discusses habits to build for self discipline. David Cain is a writer and entrepreneur who lives in Winnipeg, Canada.
Quote: Your quality of life improves when you set clear standards for how you live.
EPISODE 1322: What Are You Running From? by TK Coleman (Listen | Read)
Summary: TK Coleman talks about resistance and thinking about going after the things you know you need to. TK Coleman is the Education Director and co-founder of Praxis.
Quote: Start listening to your conscience and get after the things you know you need to do.
August:
EPISODE 1331: Million-Dollar Mantra #1 – Stop Worrying About What Other People Think by Chalene Johnson (Listen | Read)
Summary: Chalene Johnson reminds us to focus on living according to our own principles, regardless of others’ opinions. Chalene is a world-renowned speaker with 30 plus years of experience as a health expert.
Quote: If you’re worrying about what other people think, then you are not living according to your own rules.
EPISODE 1332: Fear: How to Face It, Conquer It & Find Freedom by Chris Reining (Listen | Read)
Summary: Chris Reining shares his thoughts facing and conquering fears. Chris is a thirty-something guy who shares resources to help you become financially free.
Quote: Imagine how much you could accomplish at work and in your personal life if you believed whatever happens, I will handle it.
September:
EPISODE 1361: Living For Yourself & Not Others by Aileen Xu (Listen | Read)
Summary: Aileen Xu of Lavendaire shares her thoughts on living an authentic life. Aileen is the founder of Lavendaire, which focuses on lifestyle design and personal growth.
Quote: Be yourself, unapologetically. Keep practicing. You’ll get there.
EPISODES 1367 & 1368: 3 Important Life Skills Nobody Ever Taught You by Mark Manson (Listen | Read)
Summary: Mark Manson shares important life skills that you should know. Mark Manson’s website on happiness, ambition, and life purpose attracts millions of views per month.
Quote: When something you do fails, it doesn’t mean you are a failure as a person, it simply means you are a person who happens to fail sometimes.
October:
EPISODE 1390: Surface Tension by Colin Wright (Listen | Read)
Summary: Colin Wright discusses effective communication and how to gain knowledge. Colin is a professional author who blogs and lives while travelling full-time.
Quote: What’s more, you can train yourself to dive deeper, and for longer periods of time.
EPISODE 1396: Minimalism in the Real World: A Life without Sidebars by Brian Gardner (Listen | Read)
Summary: Brian Gardner discusses the benefits of living a life of simplicity. No Sidebar was created by Brian Gardner and is a website that seeks to help you cultivate a peaceful heart and soul.
Quote: Maybe simple is better. Maybe less is more. Maybe it’s time to give it a try.
November:
EPISODE 1434: Why You Do What You Do AND On Beginning Again by Cylon George (Listen | Read)
Summary: Cylon George shares his thoughts on purpose as well as starting over. Cylon is a spiritual chaplain, devoted husband, musician, and busy father of six.
Quote: Needs are more powerful than values.
EPISODE 1438: How to Make a Damn Decision AND 3 Reasons to Seek Other POVs by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (Listen | Read)
Summary: Joshua and Ryan of The Minimalists talk about priorities and gaining additional perspective. They live in Montana and have been featured on BBC, TIME, Forbes, The New York Times, and other media outlets.
Quote: Today is the day your shoulds turn into musts.
December:
EPISODE 1453: 2 Quick Exercises to Quiet the Negative Self-Talk in Your Head by Marc Chernoff (Listen | Read)
Summary: Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel Hack Life shares two exercises you can use to combat harsh self-criticism. Marc and Angel Chernoff are NYT bestselling authors and professional coaches who have been recognized by Forbes as having “one of the most popular personal development blogs.”
Quote: You know what you need to eliminate. You know.
EPISODE 1457: Not That Kind of Person by Tynan (Listen | Read)
Summary: Tynan talks about setting realistic goals. Tynan believes in making intentional decisions and avoiding the herd mentality, and was named as one of the top 25 best bloggers by Time Magazine in 2013.
Quote: It's a dangerous trap to categorize yourself, even if it's a weird unique category you make up yourself.
