Hey! I’m Nicole. I teach by day, play with AI tools by night, and you can also find me on hikes or sitting on my swing with a mug of coffee.

I live for clear routines that protect time for the things that matter — creativity, the outdoors, and the people (and dogs) who make life joyful.

I grew up outside of the internet era — running through the woods, chasing fireflies, and actually using a landline that had a cord. That childhood shaped how I feel about time and attention: it’s precious, time is limited, and it should be protected.

Fast-forward: I stayed up all night in college perfecting a digital portfolio — the design, the animation, the music— and I loved every minute. 

I learned to code because I love building digital "things." That curiosity led me to create systems that work in the real world, not just on paper. (And I am a total paper-pencil girl at heart!)

For nearly 20 years I’ve taught students with special needs. That experience taught me to explain complicated things simply, to design step-by-step systems that actually work, and to meet people where they are.

Combine that with my love of tech and you get the heart of Positively Joyful Productivity: practical systems, rooted in compassion, that free your time so you can choose joy.

I’m a total nerd about AI tools — especially because those tools mean less mental clutter and more time for what you love. You get to outsource the small stuff so you can focus on the big, meaningful stuff.

And speaking of what I love… for many years, that meant time outdoors with my dog Abby. She was my hiking buddy, podcast co-producer, and the best kind of reminder to slow down. Abby crossed the rainbow bridge recently, but her presence is woven into everything I create here — a daily nudge to savor life’s small joys.

If you’re here because AI makes you nervous (or excited but overwhelmed), you’re in the right place. I’m here to translate the tech, simplify the setup, and build a plan that's so effective it actually frees up hours of your time.

Why I do this: life is too short to spend it running on autopilot. You deserve systems that work, time for the things that light you up, and tools that feel like helpers instead of headaches.

If you’ve read this far — hi, friend! I’d love to hear from you. Reply or send me an email: tell me your biggest fear about AI or one tiny thing you’d love to automate this week. I’m all ears.

xo,
Nicole