Every week, we share the shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips of our favorite experts and personalities.
This week, were talking about how we work, and today, its my turn.
Somehow Im in the big chair now, so heres how I keep this ship on course.
Obviously Im no stranger to this series.
In 2015, I madesome pretty slick workspace changes(and I went triple-monitor!)
In 2014, Icemented myself as a cross-platform kinda guy.
In 2013, I wascursed with love for services doomed to shut down.
Beforeeven that, I wasthe new kid.
Its been a long road, but lets focus on whats newand barring that, at least whats interesting.
What apps, software, or tools cant you live without?
Virtually everything that crosses my desk comes throughGoogle Docs and Drive.
Good desktop email clients are hard to come by.
Unlike everyone else at Lifehacker, mostlyLastPassenthusiasts,Dashlaneis still my preferred password manager.
It helps that I still have an old grandfathered free account that meets all of my needs.
For everyone keeping track, Im still swimming in smartphones.
Whats your workspace setup like?
Gonna level with you guysnot much has changed from this time last year.
When you find a setup that works, stick with it.
Deneb, my custom-built Windows PC, is off to the left.
So much easier for cable management.
On Deneb, aside from an upgrade to Windows 10, not much has changed.
Its still as much my gaming PC as it is my Windows test bench.
Someone around here needs to use Windows on a daily basis, and it may as well be me.
Now this is where I talk about my peripherals.
I mean, look, its a gaming keyboard, but I absolutely love their custom switches for writing.
The mouse situation has changedcompletelythough.
Ive upgraded from a Performance MX toLogitechs MX Master, which ismore than a fitting successor.
Well,the G502 is just that good.
As for my Performance MX and G602?
Whats your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
Defend your off time,take your vacations, and dont work when you dont have to work.
Spending time doing the things you love with the people you love.
Your time is precious.
Spend it doing things that enrich, inspire, challenge, and empower you.
Dont settle for anything less.
Be fearless with your time and energy.
Its all we really have.
Yeah, lets just go with that.
Whats your favorite to-do list manager?
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget cant you live without and why?
Well, lets talk cans.
Those are just the ones on the wall.
Those are probably all the ones worth mentioning in detail.
And there you have it.
I have a lot of headphones.
I really need to sell some, but I like having options.
Last year I mentioned my slow cookers (plural.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
I just like to think Im good at them.
Its an ongoing struggle between watching my boundariesand pushing my comfort zone.
Thats kind of the point though, isnt it?
What do you listen to while you work?
Youll usually catch me listening to myTodd Terje station, orthat Skyrim stationthat gets me pumped to write.
Other times it might beEmancipatororBlackmillorParov Stelar.
When Im feeling jazzy, its all aboutMiles, or maybeMark Farina, or hell,even Brubeck.
What are you currently reading?
From the cookbook pile, Ive been working through recipes inAmericas Test Kitchens Cook It In Cast Iron.
How do you recharge?
My occasional nap has sadly gone by the wayside though.
Heres hoping itll reappear in my schedule someday.
I also recharge by getting out and traveling, whether its around town or around the world.
The same old same old can get pretty stale.
Oh, that and a lot of coffee.
Not at the same time.
Whats your sleep routine like?
Its a give and take, but a tough one to get used to.
Fill in the blank: Id love to see _________ answer these same questions.
), orLeVar Burtonsince they were all role models for me as a child.
Lets toss inTa-Nehisi Coates, since I look up to his writing style a good bit.
Ive mentioned before that shes one of my heroes, and nothings changed on that front.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Ready for an answer you could probably Google at this point?
Here:
Back in 2006, I was struggling with living a kind of double life.
Dont look for big stories, just look for ones that matter to you.
Im still working on it, but every day I appreciate her words.
Something else I have a go at remember, especially in this line of work.
Is there anything else youd like to add?
Every year I post the video above.
Every year it becomes more and more important.
I said I was in Washington DC for now.
However, if you havent inferred it yet, Im moving!
Im relocating to New York City in the very near future.
Itll be an adventure, to be sure.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
