The Way We Work 2015: Alan Henry’s Gear and Tricks to Improve Productivity
Every week, we share shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips from our favorite experts and personalities. This week we are talking to ourselves, and today is my turn. Here are my favorite gear, apps, and tools to stay productive when I’m at work and have fun when I’m not.
The last time we did this series, I rocked Android and iOS, Windows and OS X, switching on the fly almost every day. No changes, but there were some additions to my mobile family and I made some changes to my workspace. I will try to tell you about what has changed between then and now.
Location : Washington DC. Current work : Written by Lifehacker. One word that best describes how you work: Current tactical mobile device: Moto X (2013 model, running Android 4.4 Kit Kat). Also in the box: OnePlus One (running Android 5.0 Lollipop), Nexus 5 (running Android 5.0 Lollipop), iPad 3 (iOS 7), Motorola Droid Bionic, OG Motorola Droid, and the rooted Nook Simple Touch. Current computer : Ganymede, my 15-inch MacBook Pro (2010), Deneb, my personalized Windows PC (Win 7), and when I’m really bored, Europa, my 15-inch MacBook Pro (2008) running Ubuntu …
What apps / programs / tools can’t you live without?
My day tends to open and end with Google Drive , but while I was delayed by Sparrow last year, I switched to Airmail this year, which I really like (still using Postbox on my Windows machine) to keep my numerous Google accounts under control. I still use Asana to keep track of article ideas and favorite projects, but I switched to Todoist for my day to day tasks. More on this later.
When it comes to mobile, the biggest change is that I have so many phones right now. Of course, not all of them are activated by the wireless provider, some of them I only use via Wi-Fi. Last summer, I bought a Nexus 5 ahead of my international trip because my trusty Moto X is a Verizon Wireless phone, and found I really enjoy using it, especially overseas. I saved it, used it to test Lollipop before it came out, and still use it as a secondary device. Then when we made the Hive Five for the best Android phone at the end of 2014, I had the opportunity to buy the OnePlus One 64GB , which I did, and I don’t regret it either. This is a great device – a little too big for my taste, but perfect for use as a portable mini tablet. That doesn’t mean my X is outdated – the contactless is awesome and it’s still the phone that wakes me up in the morning and the last thing I plug in to charge at night.
How is your workplace arranged?
So there have been a couple of big changes in my workspace since last year! If you remember, last year I had a MacBook Pro on a laptop stand to the right of a pair of Dell 2407WFP 24-inch displays that I still love, but I parted ways with them (don’t worry, they are in good condition. The company is directly opposite me) in favor of a30 “IPS Monoprice display in the center and apair of 27″ Monoprice monitors on either side (I know, I predicted this last year). I closed the lid on Ganymede. , my 2010 MacBook Pro (for some reason Yosemite has hell on its GPU, so trying to start two displays slows down to crawling) and placed it under one of my space bar organizers and plugged it into one of the 27 “panels. When I looked them over , I loved them so much that I decided to take a few and make them permanent fixtures on my desk.
I’m still (yes, still) proud of my lamp and camera mount: it doubles as a light source and webcam stand – my Logitech HD C920 (which I bought on Hive’s recommendation ) mounts there with Joby Gorillapod , so when I call on Google Hangouts or Skype, the camera is close to my face, not over my monitor and far away.
My main Windows machine, Deneb, is much the same as it was a few years ago , but with a few notable updates: it got a pair of solid state drives, one 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD that doubles as a boot drive, and a hard drive. Crucial 512GB. The MX100 solid state drive is designed for gaming. There’s still 1TB 7200 RPM Western Digital for other files, downloads, and storage.
As many of you know, I’ve had several semi-addictions in my life: headphones, mechanical keyboards, and mice. Right now, on my way to a mechanical keyboard, I recently bought a Corsair K70 RGB from Massdrop for my Windows PC, and I’ve spent hours creating and loading profiles for its RGB backlighting. I used Cooler Master CM Storm Novatouch TKL on my Mac, and while I’m usually not a big fan of keyboardless keyboards (I really like the numeric keypad, but I know a lot of people don’t), I really enjoyed using it. Something about the feel of the Cooler Master “Hybrid” switches makes them really quiet and easy to type for long periods of time, perfect for writing.
As for the mouse, I still use the Logitech Performance MX on my Mac (it’s the perfect work mouse), and on my Windows PC, I recently used the Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse . I actually have a Hyperion Fury in a box next to me and have heard a lot about the Proteus Core , but right now the G602 is a solid mouse with great performance, even wirelessly. I’m tempted to pull another cable over the table again.
Of course, I say this every year, but the pictures here are much cleaner than I usually keep on my desk – I usually have a few toys and puzzles to tinker with while I think. Oh, and I can come to my senses too – I have a whole drawer full of mice in the filing cabinet next to my desk, and a leg drawer full of keyboards right at my feet, so … yeah, I have a lot their.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut / life hack?
As my responsibilities on the Lifehacker team have changed (I’m a lot more editing than writing these days), I’ve found it even more important to go about your business and your own projects as fiercely as possible when you have the time. I repeat , you will get more work. You are never “ready”. There will always be something else, and if nothing else, then something is wrong, and you need to find something else. When you have time, use it.
For some people, including me, procrastination is killing. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to tell you that laziness is a powerful weapon in your productivity arsenal , but don’t let it turn against you. Use your time now so you can mess around later.
Finally, I want to reiterate one thing that I know I have said before, but time is precious. We talk a lot about productivity here, but here’s something you’ve probably heard in a number of my articles on productivity, and I’ll quote it so you can see it clearly:
Productivity isn’t just about doing more crap. It’s about finishing the shit you need to do so you can spend more time doing the shit you want to do.
Whether it’s hanging out with your family, working on interesting projects, chatting with your spouse, playing with your kids, playing video games, reading a book, seeing the world, delicious food and good wine – whatever it is – your time is precious. Spend it on things that enrich, inspire, challenge, and empower. Don’t settle for anything less. Don’t be afraid to use your time and energy. This is all we really have.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
Remember the curse that I was using services that were destined to be disconnected ? Continues. I still use Asana as an idea bank with different boards for articles and ideas, Hive Five ideas, home projects, and a few other secret initiatives that I’m not talking about yet.
I switched to Todoist for daily tasks and reminders. It just does the best job with recurring events, reminders, customizable recurrences (every month on the 15th, every Monday / Tuesday / Friday, etc.), and while its design is definitely a bit spartan compared to the likes of Any.DO and Wunderlist , it has adhesion strength and this is important.
As for everything else, like shopping lists, long-term checklists, packing lists, notes (like X reps / weight in the gym) and other quick notes and reminders to myself, I’m all about Google Keep , which I said earlier and will repeat. once again: this is incredibly underestimated .
What device, besides a phone and a computer, can you not live without and why?
Over the past year, I have really invested a lot in my kitchen. I mean we have three slow cookers right now, and quite often they all run at the same time (which is awful if you’re trying to work in a room right behind the kitchen, let me tell you) with stew in one, broth in the other, and oatmeal or broth. in the other (although, to be honest, I have a rice cooker for that). I picked up a Kitchen Aid mixer thanks to a KInja Deal passing by late last year, so it greatly improved my baking game and was gifted with a new burr sander to replace my old manual one. I’ve tweaked my coffee game too little lately – more on that in the next post.
Technically speaking, I could talk about my trusty iPad 3 that I use every day, or how I fell in love with my Nintendo 3DS again in the last year or so. Last year I sang praises to my Bodum Tea Press and InginuiTEA , and I mentioned both of them in my post on personal rituals . A year earlier, I mentioned the Xbox 360 (which still serves as both a media center and essentially an arcade device thanks to all the free games I get with the XBox Live Gold) and my Sony NEX-5N.
I also mentioned my 18000mAh Limefuel rechargeable battery , which I reviewed here at Lifehacker, but recently I fell in love with some of the other powerbanks from their lineup, such as their durable 15000mAh rechargeable battery , which I also reviewed here at Lifehacker . I have tested many rechargeable batteries, but these two models are constantly saving the day and providing good power to my equipment.
What are some of the things you do best in everyday life?
When I look back at all the vicissitudes of my career and my hobbies (both unpleasant and not so), I would say that I am probably one of the most adaptable people I know. My friends and family tell me that my career has turned into a roller coaster, from science to technology, from business to writing and editing, but I did not think about it that way – every step was calculated, and although some of them were risky, I would not have allowed it in another way. After all, if you don’t push the boundaries of your comfort zone , you’re not going anywhere, are you?
I know I have already mentioned my fine tuned BS sensors in the past – the kind of things that got me to write about how to determine if conflicting statements are true , how to do my own research online , why there is confusion over the topic of health and nutrition , and of course, things like our own guidelines for scientific reporting . If I thought they were set up last year, then last year – that with everything that was happening in the tech community and with a lot of presentations, crowdfunding fantasies and startups with tons of ideas and debt in capital, but no products or services. worthy of mention – gave me even more nonsense from detective practice.
What do you listen to while you work?
I rarely work without music these days. I mean, it has always been true, but now it’s even more. I still listen to Pandora regularly (and it’s still the only music subscription I pay for) and even shared some of my favorite Pandora stations for music while you work . When I don’t listen to Pandora (or sometimes instead of Pandora), I rock up with Noon Pacific , another service I really like , and Upbeat from the people behind Noon Pacific. I also kind of fell in love again with the Relaux that I mentioned a while ago . When I hear a song that I really like, I save it to Whyd (you can check my profile here ), so sometimes I can just play a collection of songs that I know I will like. I also love all the eclectic flavors I find at This Is My Jam (you can check my profile here ).
Plus, every week I look forward to Freefall Radio , the ever- talented David Bassin’s weekly podcast. I know I mentioned Freefall before, but seriously, subscribe. You will not be disappointed.
Unfortunately, I have to report that my love for podcasts has declined over the past year. I’m still on the lookout for the good ones, and I still have a few things that I love, so if anyone has any suggestions for a good, lightweight desktop podcatcher (this is not iTunes) I would be glad hear him. …
What are you reading now?
I am slowly but surely returning to reading offline. I got a copy of Dust and Grooves last Christmas and I’ve stuck to it ever since I got it. Maybe due to the fact that I, too, still love my turntables and the vinyl I collected, I identify so much with the people sitting on them that this is what I flip through on the reg every time I want to read something. …
In addition, I have neither the time nor the routine for a lot of reading, other than the lengthy articles on the web that I find through my networks and news feeds. Even though I don’t sit down to books that often, I still read scientific articles and magazines when I can. Hey, some people like science fiction. I like …. nonfiction?
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
You know I said that, but I’m going to start with this: I don’t think introvert and extrovert are useful shortcuts. I know, I know that everyone wants to be in the camp, or to have a label for a rally underground, but this is something that people put too much emphasis on as a way of identifying or reject themselves and others.
To answer this question, I am an introvert in that I need to be alone or with loved ones to recharge my batteries. At the same time, I do not live in the city center for nothing. I love the atmosphere and I love being around people. I hate being pushed out of my comfort zone, but I’m always happy about it. By the way, remember that when you meet tons of new people, they are all just as awkward, awkward, weird and nervous as you are. It’s okay to be all of these. Go from there.
What is your sleep routine?
While our schedules at Lifehacker have changed a bit and I’m not necessarily the first person anymore, I still tend to get up earlier than most of the crew, simply because I’m on the east coast. I sleep a little more now than I used to – I usually get up and work around 7/8 AM ET (4/5 AM PST), drink my first coffee of the day, check the channels to see if anything has happened- something interesting. for the night or catching up with what western cup holders might have sent in after I left the day before.
I try to go to bed around 11 p.m. and if I can slip away in the afternoon for a little caffeinated nap, I do so, but as I said last year, I can definitely get work done earlier in the afternoon, I tend to feel more creative later in the afternoon and evening, so I try to make sure I have time to brainstorm or work on my own personal projects.
Fill in the blank: I would like _________ to answer these same questions.
This answer will seem familiar to readers from the past year. For several years now I have wanted to see how Maya Angelou works and would still like to ask her. She was more than bored. I would still like to know howNikki Giovanni works (I’ve heard her say and she’s incredible), or NASA administratorCharles Bolden , or LeVar Burton (especially since he brought back Reading of the Rainbow ) as they were all to me as role models as a child.
For the second year in a row, I also mourn the fact that Alton Brown did not do any of these, but we are still crossing our fingers. Related: If Alton Brown is Live at any time near you, go see him. The show is fun, amazing, and double the admission fee. I still hope that one day Kseni Jardin will share her thoughts with us. I already mentioned that she is one of my heroes, and in this regard, nothing has changed.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Every year I have to answer this question and I grin because the answer hasn’t changed. Honestly, if the best advice you’ve ever received changes every year, or you attach too much importance to some really crappy advice, or you are too fickle about what is “best”, or maybe both. Anyway, for those who missed it:
Back in 2006, I struggled to lead a double life. On the one hand, I worked in technology and went to graduate school trying to decide if I wanted to make a living working in an office with corporate technology. On the other hand, I already wrote myself and really wanted to do it in my career. I turned to Xeni Jardine , founding partner and co-editor of Boing Boing (still one of my favorite sites), on a whim for advice, as an aspiring writer seeking advice from someone more experienced. She answered:
Find untold stories, things that fascinate you, and do your best to tell them honestly. There is so little truth in the world these days that any small piece of it is a jewel that will be appreciated and will find a grateful audience.
Don’t look for “big” stories, just look for the ones that matter to you. The more you work on it, the better your work will be and the more people will see it.
I’m still working on it, but every day I appreciate her words.
I will also share a quote from the 8th century Zen father, Shito Sitsian: “The vast sky is not limited by floating clouds.” I try to remember something else, especially in this direction.
Anything you would like to add?
Never underestimate the power of listening. Seriously. I’ve learned that so many of us are rushing to voice our voices and opinions right now, which helps a lot to slow down and listen to people who have something to say or just want to be heard. silence, refute or close.
Don’t discount the power of your voice, but don’t ignore – or underestimate – the power of others, their experiences in life, their knowledge, and what they have to offer you. Sometimes it is better to just listen than to react. Absorb, understand, and then speak. I think this is something that we forget all too easily on the Internet, and I’m afraid that as a result it permeates all aspects of our life.