What tools are critical to your trade? I’m so curious — the more niche, the better. As an example, I have friends who could not live without their calculators or Excel formulas. These seem unremarkable to them, but they would be inorganic and ill-fitting in my own workspace.
My top tools for a productive work week:
iMAC. The enormous hi-res desktop display and processing power are essential for putting together collages and spending my days staring at text.
PLANNER. This is how I stay on top of my writing objectives. I don’t know how I’d function without it. I organize tasks by day, creating ticklists against each calendar day in this notebook.
MY LIBRARY. I am forever pulling out books to find quotes, to re-read passages, to reflect on my own annotations. I am a better writer when I read.
WORDPRESS. I publish my blog using WordPress, an open-sourced content management system. I love their text editor — I’ve written elsewhere that writing in this medium invites (for me) play and easy journaling. I’ve used other word processors in the past but they can occasionally strangle or startle my creativity.
NOTEBOOKS. I am always jotting down quotes, lists, edits, essay prompts. When I taught writing to college students, I called this general category of effort “pre-writing.” It doesn’t need to look pretty or polished. Thoughts can tumble out sideways, inside-out, caboose-first. For a long time, I “pre-wrote” on plain computer paper — something about the total lack of constraints (absent even of lines/grids!) helped me unblock and express myself fluidly. I’ve since graduated to notebooks that spark joy, like these ones from Appointed.
BOUQUET OF PENS. I need a ton of fresh, inky pens in an assortment of colors at the ready. These are more a visual cue than anything else: they invite me to doodle, to put pen to paper. They are a call to action.
PIXELMATOR PRO. I actually wouldn’t recommend this tool to any fellow creative — just use PhotoShop! — but I started using this image editor maybe six years ago because it was cheaper and less daunting than Adobe’s suite and now every time I contemplate switching, I’m intimidated by the learning curve.
APPLE MUSIC. We aren’t a Spotify family (!) — I think we might be the only humans left on earth who don’t use Spotify? — but I love Apple’s infinity play function. I’ll start with a playlist of mine (ahem) and it will spiral out into other, similar songs afterward, which is a fun way to discover new music. I also love to listen to the various collections (Essentials, Deep Cuts, etc) for Taylor Swift, Haim, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Lakestreet Drive, John Mayer, Chopin, Beethoven while working.
PINTEREST. I still absolutely love Pinterest — it helps me visually plan out themed posts. I am a pinning fiend; I will pin shopping finds all week long to various private boards and then review them for inspiration.
TAKEYA WATER BOTTLE. When I’m dialed in on work, I will sit at my desk, refusing to break for hours on end. Keeping a full water bottle close at hand ensures I stay hydrated. I love the ones from Takeya.
MINI BOX CUTTERS. I receive a lot of packages and these make quick work of boxes. I don’t know why I used scissors for so long. These are infinitely better.
LL BEAN BOAT AND TOTES. These are handy when I’m organizing items to spotlight/photograph, arranging shipping/returns, testing beauty products, etc. They help keep everything organized and in one place.
LASKO SPACE HEATER. Unglamorous, but I am always cold — even when the heat is on! — and this small space heater makes my mornings much brighter.
MAGSAFE CHARGER. I don’t own this exact brand, but I basically need to keep my phone plugged in all day long or I drain it.
What about you? Top few must-haves for a product work day?
Post-Scripts.
+On creative spaces and habits.
+The loft born of experience (ahem, failure).
Shopping Break.
+Has anyone tried UBeauty’s products? I’ve been hearing good things and want to try this hydrating cream.
+Love the subtle sheen of this turtleneck.
+This dress is nothing short of spectacular.
+A perfect desk sweater.
+These $12 bow earrings are so fun.
+This quilted tote is in my cart — so chic/practical for winter schlepping!
+My dream statement sweater for the new year. Also love this much-less-expensive marled knit style — just into colorful pieces ATM!
+Speaking of colorful: these under-$50 mules in a fab chartreuse hue.
+OO these pants from Zara are GOOD!
+Chic waterproof shearling-lined lug sole boots.
+Such a clever idea: stretch lid covers that work with any bowl to create an airtight seal.
+Love these sham covers.
+Mockneck sweater in the prettiest pastel hue.
+Pretty pastel highlighters.
This is a fun prompt. I, too, continue to use Pinterest and Apple Music (along with my AirPods). I am never without a tape measure! A mini ruler is always near by, along with loose sheets of plain computer paper and tracing paper; tru red gel pens and a sharp pencil with an eraser. I use PowerPoint regularly and rely on my MacBook Pro, but a desktop sounds so wonderful for my aging eyes, ha!
A tape measure and mini ruler! I was just thinking how often we use the tape measure in our home. Mr. Magpie used to keep it in his toolbox but we were forever going downstairs to retrieve it so now we keep it in our kitchen and I swear not a week goes by where we aren’t using it for something or other (measuring dough, measuring dimensions for a purchase, etc.)
xx