“Let it sink…”

That moment when the whole world is dancing hip-hop, but my moves make everyone else look like pros. Stop the Earth. Let me out!

Power moves

I love scrolling through socials or watching YouTube videos like “10 apps I use every day.” Every now and then, I try something new from them and bam - life gets a little better.

Now it’s my turn to share the stuff that’s leveled up my world.

Here’s my “I wish I got this sooner” list - split between Software and Hardware to keep things tidy.

Software

Clipboard Manager App

This was one of those “I didn’t know I needed it” moments.

I stumbled across a YouTuber sharing productivity hacks, and boom - it clicked!

My workflow involves tons of copy-paste. Think about building a newsletter like this one. Opening one file, copying, switching to another, pasting, going back… ugh, soul-crushing.

Now? I copy all the bits I need in one go and never revisit the original file. I started with the Pasta app but switched to a Raycast plugin. Double-tap the Command key, and poof - a searchable list of my clipboard history pops up from any app. Life. Changed.

Clear Formatting App

Clipboards often retain formatting, which rarely matches the destination. PurePaste fixes that and saves me time.

I didn’t want auto-clearing, so I set up a shortcut: traditional “Command + V” for regular paste, and “Option + Command + V” for unformatted text that matches the destination perfectly. Smooth as butter.

Password Manager

I only remember one password - for 1Password (does it count as a pun? no?) - a 20-character line from my favorite song, mixed with uppercase and special characters. Easy for me, brutal for brute force (is it a pun yet?).

My password journey was messy. Same password everywhere? Dumb. Typing them manually? Nope. Browser-stored passwords? Sketchy.

I started with LastPass but switched to 1Password for its slick essentials: design, 2FA, and passkey handling (truth is, it came as a perk from my employer).

Bonus - the app auto-fills your name, address, and email with one click during online checkout.

I’m dabbling with Apple Passwords out of curiosity (and procrastination). It’s decent but not enough to ditch 1Password yet.

ToteScan QR Codes

This one took months to commit to because it required upfront work.

Hear me out: I live in an aging house that needs constant maintenance. Over time, I’ve amassed tools, brushes, wires, screws, gaskets, valves, insect traps, tapes, mounts - you name it.

Organizing them into garage boxes was a mental marathon. Some items fit multiple categories, others fit none (window stoppers, anyone? Remind me to share that story why I bought them).

I’m a minimalist everywhere except the garage - I’ve regretted tossing stuff I later needed too many times.

Then I read how Amazon organizes their fulfillment centers. Spoiler: they don’t.

They just dump items wherever they fit and track it digitally. Genius.

Inspired, I bought a $4 digital set of 45 ToteScan QR codes (in-app purchase), printed them on label paper (yep, leftovers from an old project I'm now very glad I kept), and got to work:

• Stick a QR label on a tote box.

• Install the free iPhone app (no subscription).

• Scan the QR, assign a name and location.

• Snap a pic of an item, add keywords, and toss it in the box.

• Repeat.

Don’t overthink categories - you’ll find stuff instantly by searching keywords.

It took a few hours to set up, but now I use it every week. Low maintenance, high reward.

Hardware

MagSafe Wallet

I don’t carry cash anymore, so a traditional wallet felt pointless. I used a sleek Ridge wallet for years—loved it. But then I realized I only need two credit cards and my driver’s license daily. Loyalty cards? All digital in an iPhone app.

Now I use an ESR MagSafe wallet. It’s been my go-to for a year and a half.

Bonus: it works as a stand for portrait or landscape iPhone mode - perfect for YouTube or FaceTime.

Jakub (the better-looking guy from the welcome email - did you get it?) got all his friends hooked. He’s probably smuggling wallets to the EU.

Monitor Bar Light

For years, I avoided these because I thought they’d reflect off my glossy screen.

Boy, was I wrong.

Over a year ago, I got a Xiaomi Mi Monitor Light Bar, and it’s a game-changer. It floods my desk with even light, casting shadows only where my hands are.

Best part? It comes with a remote puck - full control over brightness and color warmth.

The very next day, I ditched my desktop lamp for good.

Apple AirTag

A total game-changer for air travel, especially with checked luggage.

My first time using one, my bag got stuck in Paris during a connection (self-fulfilling prophecy in action?!).

Landed in Vienna, opened the app, saw it was still in France, and marched to Lost and Found to report it.

They promised it’d arrive on the next flight.

Sure enough, three hours later, I was chilling with a coffee, watching my AirTag make its way from Paris to Vienna. Crisis averted.

Now I keep one in my carry-on too, just in case they force me to gate-check it.

Oh, and one in our car (Side note: our car got towed once. Never again will I panic, “Where’s my car?!”).

The cherry on top? No subscription fees.

Aeropress

Controversial opinion: I don’t like espresso. I’m an Americano guy. Black.

Thankfully, my wife’s not into espresso either. We’ve saved hundreds (probably thousands) by skipping a fancy espresso machine.

Unlike my wife, who loves her French press struggle, I’m Team Aeropress. Why it’s awesome (besides being dirt cheap for a coffee maker):

• Zero coffee residue in the cup (take that, French press)

• After plunging, you’re left with a tidy puck of pressed coffee—easy to dump.
  (Side note: Did you catch me using “puck” twice in one post? I’m working on my vocabulary. Send me cool words to sneak into future editions - I’m serious!)

Thermos Flask

I don't like water (I know it's so unpopular - please still like me!)

I’m all about hot tea or coffee - emphasis on hot.

I've done the math - a hot drink in a mug becomes lukewarm in 10 minutes. I sip slower than that.

My wife’s sage wisdom? “The only thing worse than lukewarm coffee is reheated coffee.”

So, I got a Thermos flask. Dishwasher-safe, airtight lid, and keeps things hot for hours.

It’s also my travel buddy - fill it with coffee post-security, and I’m sipping happily through most of the flight, no rush.

Great for road trips too - hot drinks, no extra stops. 

That’s the list (had to cut it way down — let me know if you want more).

Max function, low effort. Just the way I like it.

Steal what works. Forget the rest. You’ve got things to do.

Oh, one last thing - none of those links are affiliated. Just pure, unfiltered love for the stuff that’s quietly made life better.  

Till next time.

Our favorite digital finds

Short & Sweet

Everything You Need to Know About Sleep Debt - 8 min read.

I pay close attention to my sleep hygiene because sleeping through the night without interruptions doesn't come easily to me. So I soak up everything I can on the topic of sleep. This article touches on an interesting concept - what would it take to catch up on sleep deprivation.

Jeff Bezos Says Identifying Your Hidden Strengths Is Key to Success. Here Are 15 Questions to Find Yours - 4 min read

Knowing your strengths is a big advantage - it lets you double down on what you do best and get ahead of the crowd. There's even a book about it called StrengthsFinder 2.0, but for many, that can feel like overkill. These 15 questions are a much simpler starting point.

3 brilliant critical thinking tools used by Daniel Dennett - 7 min read.

Everyone's heard of Occam's Razor - but did you know there's also something called Occam's Broom? I didn't either! Curious? Enjoy your procrastination.

A Tweet That Hits

It’d be great to turn this into an active wallpaper across all the screens we have access to.

Add this to your shelf

If I had to answer, “What is this book about?” I’d use one word: disruption. Against all odds and tech giants, from outside Silicon Valley, it’s pure, unfiltered disruption.

Netflix also has a TV show, “The Playlist,” covering the same story if you prefer watching without taking notes.

What if you do both?

A Workspace I Envy

I share pictures here, but Insta Reels offer a richer experience. Click the image caption to enjoy the vibe - complete with music!

The second thing I saw? A double display by the wall.

The first? Disassembled iPhones in frames.

I need neither. I want both.

Unpacking the routines of interesting people

Interesting facts:

Dime-Giving Habit: Rockefeller was crazy rich, but he loved handing out dimes to kids and even adults he met! He’d carry shiny coins in his pocket and give them away to spread a little joy, saying it was his way of teaching kindness.

Meticulous Money Tracking: From his very first paycheck, Rockefeller kept detailed ledgers of every penny he earned and spent. He maintained this practice even as a billionaire, recording expenses as small as a few cents.

Longevity Secret: Rockefeller lived to the remarkable age of 97 (1839-1937), unusual for his era. He attributed his longevity to his daily habits: a nap after lunch, no smoking, no alcohol, and eating moderately, often counting how many times he chewed each bite.

Spies in His Company: Rockefeller hired his own spies to monitor his executives and competitors. He disguised himself occasionally to inspect his own facilities incognito, even using fake names when checking into hotels to observe business operations firsthand.

Watch-worthy clips

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