What I’m working on:
I got back from the West Bank a few weeks ago, so I’ve been trying to sort through all my material to start outlining story ideas.
Where I work:
At my colorful desk with the pink mechanical keyboard I built in Queens, New York.
Daily routine:
Every day, I have to get up to feed my cat and give him necessary cuddles. On a good day, I wake up, eat some fruit, and then run out to yoga a few train stops away. (Restorative yoga only.) Then, I pick up a bacon, egg, and cheese from my deli, go home and scarf it down, and hop in the shower to get ready for my day. I’m not a morning person, so this often ends up taking over the first half of my day. I finish the day with a bunch of calls or writing at my desk. Most days, I break up my afternoons by walking my friend’s dog, who lives just down the street. When I’m done with work, I either get started on dinner or plop on my couch to play some video games. This part of my day flies by—it always feels like bedtime rolls around way too soon.
Most productive part of my day:
The afternoon, for sure. I’m a zombie until about 12:00 p.m. I usually get a huge creative burst of energy around 4:00 p.m., which sucks because I like to log off by 6:00 p.m.
Most essential ritual or habit:
These days, yoga. Breathing and stretching are so underrated. I would explode with anxiety without my yoga practice.
Favorite note-taking techniques/tools:
I love a classic Reporter’s Notebook. The one with the white and blue cover. I miss it every time I am forced to use other notebooks or memo pads.
How I keep track of my to-do list:
My phone calendar is my best friend. I put everything on there. My appointments, calls, even when I’m supposed to eat lunch or walk my friend’s dog. When I’m extra organized, I’ll map out my week on a little weekly planner I keep on my desk. These days, I’m not that organized. Sigh.
Essential software/apps/productivity tools:
I am obsessed with Airtable. I keep all my assignments there and build out all my different “views” to figure out when my deadlines are coming up or how much money I’ve made this month so far. I don’t know what I’d do without my Airtable. I thought I deleted my workspace once and almost had a panic attack.
Favorite time waster/procrastination habit:
Cannabis! Though I try not to think of it as a waste of time.
My reading habits:
I read the news in the morning and books before bed. Nonfiction is usually best for sleep time because novels get me too excited sometimes. Nonfiction can usually lull me to sleep (no offense to my fellow nonfiction writers). I switch between my Kindle and paperbacks. Right now, I’m reading The Great Escape by Saket Soni, a source of mine who recounts his effort in 2006 to free immigrants who had been essentially enslaved in these Mississippi work camps.
Sleep schedule:
Ugh, it’s so bad. I stay up way too late (like midnight) and then struggle to wake up earlier than 8:00 a.m. During the week, I try to wake up at 8:00 a.m. at the latest, but you can catch me snoozing hard during the weekend. I love lazy mornings and electric nights. It’s the Gremlin in me!