The best sound cancelling headphones you can splurge on. 10 minutes of white noise followed by pure silence and your head will fell infinitely clearer. I felt like I’d discovered the holy grail when I stumbled across this.
I live in an avenue, and my family has the biggest desk in the living room, near the TV and my family as we gather there, I bought some big headphones and now I can study with a bit less of noise from the TV, the street or even my family, put my own music or essays from classes. It was, is and will be one of the best purchases of my life.
it's a kind of ASMR. it's good to fall asleep if your mind is active at all times like mine is. it's equivalent of a parent shhhing a baby to fall asleep. quite literally hahaha
The lack of Amazon affiliate link spam in the description gives you a lot of credibility, knowing you're not trying to drive as many sales as possible. Nice video.
Consider getting a larger water bottle to keep nearby while you work. It helps you stay hydrated without disrupting your focus by needing to get up for water. Since people are more likely to use things that are within easy reach, it’s a double win.
To add to this, I've realized using a bottle with a straw makes me want to drink from it more, maybe because it's more convenient? I also tend to spill on myself a bit if my water bottle is just an open one.
My Recommendation would be to have a large map somewhere in your room or house, where you’ll see it often. It encourages you to stop and inspect it, helping your geography and just prompts you to think about the countries and their histories and the logistics of all their relationships etc. I personally have one opposite my bed so almost every morning I think about it.
I really enjoyed having the globe printed shower curtain... Living in a camper now, we found an inflatable globe (for pool/beach) but I actually dig it! Just how it is. Interacting with it, can grab it down while read/watch/listening to histories or current events.
absolutely a nice addition to the home! maps are wonderful, personally wouldnt have nothing against digital map, big very thin screen to project map in real time. maybe with a puzzle like guessing the names of countries to memorise better.
Your video on managing multiple interests was just what I needed. I am a 78 year old retired computer programmer who has always had the problem of getting involved in too many things. I do not have much time left but I am going to use your techniques. When I retired I was going learn to do woodworking, learn how to play the piano and sew my own clothes and cook. Woodworking went by the wayside quickly. I found that it's harder than I thought and not that interesting. I tried the piano for about six monthes. I even bought a $3000 piano. By the end of six monthes I was stuck. I could play scales and that's about it. A piano teacher told me to go learn this song and come back and we will work on it. I wasn't paying her for that. I am going to use your mathod for playing the piano, cooking and sewing. Jim 👍👍
I'm grateful to hear it Jim, thank you. I know it's not easy, but I feel you have a creative spirit that won't accept staying still for too long and that's what matters. Best of luck to you.
Hi Sir, as a future compsci student I'd like to ask you 2 questions. How do you think AI will impact the future of the programming job landscape? Also, would you study computer science in the current landscape? Thank you in advance
@@ddwfw Hello , sorry not the guy you asked but ... I don't think AI will take Frontier IT jobs were there are fresh ideas unseen by the LLM's ,they struggle with creating new ideas but are great at hyperlinking ideas together to create "new ones" , AI as we know it today is like a press that squeezes every last bit of important information from your data , finds links humans haven't seen... Companies that only use AI will progress fast but will flat line companies that use AI + humans will have linear progress for AI will run out or links in data and find itself in an intellectual loop and needs new ideas to link together (from humans).
@@ddwfw I'm not him, and I'm not even in CompSci though I did consider it. I am however in the IT field and also studying IT (Degree + Certs). I wouldn't worry about AI. It was impressive at first with the major leap that was made, but it's become clearer and clearer this is another NFT, crypto, Web 3.0 type of deal. Something big, flashy, seemingly unending in possibility that after taking billions from investors will fizzle or fade into the background. The AI currently writing code is just regurgitating blocks it has scraped from other programmers. It's meant for Language that's why it's a Language Learning Model, it's not meant for large interconnecting projects with a bevy of strange dependencies that come from a long history of very human decisions. We will always need tech people, we are not moving away from tech, and we are not replacing almost anyone with AI as of yet. The only job even close to being lost to AI in my opinion is chat customer service which will still always need people to come in for when things get out of hand (refund authorization, client is being unintelligible, more nuance and context needed to understand the issue). Pick your path, get good at it, find a niche if possible or become a truly wide all rounder, and you should be just fine. I wish I were doing CompSci, but my current situation necessitates something else.
I know!!! You are completely right. I hate it when I open a video and some random dude starts yelling at me with annoying noises edited in.
27 дней назад+33
Separating tools from the smartphone is a good strategy. You’re absolutely right; devices are not neutral tools-they shape behaviors. The smartphone, in particular, leads us to waste a lot of time. I leave mine in another room while I study and work. I also use an old laptop (with Linux) for writing and studying.
I think he used linux because it's an old laptop, not because it makes it easier to focus
22 дня назад+2
@@hn3m3s1s Partly because it allows me to use an old laptop. But with Linux, you can make minimalist installations and customize everything according to your decision. If you use Windows, for example, you'll have an endless amount of unnecessary stuff (at least for studying). The idea is to limit the tools 'at hand' within the system so that you don't get distracted. At least for me, it has helped a lot. Additionally, I associate that device only with studying, nothing else. Best regards.
I now use three screens, and that was a game changer… especially for research and writing pubs… one screen has all the browser stuff, webpages, etc… the center is writing, and the right is pdfs and other docs that I need to have access to and open. That made things even easier, less clicking and searching for the window you want up front. It’s become like a digital desk-with an area for stuff I may need to go back to, ref lists to just have open, just made things somehow exponentially easier than just two.
I always thought 3 monitors were overkill, but once you get used to it and every monitor has a purpose, you can work so much faster. Best investment, never looked back.
@@fxfxrki I've been also increasing the amount of screens over the years at work (I'm a developer) and weirdly those last years ended up reducing it back to one wide-screen. While it seems to help to be more structured, I realized that it was just creating more noise ; it was better for me to invest in structuring my workspace better with tools like a tiling manager such as i3 on Linux or Aerospace on OSX.
@@hn3m3s1s I totally get where you're coming from! I've heard many people say that they find one ultrawide just as (if not more) effective. My personal preference is 3, I think it looks really dope. Cool to see how different people use different setups for sure.
One horizontal (center) and one vertical (right) does a lot of the same but using less space. Having a vertical monitor is absolutely a game changer. Reading PDFs, mobile sites, browsing newsfeeds, and writing makes a vertical monitor essential.
@@ghost-user559 but that would mean that reading long pdfs or articles would not be front of you, that might not be best for ergonomics, and neck pains. How does it feel to you? May I also ask your age?
1. Tiling Window Manager (e.g. Tiles, Rectangle, Aerospace, i3) helps to keep my desktop organized and clutter free. 2. Utilizing Do Not Disturb mode on devices when I want to focus. I usually use it for 2 hours at a time. It's important to take breaks. 3. Documentation for the work I do (I'm a software engineer). Helps to find the gaps in my thinking early on, as well as refresh myself on work I've done in the past. 4. Just start whatever it is you're procrastinating on. Nothing is perfect. Failure is necessary.
While I totally agree with the large monitor point (the amount of time i've strained through law cases on my laptop), I find the laptop alone is useful for when I need to avoid distractions. It's far harder to multitask when you don't have access to extra space.
while i have two screens, i totally get your point. i think it can really depend on the tasks you do or the software that you use. if you dont need to switch around alot, a single screen is less distracting.
I am actually not the greatest with explaining my thoughts, so I showed this video to my wife to explain why I like to keep the house mostly clean, not perfect, why I use wide open spaces where I work, and why I lay out my work over my entire desk. I always felt all those things expanded my mind but could never explained how. This video helped me explained why its important to me to her, so, thank you! She may use some of the techniques as well, mainly the smart features!
Honestly, a great investment is a tutor. It depends on the subject as some may be more expensive than others, but they often have free initial consultations where you can get a feel for them. Occasionally getting a tutor who can explain "the why" behind certain concepts can facilitate much deeper understanding on a challenging subject much quicker than would be possible without them.
Trust me, having a desk that gives the impression that a polymath has learned recently on that desk (which isn't the case), will give enough motivation for me to start studying. All it takes is to sit on that chair and boom, you start studying.
Enriching video as always! Few notes, as a programmer and a content creator: 1. I have spent more money on my electrical standing desk than on my computer, and I would 100% do it again. Like you said - the health of your back is priceless. 2. I find that the vertical distance between the keyboard and the screen is critical when in comes to posture. The only thing that helped me with neck, shoulders and upper back pain was raising the screens on top of stacks of unused books or copy paper. seems like while your screen is much higher than a laptop, is still not actually at eye level when you sit straight. 3. Buy actual office supply. I'm actually ashamed of the amount of time and effort I've spent, only because I never bought simple stuff like a fair pair of scissors, precision knife, super glue, a ruler, a nice pen, a marker. Sure, you can improvise, but there's nothing like the right tool for the right job. Oh and also - I have 2 monitors + the laptop screen, and I've seen people with 3 and even 4 monitors, but never have I seen a person with too many screens to their computer. You can't understand this bandwidth upgrade unless you've experienced it.
Thank you, and that's a great point with the posture -I see many getting desk shelves or monitor arms to fix it and I can understand why. And yeah the stationary is always a lifesaver when you least expect it
I used to stack books under my monitor to make it level correctly. Then I found at amazon this "monitor arm mount", which will help you adjusting your monitor's height very easily.
As a developer as well, I totally agree with you! I've been there as well when I was more junior, but I noticed that some of my peers love to spend (company) money in expensive laptops, while most our job can be done from a Raspberry PI :D -- ok I might exagerate, but I'm sure you understand my point. I used to have 2 monitors and one laptop, and find myself reducing back to one wide-screen and use my laptop clamshelld. A good tiling manager such as i3 or Aerospace (OSX) ; and I got back to much more efficient and focus that I was with Slack and all that sh&t open on second monitors. Split keyboard: moonlander mk1 and vertical mouse from Logi, and my RSI pain went away and finally get back to enjoy spending hours coding. I need to fix that distance from the screen tho, you making a great point!
I like a physical calendar instead of an app, really helps me see at a glance what I have in store for the month. Also ambience, whether through candles or lamps I like making my room feel as comfortable as possible to get in the zone.
You should get a more ergonomic mouse and invest on a custom mechanical keyboard. They might seem “just for gamers” but the quality of life they provide are unmatched. The comfort a keyboard tailored to your liking helps with making you want to use it more and therefore spending more time being productive. The mouse just feels right and you never wanna go back to an office mouse after an ergonomic one, your wrist and hand appreciate it.
@@odysseas__ I back up our friend here. I've been working for some years now after career shifting, a good mouse and good keyboard reduces highly the effort put on your wrist, fingers, etc. On the short term it might feel like a useless expense, but if you spend a lot of time behind a computer please do take equipment made for ergonomy: vertical mouse and split keyboards.
@@odysseas__Having spent 100s of pounds searching for the most ergonomic the best I have found is the Lenovo trackpoint keyboard with the built in red pointer. Tired ball mouses even bought a drawing tablet so I could use a pen as the mouse. Best is the red dot mouse.
In my opinon one of the best things you can do to help with anything in room or office is atmosphere. From lighting to paint the effect a good atmosphere can have on the way you feel and the work you produce is insane.
Solid List - you captured some of my absolute favourites: whiteboard, bookstand, standing desk… really all of your suggestions. To answer your question - I would add a dedicated timer (for pomodoros if you use the technique), some stationary choices (you have them in your organizer: coloured pens, flags), etc. Basically, just simple variations on your excellent choices.
@@odysseas__ they are useful. A challenge amongst the curious is focus. I find that if I have multiple areas I want to study at once, I can time each of them - allowing me to focus on one at a time. Which possibly is a self-diagnosis of ADHD - bit timers do help.
Watching this has motivated me to tidy my desk and change my seating position. The things that improved my productivity is replacing my cheap mechanical keyboard to Logitech MX Master Keys. I realised that chunky keys aren't for me and I preferred a laptop-style keyboard. Buying expensive items can definitely improve productivity. The better the quality, the better experience you will have.
My favourite item has been the hipster PDA, a.k.a. a bunch of cue cards with a bulldog clip. Fits in a pocket, purse or wallet; it's not expensive but it's sturdy, so you never feel bad about ruining some, and always have them on hand.
@@ana-fc5lq personally speaking i use it for maths/physics but you can use them for anything really , shopping lists , ideas, quotes just try and find what works for you
@@ana-fc5lq So I used them like an impromptu sturdy pocket notebook. I'll keep anything on them, from grocery lists, to ideas I've picked up, or snippets of conversation I like, etc. If I have a dr's appointment I'll load one up with my medications list, that sort of thing. It's just easy to pick up and always have on hand.
I love how relatable your videos are and I love getting new ideas. one more suggestion I have hoping to see was noise cancellation headphones like not the music kind , no electricity just noise cancelation. there are fancier ones out there nowadays but I got ear muffs for 25$ and they have been a blessing especially if you live in a busy area or have noise sensitivity
Thanks, and I was thinking about this the other day. It's crazy how much ambient noise pollution we deal with on the daily, which I bet our minds are not suited for.
Thank you very much for your recommendations. I always will recommend to buy a good ergonomic chair, not a gaming one (and besides that, 'cause its the best for improve your learning: sleep, so then a good mattress and pillow)
Having a stand for my pc and buying a mechanical keyboard with soft wrist rest pillows + having part of my desk inclinable, has been a game changer for me. The only problem is that I love working outside in cafés or library where its hard to bring this stuff. Working at home makes me a bit depressed and I feel lonely, so I try to mix up the two.
I find your videos on reading and note-taking incredibly interesting, and I will definitely be integrating your methods into my active learning journey. After using a dual monitor setup, I was fortunate to purchase a good second-hand 34” monitor, which has been a game-changer for both convenience and productivity. I’m never going back to two monitors! Thank you so much for your time and for presenting such wonderful, insightful videos.”
Im graduating in electronics and robotics in my first year I used ti do everything in my computer desk from micro soldering to cutting cables but I would find myself distracting myself and watch RUclips, after a while I bought a dedicated table for building electronic devices and studying them and where I would usually take 2-3 night to finish the smallest projects now it takes me 1 night or maybe 2 if it requires printing objects all of it due to not working in my pc desk, buying and exclusive desk for it was the best purchase I made so far
What I love about your content is that it's 100% bullshit free. Every tip you ever gave us here have actually worked for me. The book stand, the mini essays as a tool for learning, all life changers.
Weekly task planner. I write out on Monday morning all I need to get done for the week and assign things to different days, even down to the number of pages I need to read of a specific book each day. This keeps me organized and motivated each day to get done what I need to as a full time seminary student with two jobs and a family. I can also attest to the helpfulness of a book stand, especially for research papers.
I've been using a treadmill along with my standing desk. It kills two birds with one stone by letting me exercise while I work and it keeps me a work centered headspace because I associate the two together
I want to STRONGLY cosign the home notebooks idea. I normally carry around a notebook that is my daily capture of everything from notes to work to ideas, which I then off load into my second brain on obsidian at the end of the notebooks live. The problem is when I get home - I still need the functionality of a capture notebook but it never occurred to me to keep one everywhere. Up until two days ago, I had sticky notes and pens and pencils everywhere but the sticky notes would then be everywhere from my wall to my fridge and it caused so visual clutter that while I was doing my daily life edit, it occurred to me that I could just keep a notebook in each room for the same purpose. Now I have one in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and even at my desk. I’m very much a scribble my thoughts as soon as I get them kind of person and bounding that info in a notebook instead of using sticky notes everywhere has been life changing. I highly highly recommend. We must be on the same wavelength or something because even though I’m watching this video now, this occurred to me a couple days ago.
@@odysseas__ Regarding your question at the end of the video: The one thing that has made my writing less of a chore and more physically enjoyable is getting a good mechanical keyboard. This is a deep rabbit hole, but the personalized style and amazing feedback make me feel physically connected to my writing.
I really boosted my productivity writting my chores to do in a large whiteboard. The sensation of crossing out a complete task is something and app can not accomplish. I felt so much cooler, that I ended up buying 3 whiteboards hehehe
The alarm clock is brilliant but to expand on it, I highly recommend getting a wrist band watch for checking time during the day. It keeps you from allowing your phone to steal your attention when you just have to check the time. I use the cheapest Casio watches for this.
The desk organizer is a good idea, but I'll go one better: those cheap plastic Chinese food containers you get at the dollar store (or grocery stores have them now). It's like a junk drawer on top of your desk where you can throw all kinds of random do-dads that might not fit into a formal organizer. I throw notepads, pens, thumb drives, SD cards (in case), and any number of adaptors and dongles into it. They're also great for general organizing - - it's the perfect size to hold a specific kind of usb cord (or chargers) or little hobby bits or fancy pens and pencils for art or anything else. They stack pretty well on shelves and fit in drawers easily.
@@odysseas__ yep - - I'll include a picture of my drawer when I do my video on it. The only difference between an organized person and the rest of us is knowing where you keep your stuff.
Yes to a non-phone alarm clock! I bought a Time Timer a couple of years ago and it has consistently come in handy. Also yes to a laptop stand. I use my laptop and a larger stand-alone monitor as dual screens and getting a stand for my laptop has helped SO MUCH. One thing I'll add: Some of us really are able to relax more and therefore get quicker into a focus state when we've put some effort into making our workspace aesthetically pleasing. I've got my plants, a few framed photos, a warm lamp, and a blue and white color scheme. Setting the "vibes" can definitely be an important thing for some folks.
the one thing that changed me was a basic, dollar store A5 planner. i already have a google calendar for appointments and collaboration with other people, but something about a personal space for daily to do lists, reminders, etc. that i can take with me anywhere makes keeping track of things so much easier
I would say one of my best investment is having an ergonomic chair. I used to have low back pain quite a lot back then and the problem immediately got resolved after I bought this type of chair.
I've finished binge watching all your videos and I love the kind of vibe you exude. It's so calm and refreshing. Btw I got something to ask you. Do you take notes for every video, article and book that you consume? And how do you take notes for the video type of contents? I mean do you take notes as you watch them or first watch the whole video at the stretch and then take notes from your memory (like active recalling)?
Loved your video, i also tried and failed many times in trying to find the best way to focus when i had to study and transcription is one of the best. I believe also that you should have something that can maintain you hydrated/and with energy while studying (tea,matecocido,mate,coffee,water)
Sometimes you have no choice but to start out cheap. Then gradually upgrade as your financial state improves. The two things that worked the best for me were a reasonably good desk and a book stand.
Instead of pen and paper everywhere in the house, I’d Recommend small pocket notebooks. A pocket notebook should be EDC so you always have something to write on, but having too many leaves your notes scattered and traps you in the “where the heck did I write that” phase.
Underrated item: A vertical ergonomic mouse. It looks weird but it lets your hand sit at its natural angle instead of pronated all day. Easier on the wrist Add to that an ergonomic keyboard and maybe a wrist wrest too. One other thing is a foot rest. It’s weird but resting your feet at an angle is so much more comfortable than flat on the floor
I can vouch for the footrest 100%, such a huge difference there and I should definitely get another. Is the vertical mouse quick to get used to? I don't notice wrist strain from the normal one but it might be worth taking the plunge.
@@odysseas__I got used to it quick, it feels quite natural. Only thing is since it’s taller, being vertical, I occasionally knock it over when I move my right hand from keyboard to mouse. Very minor, though, it feels more comfortable to use
@@odysseas__ Issue you might have with the vertical mouse is every time you click, the mouse will slide to the side since the buttons are on the side of the mouse instead of the top of the mouse
Dedicated calculator. It helped me more than I could realize as to im only using the calculator itself for doing projects instead of my phone thats one swipe away from distractions.
Love the video, recently I’ve been watching a lot of desk setup vids but they usually end up being too tech heavy for me. Your list feels a lot more grounded and I’ll definitely be getting a couple of your recommendations.
4:30 another effective alarm clock is an old smartphone, with no SIM card, no Wifi, no nothing. Just existing to be used as an alarm. And this way, the battery can even last a week without charging it haha So you can leave your normal phone at the living room or wherever you want but outside of your bedroom, and only have your old phone at a bedside table.
I always see a bunch of alarm clocks at thrift stores. That's how I got mine. Much healthier than staring at your phone first thing in the morning, and you're using some "outdated" technology that would've possible laned in a landfill otherwise. That said, I do still appreciate the reliability of my phone's alarm clock and will set an alarm on it for ~15 minutes after my alarm clock. At least for days when it's especially important to be ready on time.
I bought a used and fairly discounted Herman Miller chair, and I have seen night and day differences in my posture and ability to focus for long periods of time while sitting down.
I fitted 2 large pegboards in my office to tidy all charging cables and bits & bobs off the worktops. So much better and Its really easy to find things too!
Instead of a desk organizer I have a small one for my sticky notes, highlighters, and tabs that attaches to the front of my books (works best with hardbacks though) so anywhere I go I have everything I need with me and never have to stop and hunt down what I need.
I read a lot from my ereader and I bought myself a phone stand to put my ereader and it is amazing! I also own and really love the book stand, for when I am reading! I also found that having a "study routine" helps me, and for me it is a warm drink (tea or coffee) and putting on a good smelling candle. I feel like having one smell that puts you into studying is great. Then I also loved investing in the app forest, i get distracted by my phone quite often so I bought the premium version of forest. And I am really glad I did! Buying a subscription to Spotify was also very useful because I no longer get distracted by adds
I always keep a pocket notebook and pen on me, to capture ideas and thoughts whenever I get them I actually almost all of things you mentioned A nice little addition I have is a small desktop calendar, I use to mark important dates, track how many days I have for that date. It is a nice reminder for how much time you have "left" (I use it mostly for my tests)
11:11 I experienced with stacked monitor stand and it's way better than a center+side set up, it makes them both centered and monitor at the top is easier to see and get visual info.
5:24 For this, I greatly prefer a wake-up light over a standard alarm. This as it wakes me up more gently, but also more thoroughly, making me ready to hop out of bed. To then get to sunlight or at least turn on the lamps as soon as possible, as this helps a lot with waking up. 6:44 A book stand is very useful, but since I read most texts digitally, for me adding more monitors to my setup works. Though I would love to add an e-Ink monitor in that position, which actually looks like paper. My phone already is an e-Ink phone, it's great and also helps a bit with not scrolling too much, but larger dedicated screens get too expensive for me. 7:45 Well there's something I would benefit from, I should definitely pick up a desk organiser soon. Currently most my stuff is either in my etui (pen bag), on the second desk surface of the mistake I am sitting behind now or scattered over the main surface. I generally don't have a problem with clutter though, once I get to focus on the work, I can keep going pretty much anywhere, as long as the clutter doesn't get in the way of finding stuff I need. 9:14 Well there's another rather interesting suggestion. After writing the note down, I'll probably remember that it's in one of the notebooks, which is easier to find than remembering the thing again. As I greatly prefer writing with fountain pens, that would get a bit crazy, but still manageable with the okay €5 HEMA pens that last forever. 9:35 I mentioned it already, this is dead obvious to me. But also learn to use virtual desktops (or whatever the Windows terminology is) on the PC too. This I struggle with using properly, maybe a tiling windows plug-in will force me to do this more down the line (I'm on KDE Plasma, currently version 6.1). I've been using Linux exclusively for 6 years, which is harder to learn but lets me tweak the system's look and feel to my liking, which makes me like just using the PC. Another amazing thing I do use adequately is the overview screen, which spreads out all open windows over the screen, with ample space between them, letting me find my bearings and pick up again. Weirdly enough though, my younger brother doesn't use the second screen I got him at all, leaving it turned off all the time. Not sure if this is a personal difference, or him not knowing what to do with it. 11:59 For at home I use a cheap laptop stand which I can place on the couch or outside lounge to sit comfortably while using the thing. But I also have a full desktop setup with larger screens for getting things done quicker. This setup has the monitors on a raised 3rd surface I built myself, initially to try to find a permanent place for my drawing tablet but I kept it as I prefer the monitor position. With this setup I can get in a good flow-state when doing programming or other IT heavy work. 13:28 The computer heavy approach shines here again, but both on my desktop and laptop I like to take notes and visualise stuff in art software (Krita to be exact). I use precisely those kinds of visualisations to draw connections between the information, even while taking notes in class. For this I always carry a small drawing tablet around on campus, as I greatly prefer looking at the screen over hunching over a piece of paper. And I'm comfortable enough with the software to just use it without it getting in the way too much, though my portable tabled is a bit problematic and due for an upgrade. The almost 20 year old tablet at my desktop is perfect though and never gets in the way, but it's too heavy to carry around. Thank you for making this video. Your had some good suggestions, some of which I should apply, others I already do in my own way. The biggest help in learning for me is those drawing tablets and learning the art software for taking notes with. Along with having multiple monitors, which really helps with keeping something relevant or fun to the side.
Great advice all around. I use them all except the white board (so far). I also have a “fully” standup desk & can’t recommend them highly enough. Recently I got an extra large full desk mouse pad. It seems to help me focus and also helps my desk stay organized while in use. I recommend a solid color to minimize distraction. But as you say, everyone has different preferences for their work space.
tbh the only thing i can agree that helps someone as me, is whiteboard. having the ability to write by hand, visualise something off of a device is magnificent. i dont watch calander or anything but white board is always there. the only case i have for lets say previously mentioned calander is putting in the dates i must not or would not like to forget and would like someone to remind me of the upcoming events. thats it.
I'm starting a degree in a few weeks, and have just purchased a 140cm standing desk, and 34" widescreen monitor. I still need to find a decent chair that I like. RAM and m.2 drives to upgrade my desktop and laptop. I've got a space on my wall for a large blackboard, which will be going up soon. I've also been decluttering, cleaning, and organising my living space too. It's surprising just how refreshing, and 'lighter' I feel in a minimalist space. I like the idea of a book stand, so I'll look to pick one up.
Revisiting this video (after finally watching your full Obsidian guide one) and bought myself the same bookstand you have in the video (found it on Amazon lol). Gonna make reading and note-taking so much easier
Instead of the book stand one can use a split keyboard (I got the ergodox ez, which isn't the most recent modell and maybe a bit extreme for most). That gives you space where usually the keyboard is, the angling feature of the book stand might still be nice. I don't work a lot with books on my desk setup, so a book stand isn't for me. Might geht a whiteboard thingy though that I might place there.
I recommend after getting a laptop stand is obviously buy a set of wireless keyboard and mouse, especially the silent one if you want to focus and dont want to get distracted by the noise.
instead to a laptop stand you could also get a standing desk riser / adjuster which is like a mini desk on top of your desk that can rise for standing mode. you can also use a cardboard box
Thank you so much for such many ideas! I got a lot from you. For me, 10" E-ink E-reader provides me a huge benefit for reading a lot of knowledge esp. from textbook without eye strain.
Really good suggestions! In addition to a good desk I’d also recommend a good chair for all the same reasons, I’m still looking for one myself haha, but it’s super important for posture. I really like the standing desk idea, we have the adjustable ones like that on campus and they’re great to use.
I no longer spend time watching recommendation vids here on youtube due to reasons which you’ve coincidentally mentioned here, but i had a feeling this video was gonna be good. and i was right. i genuinely feel like almost everything in this list would work well for me. Im gonna give these things a try one by one. thank you so much!
I have my own color-coded highlighting system when reading law books and codal provisions. I have printed planner and 2 apps for planner and to-dos. I use time-blocking in scheduling the tasks and events I have to do on that day but I’m not very strict with the time for now. It helps me to know how many tasks and events I can do and attend to in a day. As much as possible, I sleep early and exercise. I also use a book stand and notebooks.
Recent subscriber here. Happy to have found this channel! As a student, I love only having to carry around my iPad at university. It keeps all my notes in the same place and if I’m able to download the textbook, those too. I usually transcribe the ideas to a physical notebook for long term memory and physical storage during spaced repetition cycles. I’ve been able to reduce my phone use entirely during studies and setup my iPad as productive technology. Would highly recommend this strategy
I started to work while studying, best purchase of my life was a good pair of headphones and next will be a good chair to sit down and study on weekends.
I currently use 3 screens in total. My 2017 iMac 27inch 5K with 2x 27 inch thunderbolt screens. And I love it. So much real estate for apps. If I need to be reminded, I leave the app open. Like you said, best screen in front of you. Maybe a bit overkill but it surely looks good lol.
A monitor is the best investment one can make imo. Getting a monitor reduced my eye strain which allowed me to study for longer hours. This had a direct impact on my grades and I got a 4.0 for the first time in college last semester. If you can only get one item for productivity, get a Monitor! (esp if you're an engineering major)
Awesome, I totally agree with all these tips. I actually have made the exact same conclusions on my own over the last decade. Glad to see others have made the same conclusions. as i dont have a good place for a large whiteboard, i only have a small witeboard notebook, which is a good place to take fast notes and sketches without wasting tones of paper. only upgrade i also did was a small side table for drinks and snacks etc. to avoid me knocking over my drinks over my desk. and i agree, less is more when getting stuff for hobbies. not promoting minimalism, but just thoughtful purchases. i often ended up in this consumerist urge to buy stuff, but then never really using it. so i remind myself of that. so before i buy i stuff, i first make sure to do the thing / hobby before and only really buying it out of a clear immediate need and not a need for optimizing a task that i have not done yet.
@@odysseas__ I spent two years effectively homeless, so discoveries like this were a life changer. Having no shelter creates dozens of daily annoyances and you have to come up with solutions, it has been a strangely creative period!
Instead of having a monitor and whiteboard, I like to use the wall in front of my desk. Sort of like a vision board, but utilized for tracking projects. I create three columns with two lines of tape to separate the top 3 priorities in my life. Right now, it’s (left) obligation projects, (middle) my script, and (right) personal goals. If I had a monitor, I would have to give that up because I agree with having the main display directly in front of you. As much as I would love to have a whiteboard, I find myself losing track of thoughts when I get up to observe a new canvas. Plus, there’s a sort of commitment to whatever you begin writing on there, because to free up space for new thoughts you’ll have to erase what you have. I do have the large sticky papers similar to what you suggested as an alternative for the whiteboard, but I find myself ripping these off the wall more often than not. Now that I’m writing this, maybe a white board would be helpful for grasping bigger concepts in the moment. Then once it’s locked into mind maybe erase everything. I hate sitting in my room and seeing a massive display of what I’ve been working on when I’m just trying to relax (if only I had an office, but such is the life of poor college students). Anywho, I’m not expecting a response or anything, but I really appreciated your insight and thought I’d share.
That's a nice idea with a feeling of progression behind it. The only issue with a whiteboard I find is that I am hesitant to wipe it all out sometimes if I like the notes I've made. Has to be done though.
I find the middle ground is the full size cork board with pins. It’s actually much better than a whiteboard only because you get to keep and store whatever cue cards or paper notes once you are done, no erasing. And using a folder system you can switch projects and workflows by going back to an old set of notes and cue cards later because nothing ever gets erased. It also is more tactile to pin up hand written notes, and it gives you lots of flexibility because you can print out more permanent things like calendars or ongoing notes pinned to the edges, and then you can have more temporary short term plans in the middle. Best case would be a smaller cork board or whiteboard and a larger primary one depending on which you prefer.
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The best sound cancelling headphones you can splurge on. 10 minutes of white noise followed by pure silence and your head will fell infinitely clearer. I felt like I’d discovered the holy grail when I stumbled across this.
That's a nice one because our minds can't be used to all the noise pollution we are normally exposed to
I live in an avenue, and my family has the biggest desk in the living room, near the TV and my family as we gather there, I bought some big headphones and now I can study with a bit less of noise from the TV, the street or even my family, put my own music or essays from classes. It was, is and will be one of the best purchases of my life.
it's a kind of ASMR. it's good to fall asleep if your mind is active at all times like mine is. it's equivalent of a parent shhhing a baby to fall asleep. quite literally hahaha
@@klemenkovacic9109😂
I’ll have to look into this! Is there a pair you would recommend?
The lack of Amazon affiliate link spam in the description gives you a lot of credibility, knowing you're not trying to drive as many sales as possible. Nice video.
I appreciate it, thanks. There's so many choices too, so it makes no sense to link anything.
Consider getting a larger water bottle to keep nearby while you work. It helps you stay hydrated without disrupting your focus by needing to get up for water. Since people are more likely to use things that are within easy reach, it’s a double win.
To add to this, I've realized using a bottle with a straw makes me want to drink from it more, maybe because it's more convenient? I also tend to spill on myself a bit if my water bottle is just an open one.
i wonder how much you can lose focus because your brain finds its better to drink than study and make you go more to the bathroom....
sometimes though it’s important for you to stand up and go get water you may get distracted but it gives you some stretching time
why stop there? wear a diaper so you don't have to get up to pee from all that water consumption
@@nidhi7041 🤣bro violated them all
My Recommendation would be to have a large map somewhere in your room or house, where you’ll see it often. It encourages you to stop and inspect it, helping your geography and just prompts you to think about the countries and their histories and the logistics of all their relationships etc. I personally have one opposite my bed so almost every morning I think about it.
That's a great idea, good for reading history or politics too.
love this!
I really enjoyed having the globe printed shower curtain...
Living in a camper now, we found an inflatable globe (for pool/beach) but I actually dig it! Just how it is.
Interacting with it, can grab it down while read/watch/listening to histories or current events.
yes i have one it is very good idea very smart i approve yes
absolutely a nice addition to the home! maps are wonderful, personally wouldnt have nothing against digital map, big very thin screen to project map in real time. maybe with a puzzle like guessing the names of countries to memorise better.
Your video on managing multiple interests was just what I needed. I am a 78 year old retired computer programmer who has always had the problem of getting involved in too many things. I do not have much time left but I am going to use your techniques. When I retired I was going learn to do woodworking, learn how to play the piano and sew my own clothes and cook. Woodworking went by the wayside quickly. I found that it's harder than I thought and not that interesting. I tried the piano for about six monthes. I even bought a $3000 piano. By the end of six monthes I was stuck. I could play scales and that's about it. A piano teacher told me to go learn this song and come back and we will work on it. I wasn't paying her for that. I am going to use your mathod for playing the piano, cooking and sewing.
Jim
👍👍
I'm grateful to hear it Jim, thank you. I know it's not easy, but I feel you have a creative spirit that won't accept staying still for too long and that's what matters. Best of luck to you.
Hi Sir, as a future compsci student I'd like to ask you 2 questions. How do you think AI will impact the future of the programming job landscape? Also, would you study computer science in the current landscape? Thank you in advance
@@ddwfw please reply to my cmment if he replies to ur question thank youu!
@@ddwfw Hello , sorry not the guy you asked but ... I don't think AI will take Frontier IT jobs were there are fresh ideas unseen by the LLM's ,they struggle with creating new ideas but are great at hyperlinking ideas together to create "new ones" , AI as we know it today is like a press that squeezes every last bit of important information from your data , finds links humans haven't seen...
Companies that only use AI will progress fast but will flat line companies that use AI + humans will have linear progress for AI will run out or links in data and find itself in an intellectual loop and needs new ideas to link together (from humans).
@@ddwfw I'm not him, and I'm not even in CompSci though I did consider it. I am however in the IT field and also studying IT (Degree + Certs). I wouldn't worry about AI. It was impressive at first with the major leap that was made, but it's become clearer and clearer this is another NFT, crypto, Web 3.0 type of deal. Something big, flashy, seemingly unending in possibility that after taking billions from investors will fizzle or fade into the background. The AI currently writing code is just regurgitating blocks it has scraped from other programmers. It's meant for Language that's why it's a Language Learning Model, it's not meant for large interconnecting projects with a bevy of strange dependencies that come from a long history of very human decisions. We will always need tech people, we are not moving away from tech, and we are not replacing almost anyone with AI as of yet. The only job even close to being lost to AI in my opinion is chat customer service which will still always need people to come in for when things get out of hand (refund authorization, client is being unintelligible, more nuance and context needed to understand the issue).
Pick your path, get good at it, find a niche if possible or become a truly wide all rounder, and you should be just fine. I wish I were doing CompSci, but my current situation necessitates something else.
I immediately bought a book stand after watching this and you've honestly revolutionized the way I study. I'm obsessssssed with it.
Ordering one right now. Thanks for reinforcing Odysseas' claim.
I bought a whiteboard calendar. To physically see my calendar not online has helped me not forget important events coming up
never knew those existed.
35” curved wide monitor - so much more productive, it lets you breathe.
It's a great idea, but for some reason they don't sit right with me
I love my curved 35”. It’s made window management super easy
I bought a “35 and regret it. Dual monitors >>> a single wide monitor.
Agree 💯
Breathe through your nose, not your monitor
Love your laid-back and calm style of video making. A true bliss in the landscape of attention-grabbing, fast-paced, hyper-focused videos everywhere.
I'm grateful, thanks. I don't like that stuff either.
I know!!! You are completely right. I hate it when I open a video and some random dude starts yelling at me with annoying noises edited in.
Separating tools from the smartphone is a good strategy. You’re absolutely right; devices are not neutral tools-they shape behaviors. The smartphone, in particular, leads us to waste a lot of time. I leave mine in another room while I study and work. I also use an old laptop (with Linux) for writing and studying.
What Linux provides that other OS don't, allowing you to focus?
I think he used linux because it's an old laptop, not because it makes it easier to focus
@@hn3m3s1s Partly because it allows me to use an old laptop. But with Linux, you can make minimalist installations and customize everything according to your decision. If you use Windows, for example, you'll have an endless amount of unnecessary stuff (at least for studying). The idea is to limit the tools 'at hand' within the system so that you don't get distracted. At least for me, it has helped a lot. Additionally, I associate that device only with studying, nothing else. Best regards.
I now use three screens, and that was a game changer… especially for research and writing pubs… one screen has all the browser stuff, webpages, etc… the center is writing, and the right is pdfs and other docs that I need to have access to and open. That made things even easier, less clicking and searching for the window you want up front. It’s become like a digital desk-with an area for stuff I may need to go back to, ref lists to just have open, just made things somehow exponentially easier than just two.
I always thought 3 monitors were overkill, but once you get used to it and every monitor has a purpose, you can work so much faster. Best investment, never looked back.
@@fxfxrki I've been also increasing the amount of screens over the years at work (I'm a developer) and weirdly those last years ended up reducing it back to one wide-screen.
While it seems to help to be more structured, I realized that it was just creating more noise ; it was better for me to invest in structuring my workspace better with tools like a tiling manager such as i3 on Linux or Aerospace on OSX.
@@hn3m3s1s I totally get where you're coming from! I've heard many people say that they find one ultrawide just as (if not more) effective. My personal preference is 3, I think it looks really dope. Cool to see how different people use different setups for sure.
One horizontal (center) and one vertical (right) does a lot of the same but using less space. Having a vertical monitor is absolutely a game changer. Reading PDFs, mobile sites, browsing newsfeeds, and writing makes a vertical monitor essential.
@@ghost-user559 but that would mean that reading long pdfs or articles would not be front of you, that might not be best for ergonomics, and neck pains. How does it feel to you? May I also ask your age?
1. Tiling Window Manager (e.g. Tiles, Rectangle, Aerospace, i3) helps to keep my desktop organized and clutter free.
2. Utilizing Do Not Disturb mode on devices when I want to focus. I usually use it for 2 hours at a time. It's important to take breaks.
3. Documentation for the work I do (I'm a software engineer). Helps to find the gaps in my thinking early on, as well as refresh myself on work I've done in the past.
4. Just start whatever it is you're procrastinating on. Nothing is perfect. Failure is necessary.
While I totally agree with the large monitor point (the amount of time i've strained through law cases on my laptop), I find the laptop alone is useful for when I need to avoid distractions. It's far harder to multitask when you don't have access to extra space.
while i have two screens, i totally get your point. i think it can really depend on the tasks you do or the software that you use. if you dont need to switch around alot, a single screen is less distracting.
I am actually not the greatest with explaining my thoughts, so I showed this video to my wife to explain why I like to keep the house mostly clean, not perfect, why I use wide open spaces where I work, and why I lay out my work over my entire desk. I always felt all those things expanded my mind but could never explained how. This video helped me explained why its important to me to her, so, thank you! She may use some of the techniques as well, mainly the smart features!
I'm grateful to hear it, thank you. Glad it made sense.
Honestly, a great investment is a tutor. It depends on the subject as some may be more expensive than others, but they often have free initial consultations where you can get a feel for them. Occasionally getting a tutor who can explain "the why" behind certain concepts can facilitate much deeper understanding on a challenging subject much quicker than would be possible without them.
Trust me, having a desk that gives the impression that a polymath has learned recently on that desk (which isn't the case), will give enough motivation for me to start studying. All it takes is to sit on that chair and boom, you start studying.
Very true, gets you into that frame of mind fast
Enriching video as always!
Few notes, as a programmer and a content creator:
1. I have spent more money on my electrical standing desk than on my computer, and I would 100% do it again.
Like you said - the health of your back is priceless.
2. I find that the vertical distance between the keyboard and the screen is critical when in comes to posture.
The only thing that helped me with neck, shoulders and upper back pain was raising the screens on top of stacks of unused books or copy paper.
seems like while your screen is much higher than a laptop, is still not actually at eye level when you sit straight.
3. Buy actual office supply.
I'm actually ashamed of the amount of time and effort I've spent, only because I never bought simple stuff like a fair pair of scissors, precision knife, super glue, a ruler, a nice pen, a marker.
Sure, you can improvise, but there's nothing like the right tool for the right job.
Oh and also - I have 2 monitors + the laptop screen, and I've seen people with 3 and even 4 monitors, but never have I seen a person with too many screens to their computer.
You can't understand this bandwidth upgrade unless you've experienced it.
Thank you, and that's a great point with the posture -I see many getting desk shelves or monitor arms to fix it and I can understand why. And yeah the stationary is always a lifesaver when you least expect it
מבין את העניינים אתה אח יקר
I used to stack books under my monitor to make it level correctly. Then I found at amazon this "monitor arm mount", which will help you adjusting your monitor's height very easily.
As a developer as well, I totally agree with you! I've been there as well when I was more junior, but I noticed that some of my peers love to spend (company) money in expensive laptops, while most our job can be done from a Raspberry PI :D -- ok I might exagerate, but I'm sure you understand my point.
I used to have 2 monitors and one laptop, and find myself reducing back to one wide-screen and use my laptop clamshelld. A good tiling manager such as i3 or Aerospace (OSX) ; and I got back to much more efficient and focus that I was with Slack and all that sh&t open on second monitors.
Split keyboard: moonlander mk1 and vertical mouse from Logi, and my RSI pain went away and finally get back to enjoy spending hours coding.
I need to fix that distance from the screen tho, you making a great point!
I love how your content goes straight to the point.
I like a physical calendar instead of an app, really helps me see at a glance what I have in store for the month. Also ambience, whether through candles or lamps I like making my room feel as comfortable as possible to get in the zone.
True, it's nice to move away from apps sometimes. I also overlooked lighting completely so it's good you mention this.
You should get a more ergonomic mouse and invest on a custom mechanical keyboard. They might seem “just for gamers” but the quality of life they provide are unmatched. The comfort a keyboard tailored to your liking helps with making you want to use it more and therefore spending more time being productive. The mouse just feels right and you never wanna go back to an office mouse after an ergonomic one, your wrist and hand appreciate it.
Will do, I'll make the switch soon enough
I second the ergonomic mouse. For anyone looking, Logitech makes good (non-gamer) ones that are affordable.
@@odysseas__ I back up our friend here. I've been working for some years now after career shifting, a good mouse and good keyboard reduces highly the effort put on your wrist, fingers, etc. On the short term it might feel like a useless expense, but if you spend a lot of time behind a computer please do take equipment made for ergonomy: vertical mouse and split keyboards.
@@odysseas__Having spent 100s of pounds searching for the most ergonomic the best I have found is the Lenovo trackpoint keyboard with the built in red pointer. Tired ball mouses even bought a drawing tablet so I could use a pen as the mouse. Best is the red dot mouse.
@@hn3m3s1s Will do, thanks.
In my opinon one of the best things you can do to help with anything in room or office is atmosphere. From lighting to paint the effect a good atmosphere can have on the way you feel and the work you produce is insane.
True, lighting is a huge one
You are the reason i still like youtube,very quality content.
Thanks, I appreciate this
Second monitor is mandatory. 4k tt
Vs are $400. Split keyboard with tilt is your next big eye opener.
Secondary vertical is the way to go.
Solid List - you captured some of my absolute favourites: whiteboard, bookstand, standing desk… really all of your suggestions. To answer your question - I would add a dedicated timer (for pomodoros if you use the technique), some stationary choices (you have them in your organizer: coloured pens, flags), etc. Basically, just simple variations on your excellent choices.
Thanks, and those timers look good, I see them a lot on ads
@@odysseas__ they are useful. A challenge amongst the curious is focus. I find that if I have multiple areas I want to study at once, I can time each of them - allowing me to focus on one at a time.
Which possibly is a self-diagnosis of ADHD - bit timers do help.
Watching this has motivated me to tidy my desk and change my seating position.
The things that improved my productivity is replacing my cheap mechanical keyboard to Logitech MX Master Keys. I realised that chunky keys aren't for me and I preferred a laptop-style keyboard.
Buying expensive items can definitely improve productivity. The better the quality, the better experience you will have.
if you are doing a standing/adjustable desk then get some sort of foam/cushioning floormat. to make standing more comfortable
My favourite item has been the hipster PDA, a.k.a. a bunch of cue cards with a bulldog clip. Fits in a pocket, purse or wallet; it's not expensive but it's sturdy, so you never feel bad about ruining some, and always have them on hand.
what do you use them for? i just need an example i thought of buying them but cant decide for what i would use them
@@ana-fc5lq personally speaking i use it for maths/physics but you can use them for anything really , shopping lists , ideas, quotes just try and find what works for you
@@ana-fc5lq So I used them like an impromptu sturdy pocket notebook. I'll keep anything on them, from grocery lists, to ideas I've picked up, or snippets of conversation I like, etc. If I have a dr's appointment I'll load one up with my medications list, that sort of thing. It's just easy to pick up and always have on hand.
I love how relatable your videos are and I love getting new ideas. one more suggestion I have hoping to see was noise cancellation headphones like not the music kind , no electricity just noise cancelation. there are fancier ones out there nowadays but I got ear muffs for 25$ and they have been a blessing especially if you live in a busy area or have noise sensitivity
Thanks, and I was thinking about this the other day. It's crazy how much ambient noise pollution we deal with on the daily, which I bet our minds are not suited for.
Thank you very much for your recommendations. I always will recommend to buy a good ergonomic chair, not a gaming one (and besides that, 'cause its the best for improve your learning: sleep, so then a good mattress and pillow)
Having a stand for my pc and buying a mechanical keyboard with soft wrist rest pillows + having part of my desk inclinable, has been a game changer for me. The only problem is that I love working outside in cafés or library where its hard to bring this stuff. Working at home makes me a bit depressed and I feel lonely, so I try to mix up the two.
I find your videos on reading and note-taking incredibly interesting, and I will definitely be integrating your methods into my active learning journey. After using a dual monitor setup, I was fortunate to purchase a good second-hand 34” monitor, which has been a game-changer for both convenience and productivity. I’m never going back to two monitors! Thank you so much for your time and for presenting such wonderful, insightful videos.”
Im graduating in electronics and robotics in my first year I used ti do everything in my computer desk from micro soldering to cutting cables but I would find myself distracting myself and watch RUclips, after a while I bought a dedicated table for building electronic devices and studying them and where I would usually take 2-3 night to finish the smallest projects now it takes me 1 night or maybe 2 if it requires printing objects all of it due to not working in my pc desk, buying and exclusive desk for it was the best purchase I made so far
What I love about your content is that it's 100% bullshit free. Every tip you ever gave us here have actually worked for me. The book stand, the mini essays as a tool for learning, all life changers.
Weekly task planner. I write out on Monday morning all I need to get done for the week and assign things to different days, even down to the number of pages I need to read of a specific book each day. This keeps me organized and motivated each day to get done what I need to as a full time seminary student with two jobs and a family. I can also attest to the helpfulness of a book stand, especially for research papers.
Nice one -also helps to have one less thing online and on paper instead.
thank you for this, I really enjoyed this video
thanks for not including any music
I appreciate it, thank you
I've been using a treadmill along with my standing desk. It kills two birds with one stone by letting me exercise while I work and it keeps me a work centered headspace because I associate the two together
Nice idea, it's a good addition because there's no negative catches or conditions.
I want to STRONGLY cosign the home notebooks idea. I normally carry around a notebook that is my daily capture of everything from notes to work to ideas, which I then off load into my second brain on obsidian at the end of the notebooks live. The problem is when I get home - I still need the functionality of a capture notebook but it never occurred to me to keep one everywhere. Up until two days ago, I had sticky notes and pens and pencils everywhere but the sticky notes would then be everywhere from my wall to my fridge and it caused so visual clutter that while I was doing my daily life edit, it occurred to me that I could just keep a notebook in each room for the same purpose. Now I have one in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and even at my desk. I’m very much a scribble my thoughts as soon as I get them kind of person and bounding that info in a notebook instead of using sticky notes everywhere has been life changing. I highly highly recommend. We must be on the same wavelength or something because even though I’m watching this video now, this occurred to me a couple days ago.
That's great stuff, especially if you have a system for sorting them out consistently
My friend, your content always gives me that little bit of extra motivation to accomplish my individual academic goals. Keep being great.
Nothing better I could hear. Thanks and best of luck in all.
@@odysseas__ Regarding your question at the end of the video: The one thing that has made my writing less of a chore and more physically enjoyable is getting a good mechanical keyboard. This is a deep rabbit hole, but the personalized style and amazing feedback make me feel physically connected to my writing.
@@tbd317 this is relatable 🙂. Good point!
@@tbd317 For sure, and I know there's a hundred out there for all sorts of variation. My typing sucks, but once I improve that I'll make the switch.
This is genuinely the best video I’ve watched in about a year! I’m taking action on every suggestion!
Real grateful to hear it, thanks. Best of luck finding some good ones too.
informative quite it was, lets see if i adapt it or shove it in some corner of my brain!
I really like your no BS videos. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!
I really boosted my productivity writting my chores to do in a large whiteboard. The sensation of crossing out a complete task is something and app can not accomplish. I felt so much cooler, that I ended up buying 3 whiteboards hehehe
the way this guy talks. god bless you man
Cheers man, God bless you too.
The alarm clock is brilliant but to expand on it, I highly recommend getting a wrist band watch for checking time during the day. It keeps you from allowing your phone to steal your attention when you just have to check the time. I use the cheapest Casio watches for this.
Amazing suggestion, I can vouch for this having bought one a month ago. Was never a watch guy but I understand the hype now.
The desk organizer is a good idea, but I'll go one better: those cheap plastic Chinese food containers you get at the dollar store (or grocery stores have them now). It's like a junk drawer on top of your desk where you can throw all kinds of random do-dads that might not fit into a formal organizer. I throw notepads, pens, thumb drives, SD cards (in case), and any number of adaptors and dongles into it.
They're also great for general organizing - - it's the perfect size to hold a specific kind of usb cord (or chargers) or little hobby bits or fancy pens and pencils for art or anything else. They stack pretty well on shelves and fit in drawers easily.
Nice, and even better if you label them so everything is easy to get to
@@odysseas__ yep - - I'll include a picture of my drawer when I do my video on it. The only difference between an organized person and the rest of us is knowing where you keep your stuff.
@@tomhassomethoughts Nice, looking forward to it
I immediately straightened my desk after watching this. Thank you for the reminder. I feel like I can breathe now.
Good stuff, thank you
Yes to a non-phone alarm clock! I bought a Time Timer a couple of years ago and it has consistently come in handy. Also yes to a laptop stand. I use my laptop and a larger stand-alone monitor as dual screens and getting a stand for my laptop has helped SO MUCH. One thing I'll add: Some of us really are able to relax more and therefore get quicker into a focus state when we've put some effort into making our workspace aesthetically pleasing. I've got my plants, a few framed photos, a warm lamp, and a blue and white color scheme. Setting the "vibes" can definitely be an important thing for some folks.
the one thing that changed me was a basic, dollar store A5 planner. i already have a google calendar for appointments and collaboration with other people, but something about a personal space for daily to do lists, reminders, etc. that i can take with me anywhere makes keeping track of things so much easier
Simple and effective
As an alternative to the whiteboard: I like mind-mapping in large sketchbooks, because then I can go back and reference them all later.
Nice one, I have a3 paper for that and it works a charm
I would say one of my best investment is having an ergonomic chair. I used to have low back pain quite a lot back then and the problem immediately got resolved after I bought this type of chair.
That's the next step for me I think
I've finished binge watching all your videos and I love the kind of vibe you exude. It's so calm and refreshing. Btw I got something to ask you. Do you take notes for every video, article and book that you consume? And how do you take notes for the video type of contents? I mean do you take notes as you watch them or first watch the whole video at the stretch and then take notes from your memory (like active recalling)?
Loved your video, i also tried and failed many times in trying to find the best way to focus when i had to study and transcription is one of the best. I believe also that you should have something that can maintain you hydrated/and with energy while studying (tea,matecocido,mate,coffee,water)
Sometimes you have no choice but to start out cheap. Then gradually upgrade as your financial state improves.
The two things that worked the best for me were a reasonably good desk and a book stand.
Exactly, that way you know you need it and it's not an excuse for overconsumption
Instead of pen and paper everywhere in the house, I’d Recommend small pocket notebooks. A pocket notebook should be EDC so you always have something to write on, but having too many leaves your notes scattered and traps you in the “where the heck did I write that” phase.
Underrated item: A vertical ergonomic mouse. It looks weird but it lets your hand sit at its natural angle instead of pronated all day. Easier on the wrist
Add to that an ergonomic keyboard and maybe a wrist wrest too.
One other thing is a foot rest. It’s weird but resting your feet at an angle is so much more comfortable than flat on the floor
I can vouch for the footrest 100%, such a huge difference there and I should definitely get another.
Is the vertical mouse quick to get used to? I don't notice wrist strain from the normal one but it might be worth taking the plunge.
@@odysseas__I got used to it quick, it feels quite natural. Only thing is since it’s taller, being vertical, I occasionally knock it over when I move my right hand from keyboard to mouse. Very minor, though, it feels more comfortable to use
Good stuff, thank you
@@odysseas__ Issue you might have with the vertical mouse is every time you click, the mouse will slide to the side since the buttons are on the side of the mouse instead of the top of the mouse
@@mrstout5014 Yeah I can see that happening, thanks
2:08 the deadpan look as the desk raised was very funny, i literally LOL'd
Dedicated calculator. It helped me more than I could realize as to im only using the calculator itself for doing projects instead of my phone thats one swipe away from distractions.
Love the video, recently I’ve been watching a lot of desk setup vids but they usually end up being too tech heavy for me. Your list feels a lot more grounded and I’ll definitely be getting a couple of your recommendations.
Thanks, I really appreciate it. It's easy for tech to become a distraction after all.
4:30 another effective alarm clock is an old smartphone, with no SIM card, no Wifi, no nothing. Just existing to be used as an alarm. And this way, the battery can even last a week without charging it haha
So you can leave your normal phone at the living room or wherever you want but outside of your bedroom, and only have your old phone at a bedside table.
1:56 the coffee mug
I always see a bunch of alarm clocks at thrift stores. That's how I got mine.
Much healthier than staring at your phone first thing in the morning, and you're using some "outdated" technology that would've possible laned in a landfill otherwise.
That said, I do still appreciate the reliability of my phone's alarm clock and will set an alarm on it for ~15 minutes after my alarm clock. At least for days when it's especially important to be ready on time.
Very true, and I get what you mean there.
I bought a used and fairly discounted Herman Miller chair, and I have seen night and day differences in my posture and ability to focus for long periods of time while sitting down.
That's brilliant, I should do the same
Book stand was so obvious choice.
I cant believe I dnt ave one.
Thanks.
I appreciate it, hope it serves you well
I fitted 2 large pegboards in my office to tidy all charging cables and bits & bobs off the worktops. So much better and Its really easy to find things too!
Good choices, I need to improve my cable management myself
Instead of a desk organizer I have a small one for my sticky notes, highlighters, and tabs that attaches to the front of my books (works best with hardbacks though) so anywhere I go I have everything I need with me and never have to stop and hunt down what I need.
I read a lot from my ereader and I bought myself a phone stand to put my ereader and it is amazing! I also own and really love the book stand, for when I am reading! I also found that having a "study routine" helps me, and for me it is a warm drink (tea or coffee) and putting on a good smelling candle. I feel like having one smell that puts you into studying is great. Then I also loved investing in the app forest, i get distracted by my phone quite often so I bought the premium version of forest. And I am really glad I did! Buying a subscription to Spotify was also very useful because I no longer get distracted by adds
Whiteboard is the greatest tool for any learner. I want a room in my house with 4 whiteboard walls.
That's the spirit
I always keep a pocket notebook and pen on me, to capture ideas and thoughts whenever I get them
I actually almost all of things you mentioned
A nice little addition I have is a small desktop calendar, I use to mark important dates, track how many days I have for that date. It is a nice reminder for how much time you have "left" (I use it mostly for my tests)
Good suggestions, especially because they are analogue versions of what could be online. It's nice to move away from apps and into reality sometimes.
11:11 I experienced with stacked monitor stand and it's way better than a center+side set up, it makes them both centered and monitor at the top is easier to see and get visual info.
I was thinking that yeah. Does it not feel uncomfortable to look up?
5:24 For this, I greatly prefer a wake-up light over a standard alarm.
This as it wakes me up more gently, but also more thoroughly, making me ready to hop out of bed.
To then get to sunlight or at least turn on the lamps as soon as possible, as this helps a lot with waking up.
6:44 A book stand is very useful, but since I read most texts digitally, for me adding more monitors to my setup works.
Though I would love to add an e-Ink monitor in that position, which actually looks like paper.
My phone already is an e-Ink phone, it's great and also helps a bit with not scrolling too much, but larger dedicated screens get too expensive for me.
7:45 Well there's something I would benefit from, I should definitely pick up a desk organiser soon.
Currently most my stuff is either in my etui (pen bag), on the second desk surface of the mistake I am sitting behind now or scattered over the main surface.
I generally don't have a problem with clutter though, once I get to focus on the work, I can keep going pretty much anywhere, as long as the clutter doesn't get in the way of finding stuff I need.
9:14 Well there's another rather interesting suggestion. After writing the note down, I'll probably remember that it's in one of the notebooks, which is easier to find than remembering the thing again.
As I greatly prefer writing with fountain pens, that would get a bit crazy, but still manageable with the okay €5 HEMA pens that last forever.
9:35 I mentioned it already, this is dead obvious to me. But also learn to use virtual desktops (or whatever the Windows terminology is) on the PC too.
This I struggle with using properly, maybe a tiling windows plug-in will force me to do this more down the line (I'm on KDE Plasma, currently version 6.1).
I've been using Linux exclusively for 6 years, which is harder to learn but lets me tweak the system's look and feel to my liking, which makes me like just using the PC.
Another amazing thing I do use adequately is the overview screen, which spreads out all open windows over the screen, with ample space between them, letting me find my bearings and pick up again.
Weirdly enough though, my younger brother doesn't use the second screen I got him at all, leaving it turned off all the time. Not sure if this is a personal difference, or him not knowing what to do with it.
11:59 For at home I use a cheap laptop stand which I can place on the couch or outside lounge to sit comfortably while using the thing.
But I also have a full desktop setup with larger screens for getting things done quicker.
This setup has the monitors on a raised 3rd surface I built myself, initially to try to find a permanent place for my drawing tablet but I kept it as I prefer the monitor position.
With this setup I can get in a good flow-state when doing programming or other IT heavy work.
13:28 The computer heavy approach shines here again, but both on my desktop and laptop I like to take notes and visualise stuff in art software (Krita to be exact).
I use precisely those kinds of visualisations to draw connections between the information, even while taking notes in class.
For this I always carry a small drawing tablet around on campus, as I greatly prefer looking at the screen over hunching over a piece of paper.
And I'm comfortable enough with the software to just use it without it getting in the way too much, though my portable tabled is a bit problematic and due for an upgrade.
The almost 20 year old tablet at my desktop is perfect though and never gets in the way, but it's too heavy to carry around.
Thank you for making this video. Your had some good suggestions, some of which I should apply, others I already do in my own way.
The biggest help in learning for me is those drawing tablets and learning the art software for taking notes with.
Along with having multiple monitors, which really helps with keeping something relevant or fun to the side.
your content has been an integral influence recently on how i deal high-school and lifestyle thank you
Grateful to hear this, thank you
adjustable wooden book stand, desk organiser, more n more notebooks and pens, 2nd monitor, laptop stand, whiteboard, wireless keyboard and mouse,
Great advice all around. I use them all except the white board (so far). I also have a “fully” standup desk & can’t recommend them highly enough.
Recently I got an extra large full desk mouse pad. It seems to help me focus and also helps my desk stay organized while in use. I recommend a solid color to minimize distraction. But as you say, everyone has different preferences for their work space.
tbh the only thing i can agree that helps someone as me, is whiteboard. having the ability to write by hand, visualise something off of a device is magnificent. i dont watch calander or anything but white board is always there. the only case i have for lets say previously mentioned calander is putting in the dates i must not or would not like to forget and would like someone to remind me of the upcoming events. thats it.
I'm starting a degree in a few weeks, and have just purchased a 140cm standing desk, and 34" widescreen monitor. I still need to find a decent chair that I like. RAM and m.2 drives to upgrade my desktop and laptop. I've got a space on my wall for a large blackboard, which will be going up soon. I've also been decluttering, cleaning, and organising my living space too. It's surprising just how refreshing, and 'lighter' I feel in a minimalist space. I like the idea of a book stand, so I'll look to pick one up.
Love to hear it, especially since you started early
Revisiting this video (after finally watching your full Obsidian guide one) and bought myself the same bookstand you have in the video (found it on Amazon lol). Gonna make reading and note-taking so much easier
Lovely stuff!
Instead of the book stand one can use a split keyboard (I got the ergodox ez, which isn't the most recent modell and maybe a bit extreme for most). That gives you space where usually the keyboard is, the angling feature of the book stand might still be nice. I don't work a lot with books on my desk setup, so a book stand isn't for me. Might geht a whiteboard thingy though that I might place there.
I recommend after getting a laptop stand is obviously buy a set of wireless keyboard and mouse, especially the silent one if you want to focus and dont want to get distracted by the noise.
Good choices
instead to a laptop stand you could also get a standing desk riser / adjuster which is like a mini desk on top of your desk that can rise for standing mode. you can also use a cardboard box
Sounds good, almost like a desk shelf
Thank you so much for such many ideas! I got a lot from you.
For me, 10" E-ink E-reader provides me a huge benefit for reading a lot of knowledge esp. from textbook without eye strain.
Really good suggestions! In addition to a good desk I’d also recommend a good chair for all the same reasons, I’m still looking for one myself haha, but it’s super important for posture. I really like the standing desk idea, we have the adjustable ones like that on campus and they’re great to use.
Thanks, and standing desks in college?? That's a dream.
I no longer spend time watching recommendation vids here on youtube due to reasons which you’ve coincidentally mentioned here, but i had a feeling this video was gonna be good. and i was right. i genuinely feel like almost everything in this list would work well for me. Im gonna give these things a try one by one. thank you so much!
Thanks! Hope they serve you just as well
I have my own color-coded highlighting system when reading law books and codal provisions. I have printed planner and 2 apps for planner and to-dos. I use time-blocking in scheduling the tasks and events I have to do on that day but I’m not very strict with the time for now. It helps me to know how many tasks and events I can do and attend to in a day. As much as possible, I sleep early and exercise. I also use a book stand and notebooks.
Recent subscriber here. Happy to have found this channel! As a student, I love only having to carry around my iPad at university. It keeps all my notes in the same place and if I’m able to download the textbook, those too. I usually transcribe the ideas to a physical notebook for long term memory and physical storage during spaced repetition cycles. I’ve been able to reduce my phone use entirely during studies and setup my iPad as productive technology. Would highly recommend this strategy
Love that. I've never used an apple product, but having everything in one place is so important. Also like the integration of a real notebook there.
I bought a dark grey bathroom soap dish (20cmx10cm)for £5 and that’s my organiser between my monitor stands. It’s great to hold my pens etc 😂
I started to work while studying, best purchase of my life was a good pair of headphones and next will be a good chair to sit down and study on weekends.
Headphones are a great one I missed. Comfort especially, because achy ears are the worst.
absolutely love to see a bioneer cameo
Great guy
I currently use 3 screens in total. My 2017 iMac 27inch 5K with 2x 27 inch thunderbolt screens. And I love it. So much real estate for apps. If I need to be reminded, I leave the app open. Like you said, best screen in front of you. Maybe a bit overkill but it surely looks good lol.
I always love an Odysseas video. Cheers mate!
Thanks man, much appreciated
A monitor is the best investment one can make imo. Getting a monitor reduced my eye strain which allowed me to study for longer hours. This had a direct impact on my grades and I got a 4.0 for the first time in college last semester. If you can only get one item for productivity, get a Monitor! (esp if you're an engineering major)
A monitor?
@@montezaeg external display
Awesome, I totally agree with all these tips. I actually have made the exact same conclusions on my own over the last decade. Glad to see others have made the same conclusions. as i dont have a good place for a large whiteboard, i only have a small witeboard notebook, which is a good place to take fast notes and sketches without wasting tones of paper. only upgrade i also did was a small side table for drinks and snacks etc. to avoid me knocking over my drinks over my desk. and i agree, less is more when getting stuff for hobbies. not promoting minimalism, but just thoughtful purchases. i often ended up in this consumerist urge to buy stuff, but then never really using it. so i remind myself of that. so before i buy i stuff, i first make sure to do the thing / hobby before and only really buying it out of a clear immediate need and not a need for optimizing a task that i have not done yet.
I use a color adjustable reading lamp. It has been wonderful for reducing eye strain and fatigue.
Voice recorder on your phone. It saved so many ideas when it was not possible to write them down.
Here's a counter intuitive one: a silnylon tarp around 1.5x2.5m. With this you can pitch a wind breaker and read in the park
I love unique ones like this.
@@odysseas__ I spent two years effectively homeless, so discoveries like this were a life changer. Having no shelter creates dozens of daily annoyances and you have to come up with solutions, it has been a strangely creative period!
Instead of having a monitor and whiteboard, I like to use the wall in front of my desk. Sort of like a vision board, but utilized for tracking projects. I create three columns with two lines of tape to separate the top 3 priorities in my life. Right now, it’s (left) obligation projects, (middle) my script, and (right) personal goals.
If I had a monitor, I would have to give that up because I agree with having the main display directly in front of you. As much as I would love to have a whiteboard, I find myself losing track of thoughts when I get up to observe a new canvas. Plus, there’s a sort of commitment to whatever you begin writing on there, because to free up space for new thoughts you’ll have to erase what you have.
I do have the large sticky papers similar to what you suggested as an alternative for the whiteboard, but I find myself ripping these off the wall more often than not.
Now that I’m writing this, maybe a white board would be helpful for grasping bigger concepts in the moment. Then once it’s locked into mind maybe erase everything. I hate sitting in my room and seeing a massive display of what I’ve been working on when I’m just trying to relax (if only I had an office, but such is the life of poor college students).
Anywho, I’m not expecting a response or anything, but I really appreciated your insight and thought I’d share.
That's a nice idea with a feeling of progression behind it. The only issue with a whiteboard I find is that I am hesitant to wipe it all out sometimes if I like the notes I've made. Has to be done though.
I find the middle ground is the full size cork board with pins. It’s actually much better than a whiteboard only because you get to keep and store whatever cue cards or paper notes once you are done, no erasing. And using a folder system you can switch projects and workflows by going back to an old set of notes and cue cards later because nothing ever gets erased. It also is more tactile to pin up hand written notes, and it gives you lots of flexibility because you can print out more permanent things like calendars or ongoing notes pinned to the edges, and then you can have more temporary short term plans in the middle. Best case would be a smaller cork board or whiteboard and a larger primary one depending on which you prefer.
I bought a Samsung Tablet to study and it has changed the way I study articles, books and other materials.
Nice and portable, good one
White led lamps (reading with normal lamps make me sleepy) and headset with noise cancelling
Good choices
the thumbnails of your channel are PURE ART
Thanks! It's my favourite part of the process
I just found that book stand at a box store for $2. I bought it for work.
Lovely find