Every week, we share the shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips of our favorite experts.
This week, were going behind the scenes at Lifehacker.
Im Claire Lower, and this is how I work.
Location:Portland, OregonCurrent Gig:Food editor for Lifehacker (I run Skillet.
My background is neither in food nor in writing.
I did not like it.
Much to my surprise, they said yes.
My first article was about peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.
Take us through a recent workday.
My workdays are all actually pretty similar, with the main variation being what I cook.
I wrote that up, got it on the site, and wrote my early-in-the-day article for Tuesday.
Then I did the dishes that I generated that daywhich were manyand wiped down the kitchen.
Besides your phone, what apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?
Im really not much of an app person.
I wish I had a cool app that revolutionized my work flow to recommend, but I do not.
I am probably the least technically inclined person at Lifehacker.
Whats your workspace setup like?
My kitchen is set up like a normal kitchen, I guess.
The immersion circulators, Instant Pot, and vacuum sealer all live in the same corner.
My kitchen table is basically just a photo station nowI do most of my eating at the coffee table.
I also do most of my writing at the coffee table, on my uncomfortable vintage couch.
Whats your best shortcut or life hack?
If you dont use all the dressing, just shut the jar and pop it in the fridge.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
If Im at home, I need complete silence to write.
The weird thing is thatIm able to work at a barno matter what music is playingwithout any problems.
My brain is a mystery, even to me.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
I write things down on paper.
Then I have a smaller notepad for writing daily to-do lists.
How do you recharge or take a break?
Weve also been watching a lot of murder documentaries, and listening toLast Podcast on the Left.
I take a lot of baths.
I recently boughtthis banging bath traythat came with averyextra candle holder.
Ive also taken up embroidery, and am currently working ona Daniel Johnston-themed towel.
Whats your favorite side project?
I have an abandoned book proposal I really need to pick back up again.
Im actually okay with it.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Mick Jagger, Stephen Merritt, and Noel Fielding
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Its 2018 for everyone, with the year changing as needed.
And I was fine.
Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?
I wish I could get the timing of when I work on my recipes a little more streamlined.
This is not a real problem, it just makes it kind of hard to meal plan.
I also hate my stupid tiny fridge.
I would say my dumb fridge is my biggest problem.
Everything else in my life is pretty pleasant.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
