Every week, we share the shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips of our favorite experts.
This week, were going behind the scenes at Lifehacker.
Im Meghan Walbert, and this is how I work.
My background is in journalism and media relations.
She left recently for another opportunity and I was hired on as her full-time replacement.
Ive been in the job for exactly 16 days as I write this.
What are your job responsibilities?
I write the bulk of the content for Lifehackers parenting vertical,Offspring.
I also assign and edit freelance parenting pieces and manage our Offspring Facebook Parent Group.
(Come join us!
There are more than 4,000 members and theyre full of ideas.
That group is where I recently got this geniusdirty tissue hack.)
Take us through a typical workday.
I drop my son off at school at 8:50 a.m. and am at my desk working right at 9.
I converted my second-floor guest bedroom into a home office last year and it has made a huge-huge-huge difference.
What apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?
Beyond that, Im really a paper-and-pen kinda girl.
I like having everything written/color-coded in one spot so I can see what my full day looks like.
Whats your favorite shortcut or hack?
I have two kitchen spongesone that is currently in use and one in the dishwasher.
When I empty the dishwasher, I switch the sponges.
Dirty sponge goes in, clean sponge comes out.
Since I run my dishwasher nearly every day, Im never wondering how dirty my sponges are.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
I do absolutely all of the formatting of a post before I actually write the content.
Whats the biggest mistake youve made at work, and how did you deal with it?
When I was a brand new education reporter, I spelled a sources first name wrong in the newspaper.
Id met him several times and talked to him on the phone at least a few times a week.
And his name wasnotcomplicated.
But for whatever reason, I called him Tom in the story.
Uh, its Tim, hahaha… Hi, Tim.
Then why am I Tom in the paper today?
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
Mostly my bullet journal.
So if I dont show up for something, you know why.
How do you recharge or take a break?
I leave the officei.e., walk downstairs to the kitchenfor lunch.
I listen to a podcast and/or read the local newspaper (support local journalism, guys!)
Whats your favorite side project?
As a former foster parent, child advocacy is very important to me and my family.
Its been incredibly rewarding.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
I am currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, this time with my son.
I bought thisgorgeous illustrated version, which is perfect for an adult and child to read together.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Give parenting 75% of your effort.
Its impossible anyway and the more perfect you attempt to be, the more stressful and unpleasant life becomes.
Pick your battles and then lower your standards on the stuff that doesntreallymatter.
