Every week, we share the shortcuts, workspaces, and productivity tips of our favorite experts.
This week, were going behind the scenes at Lifehacker.
Im Michelle Woo, and this is how I work.
I started my career as a newspaper reporter, covering schools and later fashion.
How can I make it easier?
Take us through a recent workday.
Wake up at 5:30 a.m. and write until 7.
Take a nap from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
Pick up my kid from her after-school program.
Have some family time.
Whats your workspace setup like?
Ill sometimes work at my dining room table, or on my sofa or standing at my kitchen counter.
Whats your best shortcut or life hack?
I say I love you in my head before I interact with someone.
Not always, but pretty consistently.
I picked this up from comedian Whitney Cummings, who talked about the technique onThe Tim Ferriss Show.
Sometimes, Ill say it before I write.
I say I love you in my head before I interact with someone.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
I write a lot with pen and paper.
Its just so much more calming than staring at 37 open tabs.
I buy a bunch of cheap mini notebooks and keep them around the house.
The movement, along with the distance from the digital, unlocks my brain somehow.
One: my colleagues.
Two: the people in the childcare industry.
Three: my husband.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
I put big events on this beautifulwall calendarthat is calming to look at.
I also use Google Calendar.
How do you recharge or take a break?
I take short hikes, sans phone.
Whats your favorite side project?
I dont have a side project.
Gosh, does everyone else have a side project?
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
I love memoirs and this one is just so warm, honest and funny.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Beth Skwarecki, Lifehackers health editor.
She has three young children and works out a lot.
How does she do it all?
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Hold them and just breathe.
This works so well.
Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?
How to stop overthinking everything.
Sometimes I wish I were part robot.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
