Lucis

A New Year. A Fresh Start.

5 January 2026

2025 was a particularly challenging year. Especially the last month. Between work and family I ran into substantial challenges one after another for a good 4–5 weeks straight. Midway through December I stepped away from work to try and slow down the information coming at me, and to steady my body, heart, and mind. It hasn’t been a flawless strategy, nor have I yet solved the big problems that surfaced.

What I am focusing on in 2026

I have some big goals for the year: exercising consistently, making family time device–free (especially when I am with my son), being more present with family members outside my immediate household, and returning to a beginner’s mindset with my work.

My word for 2026: Depth

The latter months of 2025 really forced me to reconcile where my passions run deep, and where I have been phoning it in. It is quite the realization to face the fact that the things which used to light me up simply do not evoke the same spark or joy they once did.

Facing this reality has been really motivating though. The first step to improving is recognizing what isn’t working any more. And with that in mind, my focus word this year is depth. I want to understand and contribute to things in a more meaningful way. I do not want to skate along.

I am leaning in on approaching work with curiosity. I am being a better advocate for my son. I am removing distraction when I am with my wife. I am setting aside some small time each day to write, even if it is just a few sentences. And I am thinking through what I want Lucis to be about this year. More on that coming later in January.

A quote that kept me going through disappointment last year

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness, that is life.”
Jean–Luc Picard

Let’s get after it. 2026 is calling!

Take Good Action Today

15 August 2025

“You become the sum of your actions, and as you do, what flows from that — your impulses — reflect the actions you’ve taken.”
Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic

What are you going to do today to move the needle? Will you enrich your own or someone else’s life? Lofty goals, eh? I am feeling motivated by them this morning.

There’s nothing remarkable about the day so far. But it is sunny, I’ve been able to spend the early part with my son, and I am settling down for some work. I’ll get in a nice long walk in the beautiful weather. I’m caffeinated. In sum, while it hasn’t been an earth-shattering morning — and nothing about today is likely to be, either — the day is primed to go well.

But what matters is what you do

So I’m going to take action. Not through incredible feats or rare moments of brilliance. But today I will make small, incremental progress. Remember, all it takes is getting 1% better today, then repeating tomorrow.

Let’s get to it. See you out there!

Simplify, simplify, simplify

13 August 2025

Ever since I entered the corporate workforce, I have used multiple devices, one for personal use and one for work. This is a sound approach that has many benefits, most notably being a clear separation between the two aspects of one’s life. However, I have been critically examining my use of technology and rethinking my long-held beliefs, as well as the workflows I use.

One thing that stood out to me is that while I ostensibly had separate devices for work and life, the reality is that I often blurred the lines; sometimes it was trying to draft a quick note about a project but on my personal iPhone, or missing an urgent message from my wife because I was on my work Mac and my messages didn’t come through there. The result was juggling too many damn devices throughout the day and week. And even more absurdly, I was keeping my work phone with me alongside my personal phone nearly all the time, because even though I try not to work outside the typical 9-5, there were still many things that were tied to that phone number that necessitated carrying it with me, even on the weekends.

Going forward, a one device policy

I have started with a clean slate across my technology. Instead of using multiple devices for each category, I now have just one Mac. One iPad. One iPhone. This is proving to be an easier transition than I expected, especially since I have two phone numbers / accounts and also want to keep work contained to specific times (9-5) or places (physically at the office).

I have a few suggestions for anyone looking to balance work and life on a single device. Today I’ll focus specifically on my phone.

Use Focus modes!

I mentioned in an earlier article that I kept my personal phone in a Focus mode called ‘Essential’ that blocked all notifications aside from messages from my wife (pictured at the top of this post). I still use this mode, though now it is set to turn on after 4:30pm during the week and all day on the weekends. It allows my personal time to be, well, personal, without allowing work to creep in.

I have a second Focus mode called ‘Work’ that is active from 8:00am – 4:30pm or when I am physically at the office. It also has a dedicated Home Screen that includes access to email and Slack (which are both absent from ‘Essential’). Using Focus modes allows me to easily switch into and out of work & professional use, while keeping my personal and family time sacred. I have some fine-tuning to do here with the notifications during work time, but I am happy with how this is working so far.

Use a second phone number for work

This one may be controversial since there’s potentially a monetary cost if your second phone number isn’t paid for by work. But in a corporate setting I think it is absolutely critical to have a phone number that only family and friends can you reach you on. Think weekends, nights, or vacation. All iPhones from the iPhone 13-onward can use multiple eSIMs to have two phone numbers on a single device. I have it set up so that my work phone number is used any time I message or call someone from work, while my personal line is used for everyone else. The result is only one phone to manage, but with separation between work and my personal time.

A new experiment that is going well so far

This new era of a single device may seem obvious to most, but I’ve spent over a decade juggling two phones. Being able to simplify to a single device while keeping the same buffer between work and life is a breath of fresh air. So for anyone wondering if they can keep a single phone without work taking over 24/7, absolutely yes, you can.

In my next post, I’ll tackle how I’ve transitioned to a single computer and how I am navigating the same challenges of work and personal balance. Spoiler: it’s also going well so far and has definitely made an enormous impact on my digital minimalism, but it requires a lot more careful consideration than a single phone did.

Motivation Comes Through Action

8 August 2025

The past year has at times felt like one big, long slog. In (non)scientific terms, I’ve been in a bit of a rut. Day-to-day life has a certain rhythm or cycle to it: rise, coffee, commute, work, commute, family time, veg out, pass out.

One bit of advice that has helped me break free from this has to do with motivation. Specifically, not waiting for it to come before taking action. Rich at SwiftFilms has a great video about this topic that I found really useful and wanted to share:

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

6 August 2025

Today marks the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today there are many valid reasons to feel afraid that the rights protected by this statute are under siege.

Don’t lose hope just yet. Find your representative and tell them to fight hard to protect this freedom. Tell your friends. Tell your interest, faith, and social groups. Tell your family. Make your voice loud and clear and resolute.

My Media Diet

4 August 2025

It is incredibly important to be selective about what and who you give your limited time and attention to. In recent months I have changed the ways I consume content. Most notably, I’ve removed video and social feeds from my phone since it is always with me and I would be tempted to use it to consume far more content than I should. The endless scrolling that today’s media encourages is like a siren song that I am trying very hard to resist.

Because of this, I set out earlier this spring to take a comprehensive look at the kinds of media I was consuming. There was a lot of media I was most giving time to without really thinking about it; too much for my liking. As a result, I removed most media from my information diet, including reading the news, several podcasts I no longer followed regularly, and a lot of big YouTube channels that endlessly pump out sponsored video after sponsored video.

I was left with a small, core set of creators who provide interesting, unique insights, good entertainment, or help me learn new things. I’d like to share them with you today.

Writers & blogs

I’ll start with some of the writers that I read. In no particular order:

• Ryan Holiday — focuses on Stoic ideas and how to live a good life according to the principles of courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom.
• The Art of Manliness — focuses on how to be a good man; that is, healthy masculinity, the role of a man in society, and how to be a better husband, father, and citizen.
• Primer — a unique blend of fashion and buying advice, along with a lot of articles about self improvement.
• Daring Fireball — focuses on technology and Apple Inc. mostly, with some politics and culture tossed in occasionally.
• Macstories — focuses on technology and Apple Inc. with a particular focus on the iPad.

Podcasts

I find podcasts especially useful during my long commute. Podcasting has exploded in popularity, and the future of the format seems to be video (many popular podcasts now stream on YouTube, for example). I find audio podcasts to be superior to video as I can take them with me while doing other things; watching a video pins me down to one spot and demands unwavering attention.

• The Daily Stoic — by Ryan Holiday, this focuses on Stoic ideas and how to apply them in everyday life.
• The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway — this is a fairly recent addition, but one I am glad to have found. It typically has longer episodes (60m+) and covers technology, financial markets, and politics. Since I don’t follow the 24/7 news cycle, this podcast helps me keep up with current political events.
• Three Rules — by Matt D’Avella, this focuses on practical self improvement topics by asking a guest about the three rules they live their life by. Matt hasn’t posted new content in a few months but the backlog here is worth a listen.
• Marketplace — this focuses on the financial markets and is a show I’ve listened to for decades (which is a scary reminder of the relentlessness of time). Between this and the Prof G Pod I get my fill of news that I need to know to be an informed citizen.
• Code Switch — this covers race in society. It tends to be a much heavier listen than the other resources here, but is well worth the time to help see the world from different vantage points.

YouTube

Finally, the irreplaceable — and inescapable — YouTube…

Fret not, I promise these channels will not lead you down any red pill rabbit holes. I’m happy to report that I found each of them organically and intentionally, not from the algorithm’s suggestions. As such, I think they’re dispersed enough to not really be an echo chamber. These cover two main interests: self improvement and technology.

• • Matt D’Avella — focused on Minimalism, productivity, and how to find digital balance. His content has been enormously influential on me in recent years.
  • SwiftFilms — an extremely small channel but with excellent production values and wonderful, bite-sized content about following your passions, self improvement, and happiness. Rich really should have 10X the viewer base that he does.
  • henrydidit — another smaller channel focused on productivity and self improvement. Henry has a unique focus on analog tools and how to be more intentional about incorporating them over digital ones, along with the benefits they bring.
  • Jeremiah Craig — this one is a bit of a wildcard. Jeremiah is a singer-songwriter whose channel primarily focuses on…cowboy boots! I was very into boots in 2024, and although I don’t wear them regularly any more, Jeremiah’s content is enjoyable and he brings a lot of fun and passion into his videos.
  • Terren Rule — Terren covers tech and is probably the most ‘influencer’ of the channels I watch. I find his point of view a bit more relatable than most tech YouTubers, and his content is informative without a lot of the product shilling that comes from the tech influencer sphere.
  • That Mark Gilroy — another tech-focused channel. Mark leans a bit into the ‘influencer’ space as well but for the most part, his videos come across as informative and earnest. He focuses a lot on the iPad and I enjoy his perspective on them.
  • Christopher Lawley — this is the channel for people who crave iPad productivity. Chris goes incredibly deep into workflows and capabilities of the iPad as a primary computing device.
  • Tech Dad — Tech Dad covers iPad as well, but from a much more everyman perspective. His production quality and channel size are fairly modest which adds to the charm. If you’re interested in making an iPad work for you as a do-everything device but are turned off from the focus on ‘power user’ workflows, this is a great channel for you.

Phew. That’s my media diet as of August 2025. Honestly, writing all of this down and seeing the list makes me feel like the scope here is actually QUITE LARGE. But I suspect that this is a fairly modest volume compared to most. And importantly, I very specifically check in on each of these things every week. Doing it manually like this keeps me from getting sucked in to ‘just one more thing’.

Not mentioned here are books. I assure you that I do in fact read (Ed note: really? REALLY?). I think it’s probably more appropriate to cover books in a different post as they are more of a one-and-done read, or occasional re-read. This post is focused on ongoing consumption.

Ultimately, I feel like this is a manageable volume of media for me. It helps me learn and entertains me without demanding too much of my time each week. Maybe you’ll find a voice or two here that speaks to you. If so, that’s great! But I hope that you feel inspired to take a look at your own media diet, to make sure it’s serving to help and nurture you.

My Goals for Lucis

1 August 2025

I am a month in on posting here at Lucis, and I wanted to take some time to discuss what my goals are for this blog.

First, a creative outlet

I firmly believe that a creative outlet is a necessity to keep me from squandering my time on trivial pursuits like mindless internet scrolling or binging video games. An outlet also provides a good counterbalance to over-indexing too much into work at the expense of everything else. And it helps me avoid burnout; as a parent to a small child, this blog provides me a dedicated mental space to step back and focus on a separate thing.

I think of creativity as a muscle that I have to intentionally develop and maintain. It has been a good long while since I’ve had an outlet like this, and already I can tell that ‘forcing’ myself to dedicate time and energy to the creative process here is a positive thing in my life. So, my first goal with Lucis is to foster more creativity.

Second, to develop and flesh out my ideas and beliefs

I am in my late thirties as I write this. At I’ve gotten older — and especially since becoming a father — I’ve found that many of the beliefs that guided me as a younger person no longer hold up, or that I never really fleshed them out or thought critically about them. Writing here is a way for me to have a dialog with myself about what I believe. For example, I wrote a piece on masculinity and some of what I think it means to be a man. A younger version of myself never gave this topic much thought, but now, with a young son I must guide through the world, I think about it a great deal.

Writing about masculinity helped me clarify my thoughts on the subject. I expect that the process of writing, editing, and putting content out into the world will act as a catalyst (or forcing function) for me to better understand myself and what I believe.

Third, a way to celebrate and promote things that bring light into my life (and perhaps the world)

If you’ve read my About page you’ll already know this, but here in 2025 I feel like a lot of the foundations in my life are under siege. There is so much angst and negativity in the news and culture writ large that I struggle with wanting to throw my hands up and give in to despair.

Writing here is a way I can fight against this temptation and try to remind myself (and others!) that there are good things in this world. Sure, my blog isn’t changing our culture or having a wide impact, but I think it’s a win if even one or two people find that reading this content lifts their spirits or softens their hearts.

Thank you for reading

These are my three goals for writing here; at least, they’re the reasons I started. For anyone reading this, thank you so very much for giving me your time and attention. I know how precious those are.

Here’s to the start of month two. In August, I plan to share more tech-focused pieces including sharing a bit about the process behind posting here (workflows, yay!), and why I think we need to view technology through the lens of instruments and not devices. I also have more thoughts on the importance of writing, and an overview of my information diet: the websites, podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. that I recommend. I’m looking forward to it. Catch you next time!

Testing the LLM Waters

28 July 2025

I’m not sold on the glorious future heralded by AI believers. There are many things about how Large Language Models work that I am wary of, especially societal displacement through the loss of creative professions and the possible environmental impact of generating the compute needed for them to function.

However, I have decided to explore them, so that I can better understand if they hold any value for me, and also to get more first-hand exposure to what they are. Regardless of my skepticism, the world is moving towards using these in far-reaching ways, and I feel it is best to not be ignorant of them.

I’ve found three use cases that I’ll share below. My agent of choice has been chatGPT, though I presume that any leading model from Google or Anthropic would likely do just as well for these tasks.

Health and fitness coach

My first, and primary, use case for LLMs is as a fitness coach. I borrowed the idea from Brett at the Art of Manliness. The prompt was simple: I told it what my body composition goals are, some details about my age, height, and weight, and what a typical week looks like activity and food-wise. Now, I check in each Sunday, providing the following details about the prior week:

• total minutes of both exercise and walking (I walk a lot)
• average calorie, protein, and water intake per day
• my estimated calories burned per day from my Apple Watch
• average sleep per night
• any new strength training milestones like new records on exercises
• …and a selfie from in front of the mirror (face cropped off; I’m not quite at that level of trust yet)

The LLM has helped me identify weak areas that are holding me back from reaching my fitness goals which have been helpful, especially calling out that my recovery and hydration were both severely lacking. It has provided suggested tweaks to my daily intake to help reach my goals faster, while not going overboard with any extreme recommendations like severely restricting calories.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how helpful this coaching has been. It’s by far been my most positive experience working with LLMs to date.

Proofreader and pseudo-editor

I’ve also used LLMs to help me proofread what I’ve been writing here. I am not a writer by trade, so having an intelligent spell checker has been helpful in catching many small errors that I make. It’s definitely helped raise the quality of my work.

I do not usually use the suggestions it makes about my prose, though. I feel like I have a specific writing tone and style that, frankly, probably isn’t grammatically correct 100% of the time. But it’s my style, dammit.

I tend to ignore those suggestions, though there has been a time or two where it pointed out that my writing may be difficult to follow, and I’ve taken it up on the rewrite. I find that this potentially gets into a slippery slope with LLMs; to me, using it as a proofreader to help tighten up my work is very different than, say, prompting it with “help me get started on an article about how I use LLMs.” I think it is critical to use this new technology for the former kinds of tasks, and keep the latter tasks to ourselves. I want the computer to help clarify my thinking, not do the thinking for me.

Writing python code

Finally, I use it a bit for work. Vibe coding, as the cool kids call it. As I mentioned in my iPad Pro article, I’m doing a lot more data science work these days. As someone who has been out of this field for a few years it has been really helpful using LLM code writing to supplement my atrophied skills (though they are coming back, thankfully!). I describe the kind of outcomes I’m looking for and ask chatGPT to help me write the code for it.

Mostly this just means helping take a set of data and reshaping it into an aggregated form so I can analyze and visualize it. In this way, the LLM is helping shape the input for analysis, not really doing the analysis for me. I think this use is in alignment with my earlier point about helping — not replacing — my thinking.

In summary, some useful enhancements

These are my use cases for LLMs for the foreseeable future. I do not engage with them every day, and honestly my uses are fairly modest in scope. And to me that is exactly the point. I’ve begun to see them as a tool to help me think more clearly, and their limited use cases aren’t displacing people from a role I would have otherwise paid someone to do. And most importantly, they aren’t displacing me from my own lived experiences.

The nutrition coach guides, but I have to show up and do the work every day. My proofreader helps fix my typos, but I have to think through the story I want to communicate. My code wrangler takes the busy work out of shaping data into a format that works for my brain to analyze, but I’ve got to connect the dots to see the big picture.

Taking a Break from the iPad Pro

25 July 2025

For the past ten years, a 13” iPad Pro has been at the center of my digital life. I’ve owned every generation of them, and it has even been my primary computer in more recent years. I believed that you should get the largest iPad available, as the bigger canvas makes for the best content viewing experience and provides the most space for multitasking and getting things done.

However, I have decided to take a break from using one as my primary computer. I want to share some of the reasons why, especially since the iPadOS 26 release is bringing a lot of power-user features that I had been looking forward to for a long time.

There are three key themes to discuss: my changing needs of a primary computer, the issue of impermanence, and joy.

My computing needs | 80% of the way there can’t cut it anymore

The iPad is incredibly capable, especially with the new windowing and multitasking systems in iPadOS 26. I’ve used 26 for months and it absolutely makes it easier to juggle apps and tasks with less friction than before. It’s great, and a few years ago these changes would have met my computing needs wonderfully. However, my work today involves complex workflows involving traditional data science-type tasks. I frequently need to unzip and process large multi-GB files, using Python scripts with Jupyter notebooks, then doing data visualization with tools like Tableau.

To be clear, you can actually do this kind of work (sans Tableau) fairly well on the iPad… to a point. But my work is getting complicated enough that it’s running into (memory-based?) limits with apps crashing and workflows that take more steps than the same workflow on a Mac. And I simply can’t justify the productivity loss of spending more (sometimes 2x more!) time to get data processed because of these challenges. I find that I’m wasting time trying to get my tool to work, as opposed to actually using the tool.

The lack of permanence

Working with apps on iPad is less permanent than I would like it to be. What I mean is that I find it really difficult to keep apps open across longer time horizons (like all day), without either closing them accidentally or losing my spatial awareness of where they are. Contrast with a Mac which can offer multiple virtual desktops via Spaces; on Mac I use space 1 for my current project windows, space 2 for Mail and Messages, and space 3 for Reminders and Calendar. With macOS, I know that if I put a window somewhere it will probably be there until the heat death of the universe.

iPadOS just doesn’t work this way, or at least I’ve never been able to make it feel permanent in the same way. Because of this, I find that I manage windows / apps a heck of a lot more on iPad than I do on Mac. This breaks my focus and interrupts my flow.

I rarely close apps on Mac because I can rely on them to stay put while also keeping out of my way 99% of the time. On iPad I have to keep fewer windows open overall because I don’t have permanent Spaces.

The iPad is my favorite device, but somewhere along the way I lost my joy for it

The iPad has held a special place in my heart ever since the first one launched in 2010. Using one always felt slightly aspirational, giving me a feeling of “so many things are possible with this” unlike any other device. But over time I started seeing it as just another computer, because the reality was my use involved keeping it connected to a keyboard 99% of the time and viewing it through the lens of getting stuff done like I do on a Mac. This may seem silly, but perception becomes reality, and this really chipped away at the joy that comes from holding it and interacting via touch — something I almost never did because holding such a large device is really challenging.

iPad started feeling more like just another machine I mostly used for work, and this coupled with the challenges using it as one with my changing work needs had a cumulative effect of it feeling less special to use.

When everything flattens into the same shape, it’s hard to feel inspired when using it. And inspiration is key for a device that is my center for everything, both work and personal.

One more thing | iPad mini

I’ll end on a happy note; although I have bid adieu to the big iPad, there’s still space for something that is a lot closer to the original vision for the platform: iPad mini. I have one (in a rather fetching blue) that I’ve been using a lot more in recent weeks. The size captures some of that magic I had lost in using the 13”.

My expectations and wants in using the mini are fundamentally different; I still do “productive” things on it, like email, banking, taking notes, checking off to dos, etc. But because I’m holding it and using my hands to interact, I don’t have expectations of writing code on it, working on presentations, or the like. I’m not comparing it to the Mac; I’m using it as a complementary companion to the Mac. My iPad mini stands apart as a device that’s more personal and easier to carry. Using it evokes some of that aspirational feeling I had lost with the big iPad and its big expectations.

I may yet go back to a big iPad in the future, but for now I’m letting the Mac handle my computing needs. And the iPad mini really has been a joy to use. I’m looking forward to using it in the weeks to come for a role much closer to Steve Jobs’ original vision: something that truly stands apart from a phone and a computer.

A mini iPad Pro retrospective

23 July 2025

My quick note upfront: I had intended to publish a longer piece on the iPad Pro today, but between work and family commitments I was unable to wrap it up in time for today’s post. I will have it out on Friday.

I’ve made a big shakeup in my computing life. For the first time in a decade I find myself without a 13” iPad. I’ve owned every generation iPad Pro since the first one launched in 2015. And the iPad has been my preferred and primary computing platform for the last several years. I’ll share more on this change in my longer piece this Friday. For now, I thought it would be fun to have a mini retrospective of my iPad Pros over the years.

The start of something big!

Here is my first 13” iPad Pro from 2015. It’s wild just how huge this thing was. Side note: I really wish white bezels would make a comeback; I always got iPads in white until they stopped offering that choice.

A perfect companion for relaxing

Circa 2017. At this point I had started using a keyboard accessory for some work / tasks, but as you can see, relaxing with a fine beverage and some classic games was a central role of my iPad Pro back then.

Hints of the central computing role to come

2018. I started pushing my iPad into more roles I used my Mac for, and even invested in a keyboard and stand setup I got inspiration for from Jason Snell at Six Colors.

The Covid years brought more attempts at one device to rule them all

In 2020 I started leaning even more on iPad Pro for office-type tasks, especially once Apple introduced cursor support. And accessory makers were making more laptop-like keyboard attachments, like the Brydge one I used before Apple’s Magic Keyboard came out and…utterly displaced it.

Yesterday

Jumping ahead, here is an extremely minimal desk setup from yesterday.

My big iPads have been an essential part of my life for a very long time. I am looking forward to sharing why I’ve decided to remove the iPad Pro and shift those roles back to the Mac — at least temporarily (what an excellent hedge!) — in the next post. See you then,

Into the Grey

21 July 2025

On Mondays, I work from home, and I take advantage of that by using work calls to get out of the house and walk. I had a 60 minute call this morning where my role was to listen, not present; perfect for putting on some AirPods and lacing up my boots.

Beyond the extra mental clarity I find from being in motion — and the health benefits of an extra 30-60 minutes of walking! — I really love being out in my favorite kind of weather: cool, grey, and melancholy. Today fit that description perfectly; it was in the high 50s (Fahrenheit) and a bit misty with total cloud cover. Perfect for walking in Golden Gate Park.

Starting out, a hike through the woods

GGP has many trails like this that straddle the line between paved paths and wilderness; perfect for getting some dirt under your feet without being too far from civilization.

Sacred spaces

I spent a little time in the AIDS Memorial Grove, a peaceful refuge dedicated to the life and remembrance of those impacted by that condition. I found this quote engraved in stone to be quite uplifting.

Escaping to open fields, then refueling

After a solid 40 minutes hiking the woods and grove, I was glad to find some open skies. There is a great cafe nestled near the southeastern edge of GGP that was perfect for a pick-me-up.

Frayed, but not finished

I passed this flag on my way out of the park and stopped for a few minutes to watch it dance in the breeze. This, coupled with the weather and my mental state (pensive, but energized after my hike…and coffee!), gave me a powerful mix of emotions.

It was beautiful; a symbol of possibility, doing its best to stand strong while fighting against elemental forces that were clearly taking a toll. I left the park feeling a bit more resolute, ready to bring that energy back to my work and life.

Good luck out there. I hope you find your own walk today.

Keep a Notebook Handy

18 July 2025

I have written at length about my love of digital note-taking with my reMarkable paper tablet (see my entry from July 2, 2025). While there are many advantages to writing digitally, there are roles and situations where keeping a physical pen and notebook just can’t be beat. Here are some thoughts on why you might want to start carrying one (or keep up an existing habit).

Put down the touchscreen

There are real benefits to writing by hand rather than using a keyboard or touch-typing on a screen. For one, we write much more slowly than we can tap or type, which allows us more time to think through what we’re writing. Research backs this up; writing engages more of our brain than typing, enhancing our ability to remember what we’ve written. For me, it’s also a much more intentional act, and I tend to spend a bit more time considering what I want to capture than I do when jotting something down on my phone or computer.

When I reach for pen and paper

My analog writing usually involves notebooks that can fit in a pocket, because their role is to quickly capture thoughts and ideas that occur when I am in motion. Essentially, any time I am not seated at a desk or table. When sitting at a desk, I usually am absorbed in some sort of computer activity or I am journaling, and that’s when I’ll use my reMarkable rather than a physical notebook.

Because I use notebooks to capture spontaneous ideas they tend to be fairly chaotic, with topics shifting from one line to the next. I think of this as a feature; I’d rather get this messy thinking out of my head and down on paper.

Notebooks evoke emotion in ways devices cannot

There is a timelessness to writing on paper. In a digital age, choosing the analog path can be nostalgic (dare I say romantic?). When writing by hand, we engage in a practice that people have done for centuries.

I also appreciate that my handwriting is uniquely mine; seeing my (terrible) pen strokes connects me to the words in ways that staring at a screen with black text set in 17pt San Francisco cannot.

Build a daily carry habit

I definitely recommend keeping a notebook on hand. It’ll build connection with the thoughts and notes you’re taking, keep you off of screens — even if for just a little while — and you’ll be continuing a proud human tradition that has endured for centuries.

Here are a few other interesting views on notebooks. First, a fun video covering why notebooks are making a comeback. Second, a fascinating podcast covering the history of the notebook.

And if you need a more practical reason: you’ll look 87% more stylish and interesting than some dude taking a note on his iPhone.

Love is Masculine

16 July 2025

Masculinity is and should be aspirational.

This is an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. I’ve spent much of the past decade or so being shocked by what passes as “manly” behavior, while also being inundated with the backlash against “toxic” masculinity. One side says “a real man chases power, you have to dominate everything in life, take charge, do not let others insult you, winner-takes-all, rah rah rah MANHOOD!”

…these kinds of views read almost as caricature, right? The problem is these exaggerated views became celebrated (and normalized) by too many people. And as the voices behind them grew louder and louder a counterbalance surfaced that masculinity is inherently bad. The other side shouted “risk-taking behavior is toxic, strong opinions and standards are an attack on my beliefs, men are evil.”

I don’t think either of these extremes have provided actionable guidance for men searching for how to live a good, productive life. I plan on writing many essays on how I think about masculinity and how to embrace the positive aspects while putting aside the negative. But for today I’ll focus on one core theme: love.

Caring for others — empathy for our fellow people — is such a foundational part of the human experience. Love is a shorthand for that feeling, and is just about the most essential thing a person can do. For this reason I find love to be a pillar of masculinity.

Let’s contrast that with unfortunate clichés: men don’t show emotion, men have to make the hard decisions, and they have to act rationally. These ideas do a great deal of harm because they implicitly exclude the ability to feel love or empathy for others, which is something we simply cannot turn off (though select individual men certainly seem to come damn close).

I think that a lot of men try to resolve the disconnect between cliché and feeling by leaning harder into those clichés. A better path forward is to replace these unhelpful beliefs with:

We (people) are made for each other, to work together and to care for those around us

We are all connected. Embrace this connection!

Feel our emotions – deeply – but try to detach our actions from them. Act, do not react.

We do not bury our feelings or pretend they aren’t there. But we understand that heightened emotions can affect what we do in ways we often regret. Try to pause and calm down before taking action. Keep in mind this quote:

“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations book 4

It is a gift as a man to be able to handle hard things.

Life is hard. Every action we take – big or small – matters. It shows both the world and ourselves who we are. Embrace those challenges and see them as opportunities to improve.

I firmly believe people need something to aspire to (I certainly do). As myself, as a father, as a husband, I want to embrace being a man in ways that make me better. So yeah, to me masculinity is aspirational. And a key pillar there is love. Wishing you luck on your own journey.

Epigrams

14 July 2025

It has been a trying start to the week. It is now evening and I finally have a little space to process the day and try to prepare for tomorrow. One thing that is helping me get back to a grounded perspective — that, zooming out, things are okay and will be okay — is taking a look at a collection of inspirational quotes I keep pinned in my notes app.

Maybe these will inspire you. Take care, and be kind not only to others, but to yourself as well.

• “We must all either wear out or rust out, every one of us. My choice is to wear out.” —Theodore Roosevelt
• “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” —Epictetus
• “The best revenge is not to be like that.” —Marcus Aurelius
• “There is good in everything, if only we look for it.” —Laura Ingalls Wilder
• “Character is fate.” —Heraclitus
• “If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud.” —Nicholas Nassim Taleb
• “Every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “This is not your responsibility but it is your problem.” —Cheryl Strayed
• “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” —Marcus Aurelius
• “You are only entitled to the action, never to its fruits.” —Bhagavad Gita
• “Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.” —Epicurus
• “Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.” —Jose Ortega y Gasset
• “Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.” —Zeno
• “Space I can recover. Time, never.” —Napoleon Bonaparte
• “You never know who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out.” —Warren Buffett
• “Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.” —Benjamin Franklin
• “The world was not big enough for Alexander the Great, but a coffin was.” —Juvenal
• “To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often.” —Winston Churchill
• “Judge not, lest you be judged.” —Jesus
• “Time and patience are the strongest warriors.” —Leo Tolstoy
• “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may.” —Buddha

An Ode to Sacred Spaces

11 July 2025

I find religious buildings deeply moving. The sheer artistry and intention behind their design — as places for us to reach towards a higher ideal, to pursue the good, and strive to be better — lifts my spirit and reminds me that we (people) have done great things. And more importantly, gives me hope that we can do them again.

My fascination with these spaces comes from a secular viewpoint. Their purpose as meeting places for praising specific God(s) is inspiring, to be sure. But I focus on the very human effort and will and hope that went into their construction. People across time and space have poured their creative energy, resources, and physical labor into creating these spaces not only for themselves, but for generations to come. What a beautiful gift.

Here are some pictures taken at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco. My visit there was a joy, giving me an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and try to think back to 1914, when the church was built. What were the hopes, dreams, and fears of the people who built it? And the first parishioners? And everyone since? I feel connected to those people by sharing the same sacred space, and I think of those who will explore this after me. I am so grateful these places exist.

A visit to St. Ignatius

Music for Thinking

9 July 2025

Life is full of interruptions, and the ability to focus and do deep work is something I struggle with. One thing I’ve found immensely helpful with minimizing distraction is listening to music that lacks vocals. There is an endless array of musical options out there, but I want to share one that I am especially fond of.

Room to Think by the folks at reMarkable. This is a curated collection of free soundscapes designed to help improve focus. Each is one hour long and combines simple looping visuals with instrumental audio. I listen to these quite often while working or creating, and thought perhaps you might find it useful as well.

My favorite go-tos are The Small Hours, Into the Wild, and By the Fire. I am actually listening to one of these right now as I write this post.

I hope this helps, and good luck with creating today!

An Essential Phone

7 July 2025

Our phones are our most intimate piece of technology. They are our constant companion and hold our voices, pictures, and connection to the wider world through the internet. The sheer capability we hold in our hands is truly extraordinary. But I’ve been thinking more and more about a famous quote I love:

“Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.”
José Ortega y Gasset

Whoa. Heavy, right? When I consider my phone use, I so often find myself using it for consumption, or distraction, or for a facsimile of connecting with others — how many times have I texted a thoughtless “Sounds good” or “Haha”, mistaking speed of reply for depth of connection? I found that my phone no longer had a specific set of purposes for which I used it, so it could get out of the way when I didn’t need it. It had become an always-everything-right-now device.

A brief note on Essentialism

One of the best books I’ve read this year is Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. The key question it addresses is how to identify what is truly essential, so we can remove all other distractions that keep us from what matters. One area I’ve been inspired to explore is my relationship with technology and how it enables me to be more productive, but also helps me waste time and energy with the inessential.

So, I’ve made some fundamental changes with how I use my phone, given its unique place in my life as something that is (nearly) always with me. I’d like to share these changes and how I’ve focused on the few, specific roles my phone plays, and what I’ve decided to eliminate.

The essential roles of my phone

My Home Screen picture at the top of this post shows what I keep on my phone these days. Each of the few apps plays a specific role. Connection. Health. Getting things done. Reading and reflection. Here’s an overview of what’s there starting from the top left.

• Shortcuts – quick access to a spreadsheet where I track health–related data like my weight, nutrition, exercise, and sleep. There are many ways I could automate this, but the act of keeping a manual spreadsheet creates just enough friction to keep me engaged in this habit. The second shortcut launches a food–tracking app (myFitnessPal). These two shortcuts reflect the health pillar in my life, and are something I track and update every day.
• Photos – straightforward, right? I like to reflect on memories and be thankful for the experiences I’ve had.
• Reminders – having clearly–defined objectives for the day is essential for me to avoid wasting time. This is so important to me that I also use my phone’s Action Button to quickly capture to–dos.
• Podcasts – much preferred over listening to music while commuting. One day I will write a post on the podcasts I listen to.
• Notes – organizing and capturing thoughts. I tend to prune old notes every few months to keep my digital clutter contained.
• Books – while I generally prefer reading physical books, I do use the Books app each day in the morning (The Daily Stoic) and at night while I’m doing our son’s bedtime routine.
• Files – something I surprisingly use multiple times a day, though more so on work days than the weekend or family time.
• Messages – my default method for communicating with others. I do try to limit how often I pull this up, unless I am responding to a notification from my wife texting me.
• iA Writer – where I do the majority of my writing when on a computer or device. A phone is not ideal for this task but it’s good for quick edits.
• Safari – I spend quite a bit less time here now that I’ve blocked the websites listed above, but the web is still an essential part of everyday life.
• Strong – where I’ve tracked my workouts since 2020. I cannot recommend this app enough.

What’s no longer included

My intent is to remove distraction. I took a hard look at all the things I did on my phone. Apple’s Screen Time feature is really helpful for this, showing not only how much time is spent in each app but also how often each app is opened and also the first thing you do after you pick up your phone. After I excluded the essential roles mentioned above, there were four primary things I tended to do whenever I reached for my phone. Each of these things have been removed.

First, launching the web to refresh news sites. To be clear, I do believe that we have a responsibility to be informed citizens. But how much of the 24 hour news cycle matters a day from now, or a week, let alone a month or more? Very little, and yet news sources have hundreds of updates every single day. I was drowning in noise and unable to figure out what the signal was. Using Screen Time on my phone I blocked each news site I was going to throughout the day, including newspapers and social sites (Mastodon and Bluesky).

Second, watching YouTube. I do not consider myself to be a heavy video or content consumer, but I noticed that throughout the day I would check on the half–dozen channels that I watch, and end up opening tab after tab of videos to watch both in the moment and later. I’ll be transparent; this queuing and watching typically happened when I was in parenting mode and my son was playing. The time we have together is sacred, yet I was allowing myself to be disconnected more often than not. So I blocked YouTube specifically and now catch up on my channels on another device, at specifically–designated times.

Third, I removed all notifications aside from messages and calls from my wife or my to–dos in Reminders. Everything else is now silent. This is probably my most radical change; it feels a bit weird to not see or respond timely to texts or calls from other people, especially those who are important to me (but not as essential as my wife, sorry folks). This change keeps my phone from buzzing when on a table or in my pocket which has had an unexpectedly huge upside to my ability to focus on tasks. I never realized just how destructive notifications are to being present in what I am doing.

Finally, I do not have email on my phone. This time sink was actually the most under–the–radar of all, because I rarely — and I mean rarely — write emails, meaning every time I checked Mail it was for a dopamine hit of a new, shiny unread blue dot. Each check was so small and short (2 seconds tapping Mail, pulling down to refresh the inbox, then closing if nothing new came in) that it wasn’t until I looked at my number of Mail app openings in Screen Time that I realized I was checking this dozens of times per day. Dozens of times! For email! Quite possibly the least essential thing I can think of yet I was doing it almost subconsciously.

Closer to an essential tool

I feel better about my phone use after making these changes. Some of these changes have been difficult (blocking YouTube especially so), but I definitely feel like my phone is now a net addition to my life, with fewer downsides regarding my ability to be present, focus on what matters, and spend my time towards productive ends.

I am still able to catch up on messages and email, browse the web, and stay informed on current events, but I intentionally do those things at specific times when I am in the right mental state, and typically on another device. That separation is the key, rather than having it all at my fingertips at all times.

If I am what I pay attention to, then I am happy to say that today I am more intentional about my time and present with the people I care about. With a lot of room for improvement, but a bit more focused on the essential.

Take a Walk

4 July 2025

Solvitur ambulando. It is solved by walking.

This sounds like wishful thinking. Can big problems really be fixed so easily? Perhaps not, but I have found that nearly any situation can be improved by going on a walk.

Being in motion is a wonderful panacea when you are feeling blue, wrestling with a problem, or are bored and endlessly scrolling on a device.

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir, Steep Trails

And science has found that walking provides clear benefits to our health, from building endurance and helping stay fit to reducing anxiety and stress.

The mental benefits are what I appreciate most about being out and in motion. I walk before giving a big presentation or having a difficult conversation. I walk after having them too. I also like to walk midday if I can to help clear out the mental load from the morning and reset myself before tackling the rest of the day.

If you are interested in a deeper take here is a thorough read from Brett at the Art of Manliness.

So today I urge you to get up and take a walk. Let your mind and body recharge.

On Writing with Digital Paper | reMarkable Paper Pro

2 July 2025

I am a lifelong pen–and–paper notetaker. My desk has an assortment of a dozen (admittedly half–finished) notebooks, from Moleskines to Appointed to leather bound options from Grovemade. And I have nearly as many writing tools, from humble zebra pens to fountain pens to heavy brass ballpoints.

All this to say, I enjoy the physical act of jotting notes down. Over the years I’ve tried using an iPad for this, but the experience is never quite satisfactory. There are a couple of reasons why:

• writing on a smooth glass surface doesn’t provide the tactile feedback I’m looking for
• my palm sometimes triggers unexpected actions from the iPad (even with Apple’s palm rejection tech)
• the Apple Pencil cannot capture the small size of my natural handwriting; everything feels 15–20% larger than it should be which constantly interrupts my thinking
• and most of all, an iPad is, well, an iPad; it can do so much that the temptation to “just go check this one thing real quick” can disrupt my ability to focus (which is perhaps a personal failing)

The iPad is an important instrument in my life, but note–taking is one role it does not play. However, the benefits of digital note–taking are numerous, from having a central place for everything, the ability to organize, search, and find, and the peace of mind that my notes are backed up to the cloud in the event I lose or damage the physical object holding my writing.

Enter the reMarkable line of paper tablets. I have used a reMarkable Paper Pro for the past 8 months and it has been a wonderful addition to my personal and professional lives. I’m not going to cover all the product specs or marketing claims — those can be easily found in reviews online from far better writers than I — but I do want to share my thoughts on the product, why the philosophy of a paper tablet is so appealing, and how I use it day–to–day.

Part 1 | Physical design

reMarkable did a wonderful job with their industrial design; this is a lightweight but sturdy object, with delightful flourishes on the sides with grooves that mimic the look and feel of holding a small stack of thin notebooks. The overall footprint is fairly close to a 12.9″ iPad while being a bit lighter and just as thin as the 2024 iPad Pro. There is only a single button on top to turn the device on and off and a USB–C port for charging. The simplicity of the exterior reinforces the focused purpose this was built for.

The display has a wonderful texture to it which comes <i>really</i> close to that of paper. It provides a small but noticeable amount of feedback as you write on it, along with a soft scratching sound that is delightful. The display is also fairly resistant to unintentional inputs from your palm or fingers; it definitely responds to intentional finger presses to navigate the UI, but without being overly sensitive to the point where I accidentally trigger things when simply moving my palm across the screen while writing.

The display has a wonderful texture to it which comes really close to that of paper. It provides a small but noticeable amount of feedback as you write on it, along with a soft scratching sound that is delightful. The display is also fairly resistant to unintentional inputs from your palm or fingers; it definitely responds to intentional finger presses to navigate the UI, but without being overly sensitive to the point where I accidentally trigger things when simply moving my palm across the screen while writing.

The reMarkable Paper Pro has a backlight for the screen, which sometimes comes in handy if it’s late and I am in a dim setting writing notes, crossing things off a to–do list, or marking up a PDF. It’s not a huge deal for me but it is a nice addition when working in a low light environment.

Part 2 | Writing and focus

As I hinted at above, writing on the reMarkable comes very close to writing on paper. Compared to smooth glass on other tablets, it gives the right amount of physicality that makes the experience feel more analogue than digital. This really matters to me; part of why I write by hand is to slow down my thinking and to be more intentional about what I need to capture.

The biggest reason I prefer using the reMarkable to other digital options is focus. This tablet only does one thing! There are no distractions, no notifications, and no other “things I could be doing” to divert my attention from thinking and writing. Various reviews of the product (and of course, the company reMarkable itself) list purported mental benefits to writing without distractions. My experience has been that I have been better able to think through new challenges that require plotting out and wireframing, and retain the details of meetings and conversations where I’ve taken notes by hand. My reMarkable has become my go–to carry when heading into meetings to avoid distractions while taking notes on my iPad or Mac.

Part 3 | Day–to–day use

Each morning, I spend a few minutes journaling on my reMarkable. This is a practice that I’ve struggled to do consistently when using paper notebooks since I tend to bounce back and forth between several depending on where I am and which notebooks and pens are close at hand. This has led to a smattering of journal entries spread out across a lot of different places. With my reMarkable I am able to keep things in one place. I create a new notebook for each month of the year. As someone who likes to reflect back on my days and thoughts, one key benefit to paper journals is the ability to quickly flip through pages to find entries from the past. I find that the reMarkable is nearly as quick and easy to search through which has been a pleasant surprise.

I carry my paper tablet in my bag alongside my iPad and various everyday carry (headphones, phone, wallet, etc.). The size, weight, and sturdy build make it easy to transport without worrying about it adding bulk or needing coddling.

My work involves a fair amount of exploring data, so I keep my reMarkable out next to the keyboard of whichever computer I am working on to jot down quick notes. One major benefit of this tablet over a paper notebook is the ability to quickly erase, or even rearrange, what I’ve written. For example, moving one idea or sentence from the bottom of the page up next to a different idea near the top by quickly selecting and dragging. Or realizing that I copied the wrong passage from a book I’m referencing that I now need to erase. Maybe one day I’ll be able to write without mistakes, but until that day comes it is nice to easily undo things when I’ve made the wrong note or observation.

As mentioned before I bring my paper tablet with me to meetings (unless I am a presenter and need a computer). This gives me the ability to focus on the people and details of the meeting rather than being absorbed in a screen. I tend to make messy shorthand notes during meetings, then take a few minutes afterwards to make edits, clarify, and rearrange things.

Most of my notes use an unlined (blank) template, but reMarkables have multiple templates for notebooks, from lined pages to music sheets to wireframes and storyboards. I journal using college ruled notebook paper, and I sometimes use storyboards when I’m putting together a presentation. There are also calendar templates which I admittedly do not use. I’ve tried, but I work at a large company and my calendar largely consists of meetings with other people where we need to send and respond to invites, etc. Perhaps if I were a solo creator or entrepreneur I would write out my calendar, but I think this functionality is probably better suited to other products.

Part 4 | Accessories

reMarkable makes two different writing stylus options they call the Marker and Marker Plus. I prefer their more basic one due to the material feel and because the Plus’s ability to function as a quick eraser doesn’t work with my small handwriting where I want more precision when erasing. The basic Marker has a smooth texture which I like more than the textured finish on the Marker Plus.

One accessory I do recommend is a folio cover, though the prices for them are frankly ridiculous, especially for the leather ones. I splurged on a brown leather folio, which protects the tablet and has a clever strap to secure the Marker while on the move.

reMarkable also makes a keyboard called the Type Folio which is somewhat similar to the line of keyboard accessories Apple makes for iPad. I didn’t purchase this; my use case for the tablet is to write by hand and a keyboard doesn’t help me with that. If I wanted to type rather than write by hand I’d use a different device. Reviews of the Type Folio are mostly positive, though again the price is quite dear.

Finally, there is reMarkable Connect, a cloud syncing service which, in my opinion, is a must–have. It does a few things. First, it backs up all my content. Second, it allows me to upload and manage files from other devices through an app; I use this on my Mac and my iPad to easily load PDFs that I need to review as well as to organize my file structure which I find easier to do through the app than on the device itself. Connect also gives you up to 3 years of device protection against defects, so if issues come up reMarkable will fix or replace your device for free.

Conclusion

The reMarkable Paper Pro has become a delightful and enriching part of my workflows, both professional and personal. It is refreshing to see devices come to market that are purposefully made for a specific task. I still occasionally write using pen–and–paper, but I now reflexively reach for my paper tablet when I need to jot something down or when I want to think through a new problem.

On the eve of Independence Day

30 June 2025

This week marks the 249th anniversary of the founding of the United States. We’ve lasted a bit more than half as long as the Roman Republic (509 BCE – 27 BCE). Despite the dysfunction going on today I am hopeful that we haven’t reached the end of this grand experiment.

If, like me, you are feeling bewildered, beaten down, and outraged at what is happening, then I will leave you with a few ideas that are helping me navigate these days.

• Focus on what you can control. Ask yourself: what is up to me, and what is not up to me?
• Don’t let assholes turn you into an asshole.
• Showing kindness is always an option. This doesn’t mean you roll over for terrible people, but you can choose to respond with more humanity than has been shown to you.
• Remember that we don’t know when our last day will be. If it is today, spend it making the world better for everyone who will be here tomorrow.
• You’ll never regret taking a walk. Or telling someone that you are thinking of them.

Here is a song I think captures some optimism that we could all use. A hearty dose of sentimental Americana for the country and people we have been before, and can be again. Keep the faith.