Productivity · Hey Loura!

My 2025 Productivity System

I bounce around tools a lot trying to keep my life organized. Everywhere I look, the tasks I need to get done just keep multiplying. I’ve probably tried dozens of apps by now over the years. I really liked Notion, but didn’t like the lack of portability for my data. Logseq was fun but keeping things synced was hard. Obsidian was close to what I wanted, but ultimately the freedom to endlessly tweak the system made it more of a distraction to me. Then came 2024 and my life getting exponentially more difficult in an…

Auto-generated description: An open notebook on a tiled surface is adorned with several cut-out photos and writing on the pages, with a pen positioned nearby.

My newest trick to help with the bulky photos in my five year journal; peel off the backing of the photo paper and use double sided tape.

So for my hobonichi journal this year I picked up some dip pens and inks that matched the color of months. Turns out this was a bad idea. I’m far more less likely to sit down and add to my journal if I need to fiddle around with pens and ink. So back to my old pens I go.

I’m having some fun with the new Micro.blog premium feature, private notes. I’m trying to figure out what parts of my workflow I can move over 😄

screenshot of the new notes UI in Micro.blog with three notes showing

I’m reviewing my solo development methodology and figuring out if anything needs any tweaks. Last year I tried adapting Shape Up and I think I need to shorten the cycles. Six weeks is just a bit too long for me to maintain forward momentum.

New journal day! My Hobonichi cousin got too big to be carrying around everywhere so this little journal is the small one to take places and be functional. The Cousin will remain my place for memories and musings

a Hobonichi weeks journal on a wooden table. The cover is navy with a picture of a white cat and the saying “Hope you have a wonderful day” in silver at the bottom. There is a pen laying across the top of the journal.

Trying out Zoho Notebook since Obsidian, Logseq, and Notion still don’t feel like the right fit.

Turns out you can use Hey’s workflow feature as a lightweight Kanban board for a hobby project.

screenshot of a Kanban board using Hey email workflow feature. There are five columns and a series of tasks inside them.

I’ve been using this layout for the last six weeks and it’s a keeper. I’m not splitting aspects of my life across different apps, excel sheets, or notebooks and that’s helping me stay on top of it all. Plus, stickers! Most apps don’t have them and I love them.

At work I’m tackling a huge software project and my normal approach isn’t cutting it. So over the holiday’s I read Shape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work that Matters. It really resonated with me in a way other books on the subject…

I got a Hobonichi Cousin journal for the new year and I’ve been been trying out different layouts to keep track of homeschooling, work, and my personal tasks. This is my favorite so far. Homeschooling log in the center and color coded.

Hobonichi Cousin with personal, homeschooling, and work tasks in the weeks layout

I’ve cleaned up my notion set up to be more in line with the Johnny Decimal System and I’m liking it so far.

Brushed off the old Notion app and digging into the Johnny Decimal system. Also on the list tonight is freezing some Cheese Gougères for Thanksgiving and roasting some beets. Maybe I’ll even have some time to mess with my blog styling as well 😀