The tools I use
This is a list of tools I use to run this website, work on my app and focus.
Website
SimpleAnalytics
A privacy friendly alternative to Google Analytics, SimpleAnalytics doesn't use cookies and has no personal tracking, I love it's simplicity.
Sign up via this link and get one month for free!
DigitalOcean
I used DigitalOcean to host a large scale restaurant website, and now I'm using it to host this site, my statistics server and a database that records all my sensor data.
Sign up via my personal link and get $100 in credits to spend.
DigitalOcean supports one-click server setup for a lot of different tools, including Ghost (see below).
Ghost
Ghost is a nice and simple CMS for blogs and sites like this. Also supports paid subscriptions and newsletters.
Productivity
Things 3
The best task manager I've used, and I've tried a lot! I love the way Things handles dates and allows you to postpone tasks till someday.
Notion
I use Notion for my more structured notes, like feature roadmaps, plans, weekly reviews. I love the ability to link notes and easily create pages.
Readwise
To keep my book notes in sync with Notion I use Readwise, it takes the highlights from my kindle and bundles them neatly. I also like the review feature where Readwise gives 5 highlights randomly. It makes me revisit sections of books I read and remember the takeaways.
Sign up for Readwise and get one extra free month!
Evernote
While Notion is nice for structured note taking, I still use Evernote as a document archive. It contains most of the receipts, letters, contracts. Evernote's search is fast and fluid and makes it a breeze to retrieve documents when I need them.
My 2020 goals
Last week I met with a group of friends. One of our traditions is to review the previous year and commit to goals for the next. It is always nice to reflect together. But the best thing is to share my resolutions with a group and get honest feedback plus create accountability over the year.
My 2020 resolutions (details below):
- Live a more sustainable life
- Share more in public
- Try some hobbies that don't involve a computer or TV
- Relax
Live a more sustainable life
I think we should all try to do as much as we can to limit the damage caused by climate change. And while I'm already doing my best, I see some things I can do this year to improve even more.
In the next months I will try to:
- Limit gas usage in my home by repairing the solar water heating we have and repair broken doube glass panels
- See how we can generate our own electricity with solar panels
- Make our garden more bee and butterfly friendly
Share more in public
I am not sharing a lot on the web. I think it would be great to share more, it will help me put my thoughts in writing and to get more attention for my sideproject.
In the next months I will try to:
- Write a blog once a week (this is the first :)
- Send a newsletter once a month
Hobbies without a computer
I have a lot of hobbies but most of them involve my iMac. Creating music, working on my sideproject, playing games. I think it would be good for me and my stiff shoulders to try different things that don't involve sitting.
In the next months I will try some hobbies without a computer. My shortlist: baking, cooking, hiking, gardening, playing guitar and piano.
Relax
I have a hard time relaxing. It's hard for me to sit still and do nothing. Or to do something and relax. It will be good to take some more time for myself and with the people I care about.
In the next months I will:
- Go to the sauna a couple of times
- Plan trips with my boyfriend
- Plan dinners / drinks with friends
- Celebrate my birthday