1… Wear an analog watch ⌚

A couple of years ago, I ditched my Apple Watch for a Casio G-Shock.

I’ve since collected quite a few watches (as it’s become a nasty little habit 😜)

But hey — I don’t get notifications on my wrist telling me to "stand up."

(I'm at dinner with my friends, you want me to just stand up randomly!?)

Pro tip…

Buy atleast one really nice watch.

A Tudor Blackbay. Omega Seamaster. Rolex Datejust.

You would be shocked how many people start a conversation with you just to talk about watches.

Not too long ago… I actually got hired to build out an entire marketing funnel for a $15M company after the owner and I were chatting about our watches over coffee.

Coincidence, I think not! =)

P.S. If you like tracking your health, try WHOOP. Watch on left wrist, WHOOP on right.

2… Print everything you read 🖨️

I have folders upon folders upon folders of PRINTED paper in my office!

I don’t even read emails on my phone anymore haha.

My favorite writers like Ben Settle, Daniel Throssell, Chris Orzy, John Mark Comer, BowTiedGolfer…

I batch print them!

Then I make an espresso like a freaking man, sit in my leather chair like a freaking man, and study my craft like a freaking MAN!

(All these grown “men” scrolling TikTok at night wondering why they feel depressed)

Go chop wood, read paper and stroke your beard for God sakes!

3… Wear wired headphones 🎧

A couple weeks back, I sold my Apple Pro Headphones and got a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 700 ProX.

They're big. Fat. Ugly. and WIRED!

They also sound like Angels Printin’ Money. 🤣

Not to mention the added benefits of NO RADIATION!

Which was the real reason I jumped off the “wireless headphones” train.

I’d wear them for the couple of hours a day while writing…

And I’d get headaches like crazy.

My wife (who is so smart) told me about all the radiation and wala… gonezo!

No more headphones and gahh these things sound good.

Plus, who wants Siri activated every time you try and turn the volume up? Or reading out your text messages from your Dad while you’re trying to listen to Coldplay!?

“Liiiiights will guiiiiiideeeee—

“Alin r u coming to Easter lunch 🐣🐣🐣🐣?”

“DAD IT WAS JUST GETTING TO THE GUITAR RIFF! GAHHHHHH I’M OUT ON EASTER NOW!!!”

4… Manage your life with paper and pen

Apple reminders. Asana. Trello. Notion. ClickUp.

What else is out there!?

I have found that NOTHING is nearly as simple, easy and productive as Bullet Journal.

Especially with all the AI-Embed that these guys are injecting into softwares.

Want AI to outline the sub-tasks of this project?

No because you have no idea what’s involved in this.

Want AI to summarize all your overdue tasks?

No cause you’re gonna stress me out for no reason.

Summary created. Sent.

I SAID NO!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

Instead…

At the beginning of the month, I create 3 pages in a notebook: Monthly, Weekly, Daily.

I outline everything I need to do that month.

Then every Sunday I move items from monthly to my weekly page until I finish all monthly tasks.

Then every day, I move items from the weekly page to that day's page.

Then you just do that day's tasks.... LOL

Plus there’s something magical about having to write down the things you’re doing.

Like when you re-write a task seven times and you realize, “Okay, I’m never actually gonna do this.” Hahaha.

It forces you to THINK through everything you’re doing as opposed to just digital checking it off.

5… Write on a Typewriter

I binged the MadMen series with Adriana a couple of years ago.

And I got infatuated with them writing on Typewriters!

Look how focused… how simple… how sexy… you hear that click clack!?!?!

So I went down a rabbit hole of Typewriters.

I was gonna buy a straight up “paper and ink” typewriter to write my daily emails on, then scan the paper to my computer...

Instead of just writing on a computer 🤣

But then I found Freewrite.

They make these insanely beautiful, modern digital typewriters that when you’re done writing, you can click send and it goes straight into your email inbox and Google Drive folder.

How sick is that?

And you literally can’t do anything but type on it.

It has this nice Kindle display so it's easy on the eyes.

They’re so good, I bought two of them.

The Freewrite Traveler and the Hemingwrite.

They ain’t cheap but I use them everyday.

​Feel free to checkout a video breakdown I did of the Freewriter Traveler here.​

Hope you enjoyed this.

Don’t forget to go outside. Touch grass. Read a book. Have a friend over for dinner.

I want you to enjoy life as a writer.

Your CopyCreator friend,

Alin “Professional Life Enjoyer” Dragu