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Influencer StackWhat the influencers actually use.
Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.

Whiteboard

Wall or freestanding board for working problems out vertically

A dry-erase surface for sketching a proof, an argument or a plan at full size. Ideas go up quickly and wipe off just as quickly, which suits work whose shape is still moving. Mathematicians, engineers and researchers often keep one at home as well as at the office.

Who backs it

Sorted by strength of stance

  • Cal NewportDoes it

    Computer science professor · author of Deep Work

    When offices were set up near his house, a whiteboard was one of the first things to go in, because he says computer science collaborators cannot work on theory without one. He traces that to the MIT theory floor, where two or three people at the same board pushed each other into a higher level of concentration.

    Source: Huberman Lab podcast transcript: Cal Newport

Aimed at the same thing

Other entries filed under focus or productivity.

  • Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.

    Kindle e-reader

    Amazon

    E-ink reader that makes a daily reading habit easy to keep

    Backed by 6 of 62 stacks: 6 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
  • Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.

    Standing desk

    A desk that raises, so part of the working day happens on your feet

    Backed by 4 of 62 stacks: 3 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
  • Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.

    iPad

    Apple

    Apple's tablet, used here as the device the reading app runs on

    Backed by 3 of 62 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
  • Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.

    Paper notebook

    A bound notebook for thinking on paper away from a screen

    Backed by 3 of 62 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
  • Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.

    Phone lockbox

    A lockable box with a timer that puts the phone out of reach for a set period

    Backed by 2 of 62 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
  • Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.

    AirPods Max

    Apple

    Apple's over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation and spatial audio

    Backed by 1 of 62 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it

Gear entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.