Productivity Tip:

Buy Gear, Not Stuff

“We live in a world where it’s easy to accumulate stuff,” says Michael Easter, whose routine is featured below. He suggests an alternative: frame your purchases in terms of gear, not stuff. ‘

“Stuff is a possession for the sake of it,” says Michael. “Gear has a clear purpose of helping us achieve a higher purpose.”

With holiday shopping, discounts and deals around every corner, and a long list of gifts to buy (for ourselves and others!), there’s no better time to put this into practice. Making considered purchases keeps our budgets in check, and it’s better for the environment, too. 

So, when all those shiny new gadgets are vying for your attention this season, check your framing. Is it stuff you don’t need, or gear that will actually enhance your life?

Bonus tip from Michael: “Buy items only in person. If it’s online-only, put it in your cart and wait 72 hours. You’ll probably realize you don’t need it.”

Routine Breakdown

Michael Easter, Author

A Best-Selling Author’s Routine of Tea, Poetry, and Walks in the Desert 

Michael Easter is a NY Times best-selling author who thinks about “human health, wellness, and what it means to live well today.” Rather than get caught up trying to pull every “optimization lever”, he says everything he does in the morning has to feed back into his ultimate goal of writing words that change people’s behavior for the better. 

The Routine:

• 6.30 am: Caffeine ritual: black tea. “I started drinking tea simply because I was drinking way too much coffee. I also found that tea was a little better on my stomach.” He uses a French press to limit microplastic consumption. 
• 6:45: Writing session. “There’s nothing magical about the mornings. You just need protected time where you’re focused on that one big goal.” He keeps his desk clear as he finds clutter distracting. 
• 8:45: Walks his dog, following up mental work with something physical. “There’s tons of research around how time in nature is good for mental health and for creative thinking. I usually get my best ideas out on walks.”
• 9:45: Breakfast. “If I start with a healthy breakfast, that’s one win for the day.”
• 10:00: Does 5 minutes of mobility movements to offset the damage caused by too much sitting. “Humans are not designed to sit at desks all day.”
• 10:05: Reads poetry. “It forces my brain to think about different ways to use words and language that’s more creative and enlivening.” His favorite poet is Mary Oliver.

Why it works:

• Black tea in moderation offers some great benefits. It’s rich in antioxidants that support heart health, improve focus, and may reduce chronic disease risk.
• Jumping straight into his most important work at a consistent time each day helps Michael make progress toward his goals. And yes: clutter really can overwhelm your brain and reduce focus, so a clean desk makes a difference!
• Yep, spending time in nature really is all that.
• Mobility training is important—and the best part is, you can do it in just a few minutes.
• Poetry doesn’t just open up new worlds of language and expression; it can even boost wellness and act as a form of therapy.

What do you think of Michael’s routine? Do you have some protected time where you’re “focused on that one big goal”?