Do you ever feel like life is overwhelming, with a mountain of tasks piling up, never enough time, and constantly forgetting things? Do you also find that the software tools available on the market aren't useful, or you're unsure how to make the best use of them?

Raymond, founder of the self-media brand "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker", may be the most systematic, organized, and even "technological" digital nomad I've ever encountered.

For instance, he uses Notion, ChatGPT, or various computer software to enhance his work efficiency and manage effectively.

He has a variety of smart devices on his computer desk and at home to optimize his life. He truly integrates the word "digital" into his lifestyle.

In fact, if you ask Raymond casually about his expenses for the whole year of 2016 or which project had the highest expenditure, or where certain collaboration data from five years ago is stored, he can immediately find the answers amidst a vast amount of data just by opening his computer.

Reflecting on the past, Raymond started freelancing as a student in university to earn tuition and living expenses. Despite being a student during the day with 10 hours filled with exams and classes, he began to "systemize" his work and life due to limited time and numerous tasks.

Three years ago, Raymond founded the self-media brand "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker" to share various methods of improving work efficiency, self-management, and unpacking digital tools, which gained much popularity among readers. His online course "Notion 線上訓練營 "(Notion Training Camp) even accumulated over ten thousand registrations.

Raymond jokingly says his memory is very poor. His ability to manage his work and life systematically and efficiently lies in finding the "right" tools and methods that suit him best! Especially as a digital nomad, when you have a better grasp of your work and life, it's crucial to manage your life well.

So, what are the best tools and methods for yourself? This article summarizes them for you!

First, How to Be Effective? Try Experimenting!

Many people aim to enhance their productivity and efficiency by learning from successful individuals, yet they find those methods ineffective.

For instance, you might have seen media reports about Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, who are productive and efficient due to early rising. Consequently, you attempt to emulate their practices by trying to wake up early, only to find yourself unable to do so or feeling groggy, leading to even lower efficiency.

Raymond emphasizes: "You don't have to follow mainstream methods; personalize your approach instead!"

During college, Raymond heard about the notion that "early risers are more productive," but is it true? He decided to experiment and find out!

For a month, he woke up at 7 a.m. every day, and for another month, he slept until 3 a.m. and woke up at 10 a.m., documenting his work mood, focus, and other factors daily. And then?

He discovered that he was naturally a night owl, achieving better focus and productivity at night. "Early rising for productivity" didn't apply to him, and he found the most suitable working hours for himself.

Raymond suggests, "To find the method that suits you best, experiment and keep records, rather than adhering to mainstream definitions of 'how things should be done' or methods used by successful individuals!"

You can also refer to Raymond's articles about Lifehacker to gain a better understanding of how to establish a systematized life that suits you.

Second, The Key to Choosing Tools Lies in "Goals"

Many people use tools like iPads or various life management software to organize tasks, but they often give up midway or find them ineffective.

How can you find the most suitable and effective tools for yourself? Raymond suggests starting with a blank sheet of paper and jotting down everything you do from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night.

It could be a work flowchart or a mind map, nothing too complicated. Then, review your day.

The key to choosing tools is to start from your needs and the goals you want to achieve. For example, if you enjoy reading articles online in the morning and often have many tabs open, wanting to manage your pages and data efficiently, you can use management tools or RSS to integrate information from different websites.

"Identify what each work or life need is, and then find the corresponding tools. I believe this is the initial point of solving the problem!" says Raymond.

Otherwise, when you have too many tools, you'll have to remember what Tool A is for, and what Tool B is for, leading to chaos in your life. "Your brain is meant for problem-solving, thinking, and creating, not for memorizing and storing information!" Raymond says.

Trimming the fat, identifying your true needs, and using tools and methods that suit you can help you establish a more systematized life.

If you're interested in Raymond's digital nomad journey and methods for systematic life management, feel free to listen to "JB's Small Talk" Digital Nomad SP1: Freelancers Need to Construct Personalized Systems for Long-term Balance Between Income and Freedom | Interview with "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker" Raymond.

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