Published in Focus Culture·Feb 27, 2019How the California Academy of Sciences Makes Discovery a DelightInnovative exhibits and citizen science bring people closer to nature — Before you read this article, take a moment away from your computer. Put down your phone and step outside. Look closely at whatever you find. The shape of a leaf. The texture of a rock. The swooping flight of a bird. What is that leaf? How old is that rock…Environment8 min readEnvironment8 min read
Published in Focus Culture·Jan 23, 2019Living Like Urk: How to Make Time and Focus on What MattersThe shift in thinking that’ll help you beat distraction forever — Imagine you’ve been transported back in time 50,000 years. Once you recover from your initial shock, you set out to learn more about this strange, unfamiliar world. As you explore, you come across a young hunter-gatherer named Urk. He’s amused by your strange clothes, but quickly realizes you don’t pose…Productivity9 min readProductivity9 min read
Published in Focus Culture·Jan 9, 2019Hack the Habit Loop to Reach Your GoalsHow to break bad habits and build new ones — I have a shameful secret. My Evernote colleagues don’t know about it — in fact, no one I’ve met recently knows. But I’m willing to confess it to you now. I used to be a smoker. Yes, I knew the health risks when I started; that was half the fun…Habit Building6 min readHabit Building6 min read
Published in Taking Note·Oct 4, 2018Rewire Your Brain to Beat ProcrastinationTurn off the phone, tune into yourself, and be productive when it counts — Have you ever found yourself staring at your phone or laptop, mindlessly checking social media or going down an internet rabbit hole when you’re supposed to be doing something else? So have I. My name is Brian, and I’m addicted to information. More specifically, I am addicted to the infinite…Productivity6 min readProductivity6 min read
Published in Taking Note·Sep 12, 20183 Surprising Secrets to Maintaining Your FocusThe answer isn’t working harder — it’s how you work that matters — You’re probably too busy to read this article. You probably have at least 20 other browser tabs open right now (I’m ashamed to say I have 28 open as I’m writing this). You probably have a to-do list filled with other things you should be doing. That’s exactly why you…Productivity7 min readProductivity7 min read
Published in Taking Note·Aug 30, 2018Hack Your Calendar and Get Your Life BackTake control of your time with these planner tips — Remember those old-school business calendars? They were desktop calendars all right — they literally occupied the whole desktop. Meanwhile, at home, there was probably a to-do list stuck on the fridge with a magnet. The grocery list and “Dinner with my sister” would go there. Basically prehistoric. A chisel and…Productivity5 min readProductivity5 min read
Published in Taking Note·Aug 14, 2018Ever Better: Refreshing the Evernote BrandGo behind the scenes with our new look and renewed purpose — Today, we publicly launched our refreshed Evernote brand into the world. Brand refresh. Simple words for a complex process. Especially when it’s a brand that touches the lives of over 225 million people globally, and one that generates significant love from customers, positive sentiment from industry observers, and a…Design10 min readDesign10 min read
Published in Taking Note·Jul 25, 2018Can Music Make You a Productivity Powerhouse?The best songs and playlists for getting stuff done — Whether you’re working nine to five or burning the midnight oil, a pair of headphones and a killer playlist may be the secret to getting more done, faster. Listening to music releases dopamine and serotonin into the brain, helping you relax and stay focused. Music has an energizing effect, so…Music5 min readMusic5 min read
Published in Taking Note·Jul 16, 2018What’s wrong with work/life balance?A new approach to living the one life you really want — What’s wrong with work/life balance? Everything. According to author Beat Bühlmann, work/life balance assumes that a good life requires a careful balance between these two worlds; as if what you do for a living is something totally separate from just, living. The assumption is always that work is bad and…Work Life Balance9 min readWork Life Balance9 min read
Published in Taking Note·Jul 9, 2018You Don’t Have to Be a Genius to Be CreativeAuthor Allen Gannett on the surprising science of achievement — Are you a creative person? Chances are, you said you aren’t. We’ve been conditioned to believe that creativity is the sole domain of geniuses, a kind of divine inspiration that is beyond the reach of ordinary people. But the common perception of creativity is largely based on myth and legend…Creativity15 min readCreativity15 min read
