All the Tools I Am Using for Work and Campaigning

An overview of my most-used tools for email, messaging, organization, writing, and reading. Share yours in the comments.

Apr 18, 2024

Most of the time, if I find myself unable to do a job easily, it’s often that I am not using the correct tools.

Tools, apps, and other software, equipment and devices are the basic elements that allow me to get my work done. Think about it: if you had no PC, no email service provided, no note-taking app… would you be able to work at all?

Here are the tools I use in my day-to-day activities.

I’m listing them because they might help you, but also because it might prompt you to list yours in return. And I’m always on the lookout for better tools.

So don’t hesitate to comment and reach out if you feel like I left an important tool outside this list.

Here we go.

Email & messaging

GMail: Of course I had to start with email. I bet that’s your single most used tool too. I use Gmail because (as you’ll see below) I’m a huge fan of Google Suite. The biggest game changer, though, was when I learned the basic keyboard shortcut for fast navigation and sorting of email.
Telegram, WhattsApp, and LinkedIn: I mostly adapt to my correspondents when messaging, using the platform they prefer. But I find telegram very customisable and professional, although WhatsApp is used by most people I know.

Organisations

Todoist for keeping track of my personal to-dos. I use Todoist (paid version) because of its many features, although the interface remains clear and easy to use. Super convenient.
Google Tasks: In my professional quality, though, I use Google Tasks. First, because I never bothered to change to a “real” task management system, and second because, again, of its integration with the Google Suite.
Google Calendar. Again, the Google Suite. No, but seriously, you can create meeting notes from your calendar and have them stored in Google Drive. And from these notes, you can create tasks that link to Google Tasks. Uncredible stuff. I use my calendar to schedule everything in my life, from meetings, social encounters, focus moments, travels, etc.

Writing

Google Documents. Virtually all my work-related writing is done on Google Documents, from meeting notes, memos, papers, etc. What I like about it is the possibility to create and access templates easily, the shareable feature (still way better than Microsoft’s), and the integration with the Google Suite.
Substack for The Beubble. Substack is the platform I use to write your favorite newsletter. Actually, if you do really love The Beubble, why not subscribing to a paid account?

Reading

Kindle. I take my Kindle with me everywhere I go. This way, I can always read on my travels. It takes no space, contains hundreds of books (some half-read)… Probably one of the best investments I ever made.
Print. My apologies to climate and forest defenders, but the best way to read remains paper. When I have to read an official document, report, etc. of 20 pages, I just can’t do it on my computer screen. I print it, work with it (with markers, margin notes, etc.), and then store it (if it’s really good/ useful), or make a summary for myself.

Here are my most-used tools. Let me know what yours are.