A new beginning

Or at least an excuse for one.

Every year, every January feels like a clean slate.

A new beginning - or at the very least, a perfectly good excuse for one.

I’ve learned not to overthink that feeling. Instead of setting rules or chasing systems that promise a “better year,” I reset how I work and live, starting with fewer moving parts.

This year, the reset began away from apps.

I moved off complicated calendars and task managers and went back to writing - analog, but on a digital device. The reMarkable Paper Pro has quietly taken over that role. The moment I stopped trying to optimize it and just started writing, things slowed down in a good way.

That choice connects directly to something I shared in the last newsletter: the idea of building a to-do app not for companies, dashboards, or productivity metrics - but for people. For real life. Before improving where tasks go, I wanted to improve how they show up in the first place.

The second part of the reset is more visible.

A new desk setup!

You see, desk setups are often seen as showcases - and in a way, they are. For me, new setups let me experience new tech over time, test what actually holds up, and recommend things with confidence later in the year. But there’s another reason I keep doing them.

I personally think this is the cheapest way to move into a new place without moving.

Same room. Same walls. A different beginning.

Even when I reuse older pieces that have already proven themselves, the act of rebuilding changes how the space feels. It brings a new rhythm, new motivation, and a fresh sense of purpose. By the time the year ends, I’m usually tired of looking at the same setup every single day. Starting over doesn’t require buying everything again - it just requires intention.

That’s what this week’s episode is about. You can watch it here:

A desk setup built as a reset. Not a flex. Not an endpoint.

To go with it, I’m also releasing a new wallpaper pack called Spectra. It’s an 8K pack created together with a very talented designer, and every image is made by hand #humanmadeart

If giving your devices a fresh coat of paint sounds appealing, this is the simplest way to support the channel. And out of all the wallpaper packs we’ve done so far, this one might be my favorite.