How I Work

This post mainly concerns those wondering in what conditions/what tools help me work most efficiently. As I've shared in the past, I'm self-taught and my education falls on my shoulders so I've had a lot of experience with finding a daily routine and figuring out what works best for me.

Location: Burbank, CA
Current gig: High school student.
Current mobile device: Galaxy S6
Current computer: Microsoft ThinkPad
One word that best describes how you work: Strategically.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Trello, Google Keep, Adobe.
What’s your workspace like?
I like to move around when I work, if I get too comfortable in one spot it's easier for me to lose focus and grow lazy. But when I'm assigned a specific place it's always decluttered and I only have the essentials with me.
What’s your best time-saving trick?
I'm one of those rare people that genuinely enjoys being busy, but even I can have too much to finish before a deadline. I always plan my time starting with getting the most important tasks done first. Prioritizing is how I save time and it ends up preventing a lot of stress too.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
I like to use Trello for pretty much everything, but I also see nothing wrong with just using a notebook.
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?
Nothing comes to mind that may be usual or unique, but I definitely don't know what I would do without my yearly planner. I keep it detailed and organized so I always know what my schedule looks like.
What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?
I do a pretty good job at making sure I'm eating healthy and for the right purpose. I tend to get tired in the afternoon so I make sure to drink oolong or green tea to keep me energized and ready to work. I usually know what I'm going to eat ahead of time so I have less to worry about.
What are you currently reading?
On Writing Well by William Zinsser, The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Moon Hunters by Jeffrey Kluger, and 1984 by George Orwell.
What do you listen to while you work?
I only allow myself one or two different albums while I'm working. I'll keep it on shuffle for a few days until it becomes distracting, then I switch to something else. It's usually an album within the post-punk genre but it can be anything as long as it keeps me focused and "in the zone". (I'm currently shuffling Turn On The Bright Lights by Interpol.)
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
I'm actually ambivert but I'm slightly more introverted. My personality goes in and out of fazes over a course of a few days. One day I may need to be around people and be in conversations, the next day I might need to be alone or a bit more reserved. 
What’s your sleep routine like?
I suffer slightly with insomnia and fall asleep around two or three in the morning. I wake up at 7:00 every day and 6:00 on weekends. Getting four to five hours of sleep per night doesn't affect me as much as you may think, I stay pretty well energized throughout the day.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Always be thankful for your fears and troubled times, they make you become a better you. This is advice that many people in my life have shared with me and it's helped me become more of a fighter.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
A lot of people think since I'm a musician I shouldn't listen to music as I'm working because it's distracting. But I always know the music helped when I finish my work and realize it stopped playing a long time ago.