Dear friend,

I think I am currently one of the most productive bloggers on the internet (and the world). I want to share how I do it– and perhaps a little on why I do it.

My definition of productivity

First of all, what is ‘productivity’?

To me, it is simple — producing a lot of [x].

For example, to be “productive” as a blogger means to PRODUCE (create) lots of blog posts. From 2010-2018 I’ve made over 5,000+ blog posts.

Some practical ideas:

1. IA Writer + Markdown

I have written thousands of blog posts in IA WRITER. I write in full screen as well as in “focus mode”.

Also, writing in “markdown” is one of the best ways to be more productive as a blogger. When you’re writing down your ideas, you don’t want to be distracted by formatting. Markdown keeps things minimal.

2. Beats

You gotta find some beats which get you in the zone of writing. For myself, I love hip hop. I’m currently really into Eminem’s “Kamikaze” album, especially his ‘Not Alike’ song. I also use bass-heavy earbuds to get me in the zone.

Or check out BEATS BY KIM >

3. Coffee shop

I also find my best blogging always happens at coffee shops. It doesn’t really matter which coffee shop — whether hipster, or just a local Starbucks.

This is my theory: when you’re at a coffee shop, you actually are more focused, because you have distractions in the background. I believe Nassim Taleb calls this ‘stochastic resonance‘ — having some distractions actually invokes your attention mechanism, which helps you focus more.

4. Powerlifting

This is a big thing — I think I am so productive because I powerlift (heavy “1 rep max” style deadlifting, heavy dumbbell press, squats, and weighted chin-ups and dips).

This is my theory:

To maximize your intellectual strength and productivity, you must be physically strong.

After an intense workout in the morning or afternoon, I get an insane “pump” which powers me throughout the day.

5. Fast typing speed

I think I can type around 140 words per minute. Ever since I was in the 4th grade in Bayside, Queens — I remember getting a “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing” CD-rom, and I learned how to “touch type” at around 11 years old.

I can type very fast, and this helps me very much to blog more. In Elon Musk’s words, I have a faster output of blogging-writing-ideas, because I can type very fast with all 10 of my fingers (instead of just using my two thumbs– which is slower to output information-data).

6. Multi-media

This is another interesting thing I learned: to find inspiration to blog (or things to blog about), engage yourself in “multi-media”.

That means read books, chat with kids, talk with older folks, watch films, watch cinema, watch documentaries, listen to music, watch or listen to podcasts which interest you, consume philosophy, go to art museums, or exhibitions. Study any art– study painting, photography, video, etc.

Be promiscuous. Engage all of your senses– visual, audio, bodily, etc.

7. Satisfice (seek 80% ‘good enough’)

“Don’t worry about achieving perfection. You’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali

A lot of us fall victim to ‘paralysis by analysis’ — we are too obsessed about “perfection” that we end up doing nothing.

The solution is simple: don’t seek perfection. Instead seek to “satisfice” (suffice + satisfy) — which means create something which is “80% good enough” for you. Psychologists call this ‘bounded rationality’ (Gerd Gigerenzer is a good guy to study on the topic).

8. Do all the writing, then edit it later

My suggestion is for blogging, just get all the ideas onto your (digital paper) then add the pictures, links, etc later.

Why do I blog?

For myself, I blog because to me — it is a way I synthesize information for myself (benefit to myself), and it can also help others.

Elon Musk said recently in an interview with Joe Rogan that for him, happiness is “Doing stuff which is useful to other people, that he enjoys doing.”

For myself, I like blogging because it is useful to (some) other people, and it is something I enjoy.

I don’t think everyone ‘should’ blog. Only blog if you enjoy it. I’ve been blogging since I was 15 years old on Xanga (inspired by Maddox). To me, blogging was fun, entertaining, and a good way for me to share my opinions and thoughts on the internet.