by the way

I (also) started an Instagram blog! Not sure exactly what kinds of posts I'll want to make in the future — maybe men's fashion, fitness, lifestyle, and/or tech-related stuff — but for now, I'm reviewing some of my favorite new album releases. If you're interested, feel free to follow @mellytalksabout.

A little over a month ago, I came across an ad for Brick, a productivity app for iPhone that pairs with a physical device to prevent distractions. Being a productivity junkie myself, and having been underwhelmed by Apple's native App Limits feature for some time, it was an obvious pickup.

The device itself is a 3D-printed "brick" with an NFC tag inside. After selecting apps to allow, you tap your phone against the Brick to enter "bricked" mode. This blocks all other apps, even preventing the bypasses that are built into the App Limits feature (i.e. "Ignore Limit For Today"). To "unbrick" your phone, simply tap your phone against the Brick again and all apps become useable. The idea is that the Brick is the "key" to your distracting apps that you leave in one location as you go about your day.

Even just a few weeks into using my Brick, my screen time has been cut in half and I feel noticeably less distracted during the day. I tap my Brick every morning on my way out of my apartment, and *boom*, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are no longer at my fingertips until I get home. Despite Brick's lack of convenient features like integrating with Focus and providing detailed analytics, I'm sure that the team is already hard at work on these features and more.

Altogether, using my Brick reminds me of something my high-school chemistry teacher used to say: "Whatever job you do, do it with your phone off ◡̈".

I received this advice from my manager on my very first day working as an intern: "Be ambitious". Over time, it has really resonated with me, applying far beyond just the office. This advice has motivated me to set bold goals for myself, be the hardest-working person I know, and pursue opportunities even if they seem out of reach.

To whoever needs this, I know you can do the same.

Here’s my six-month review of the 2021 iPad Pro that nobody asked for:

I love it.

There’s a certain feeling that comes with handwriting notes, and it helps me better retain information. At the same time, typed notes are often more organized and of higher quality, leveraging the suite of tools within apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. The iPad succeeds at providing both key features: handwritten note-taking and the digital tools to elevate it.

Using the iPad Pro has truly changed my life as a student. I walk to class with nothing but my laptop and iPad in my backpack, making cross-campus trips easier. My notes are better than ever, complete with images, annotated lecture slides, screenshots of textbook pages, and an assortment of colors, pens, and highlights. I can also use my iPad as a second screen when using my laptop, playing videos or displaying notes to improve my productivity.

As long as I take care of it, I can see myself using my iPad far beyond college and into my professional life.

What tech has transformed your day-to-day?

Just wanted to romanticize my workspace for this upcoming summer. I think it's pretty cool.

After years of putting it off, I finally got around to buying my first vinyl record and starting a collection.

A couple of friends and I spent the day walking around Princeton, and as we were about to drive home, we realized that we had parked next to a local record exchange. Curious, we stepped inside the quaint, retro-inspired store and immediately noticed the aisles of crates packed with vinyl from all different eras and genres of music. I probably flipped through over a hundred records before landing on one of my favorite hip-hop releases: Imperial by Denzel Curry. Of course I bought it.

Now, as I format the <p> tags for what I hope will be a long-term blog, this album is playing in the background. While I’m still in search of the perfect turntable and speakers to hear the “crisp, warm” quality that audiophiles preach comes with vinyl, Spotify will cut it for now.

There's something so special about vinyl records (and physical media in general). They're nostalgic and cozy. There's no Instagram notifications interrupting the listening experience. And it's fun to own the music you listen to and connect with your favorite artists in a unique way. I'm really excited to grow my collection, and I can't wait to always have a record playing at home.