You don't know what you don't know... until you do.
It's both humbling making new discoveries in your 40's - feeling like, "how the hell did I not find out about this sooner??"... and stoked. That perplexing blend of feeling like I'm slow & uber late to the party, at the same time as having just stumbled into some kind of elite knowledge that makes life all the more smooth, enjoyable, and empowered.
There's been these moments in recent months as discovering what a difference shortcut & workflow customizations can make on computer.
Yeah, this may sound like some boring technical stuff. But when diving in, it really starts feeling more like a seriously overlooked life hack...
First, came the Logitech MX 3 Master Mouse.
It'd been on my radar for a while, but I put it off for years, rationalizing that the Apple Trackpad used with my iMacPro did the job well. I can't remember if it was the occasional sore hand or what that tipped me over the edge to finally buy it, but damn. Money well spent.
While the horizontal & vertical scroll wheels duplicate basic functions on the Trackpad, adding in extra buttons... wow. And not just extra buttons... but that you can fully customize their function - both globally and on a per-app basis. And the "gestures" - holding down the thumb button while moving the mouse up/down/left/right. And recently, the "Action Ring" - programmable to a button of your choice, which opens a popup with 8 programmable shortcuts.
For my music workflows in Ableton... zooming and undo/redo done hella quick with the thumb. Opening/closing browser with a single button on top. Open specific plugin instances or bring in new ones with action ring Seemingly small functions... that totally transform the workflow.
For web browsing... open & close tabs with gesture up & down, switch between tabs left & right. Back & forward pages with thumb. Opening most commonly used websites via bookmarks in the Action Ring, open with a click of the top scroll wheel. Lightning fast. Smooth. Flowy.
Ya don't know until ya know.
Next, came BetterTouchTool.
Hot damn.
I was getting nicely used to the customization of the MX3, and once picked up a Macbook Air, finding my intuitive flow stunted without the same shortcuts. Somehow, ChatGPT ended nudging me towards BTT... and game over.
At first, I was just using it for further customization of the trackpad. Creating different shortcuts & functions from single, double, and hard-force clicks from the trackpad's corners or double/triple taps with 2/3/4 fingers. The amount of customization done there alone is staggering.
Then, I got into some of the keyboard shortcuts. Assigning website bookmarks to a key combo. Sidebar in ChatGPT app open/close. And omg... the difference to workflow in Ableton when can close a plugin instance with a simple hit of the esc key rather than have to click on the small x icon with mouse. Low-key life-changing. For real.
I probably haven't even begun to scratch the surface with this mouse & software. But wow.
For decades, I never even thought about this type of customization. Just used what came out of the box and you had to work with, and adjusted.
But somehow, cracking open to this kind of workflow customization... it isn't even just the workflows itself that changed, but something internally. Like, it feels kinda to have activated a new part of the creative brain to keep asking, how else could I do things differently? What could I refine the customization of next?
And unveiling those answers - receiving an "ah ha" of how to tweak the computer setup to do something entirely new, and actually doing it... simple yet powerful satisfaction. (Which far surpasses that of any quick dopamine hits got from scrolling social media.
To make your workstation your own by creating these small upgrades to workflow... damn man, it's dope.
On the surface, it might just seem like some geeky technical computer stuff. But once in, acting on, it... kinda feels more like life architecture. The application of these little things in a workflow, creativity in motion as sculpting your life experience customized to your own detailed preferences.
Art can take many forms.
So... seeds planted.
I get how this type of customization may not be for everyone.
But if you spend a fair amount of time on your computer, especially using programs where there are repeated processes you do integral to your work and/or creative endeavors, I'd highly recommend considering upgrading your toolkit with stuff like Logitech's MX Master Mouse (which is now on v4 and currently on sale) and/or BetterTouchTool.
And if ya do, I hope you have as much fun with them as I have... 😎🥂