236 - Alexander Sandberg

Alexander Sandberg is a a self-taught, product-minded iOS and macOS Developer with a background in web development and product design.

By day he is an iOS Developer at Practice where he is helping build a tool to help individuals run their entire coaching businesses from one place.

He also just released Balance, a time tracking app with focus on work-life balance.

Twitter → twitter.com/alexandberg

Items:

• Monitor: Apple Studio Display with VESA mount and Standard glass
• Monitor arm: Ergotron LX‍
• Desk: Customized Modulor T Tisch (130x80 cm) with an additional desk drawer‍
• Desk mat: Random felt mat from Etsy
• Chair: Herman Miller Aeron‍
• Laptop: Apple 14” MacBook Pro (base model)
• Keyboard: Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID‍
• Trackpad: Apple Magic Trackpad‍
• Microphone: Shure MV7 with a Shure RK345 windscreen
• Headphones: Sennheiser HD 660S‍
• Wooden animals: Kay Bojesen‍
• Plant: Bird of Paradise
  

Most used apps and tools:

• Safari (main browser)
• Xcode (development)
• iTerm (development)
• VS Code (development)
• Figma (design)
• Balance (work-life balance)
• Things (to-dos)
• Linear (project management)
• Notion (project management, notes)
• iCal (personal calendar)
• Cron (work calendar)
• Slack (communication)
• Google Meet (video calls)
• Tiny Softbox (light for video calls)
• Spotify (music)

What is your favorite item in your workspace?

The plant on my desk, which was a gift from my girlfriend. It really brings the workspace to life. It’s a Bird of Paradise and her name is Baby Brie—named after our 2-meter-tall one, Brie, in the living room. You will have to wait for our AD Magazine feature to see that one though!

How do you spark creativity?

I believe a great way to spark creativity is by being bored. Boredom activates your mind and it becomes creative. However, nowadays, there’s always something around to entertain you. If we’re always fleeing to social media and the like, there’s no space for creativity to flourish.

To spark creativity, I try to encourage boredom in my everyday life. For instance, instead of taking out my phone while waiting for the elevator, I try to let my mind wander. It's not always that easy though.

How do you manage work-life balance?

Funny you ask—I’m actually working on an app to help with that called Balance.

I’ve been working from home since the pandemic started, but struggled with finding a good balance. I often spent long, uninterrupted sessions at the computer where I forgot to take breaks—and eat even.

Balance recently launched after being in beta for a few months and I’m overwhelmed by the attention it has gotten. It seems like I’m not the only one needing an app like this!

I’ve also recently started with a computer-free day on the weekend, which has been really nice. It gives me time for other hobbies and things that I otherwise rarely make time for, like reading, building puzzles, and redecorating the home office.