About The Productive Magpie

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Build a nest that works for you.

Productivity gurus often preach rigid systems. They want you to pledge allegiance to a specific methodology, whether it’s Getting Things Done, Bullet Journaling, or Building a Second Brain.

I respect those systems. I’ve read the books, taken the courses, and tried the methods. But I’ve learned that no single system holds all the answers.

I am a Magpie.

A magpie doesn’t follow a blueprint. It sees something shiny that works, takes it, and arranges it into a chaotic masterpiece that actually functions. It builds a nest suited for its own specific environment.

What to Expect

The Productive Magpie is a weekly newsletter dedicated to finding the “shiny objects” that make life easier. I act as a curator and an experimenter, filtering through the noise to find tools and ideas that stick.

You can expect:

• App Reviews: Real-world testing of tools like TickTick, Todoist, Obsidian, Craft, Notion, Apple Notes, Canva, and any new contenders.

• Workflows: We all have great apps, but they rarely talk to each other. I share specific workflows that bridge the gaps between your favorite tools.

• Book Reviews: Summaries and takeaways from the books I’m reading.

• General Curiosities: Anything helpful or interesting that catches my eye.

Who Am I?

I’m Tucker Chastain. I work full-time as a Creative Media Specialist and have written online for over a decade. I am also a husband and a father to four children.

I don’t have time to maintain a “perfect” productivity system for the sake of aesthetics. I need things that work in the cracks of a busy schedule.

I started this project to document what works for me, in hopes that you can steal a few shiny objects for your own nest.

Join the Flock

I post weekly (hopefully more often eventually). Subscribe to get the best tools and tips delivered straight to your inbox. Let’s build something that works.