Discover the Inspiring Work Habits and Productivity Secrets of Sergey Kaplichny

Sergey Kaplichny shared with Lifehacker his thoughts on the downsides of remote work, productivity hacks inspired by Chinese traditions, his reading habits, and a personal list of 100 new activities he has never tried before.

Sergey Kaplichny

Copywriter, blogger, and entrepreneur. Graduated from the Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University. He has also taught English at the Ural Federal University.

What does your work involve?

My main responsibilities include reading a lot of books and writing numerous articles.

Knowledge means little if it isn’t applied and shared with others.

Each copywriter at our publishing house studies 3 to 6 books monthly and writes articles for external platforms. I also create posts for our corporate blog, manage the "Literary Habits" column, and handle the Twitter and Telegram channels for our publishing house. Occasionally, I prepare newsletters for our subscribers and design promotional pages for our website.

From this work, I developed my own project called "Multireader". It’s a monthly subscription box containing books and themed gifts, which I update regularly and send to our readers. The selection includes books from our publishing house and others, including fiction and children’s literature.

How do you read many books and retain what you’ve read?

The simplest way to read more is to schedule dedicated reading times. For example, I have two daily recurring tasks: 30 minutes of reading in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. Mornings are for business literature, and evenings for fiction.

Spending just 15–20 minutes reading morning and evening allows you to finish 3–4 books per month.

From every book, I try to extract at least one idea and immediately apply it. Here are some examples:

• "Remote: Office Not Required" helped me realize I made the right choice by rejecting an office job and pursuing remote work.
• "Scrum: How to Work Twice as Much in Half the Time" inspired my girlfriend and me to adopt Scrum, boosting our productivity and quality time together.
• "Visual Notes in Practice" encouraged me to sketch daily memorable moments, a habit I had wanted to start for a long time.
• "Show Your Work!" motivated me to launch my newsletter.
• "The $100 Startup" led me to create the "Multireader" project.

What does your workspace look like?

Everyone at our publishing house works remotely, so my workspace is wherever I am feeling productive. The "Multireader" project also doesn’t require a fixed location.

The essentials are a sharp mind and a laptop.

I used an 11-inch MacBook Air for three years, which was perfect for traveling. Earlier this year, I upgraded to a 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina. It’s a bit larger but has a significantly better screen and battery life.

My phone is an iPhone 6S Plus. Despite the odd name, the device is excellent.

I organize my smartphone screens into three: the first for financial apps I use most, the second for entertainment, and the third for travel and city life utilities.

I rarely make calls but frequently read books, write short texts, and take photos on my phone.

I prefer e-books for convenience during travel. I used to use a Kindle Paperwhite but switched to reading mostly on my iPhone via iBooks for English books and Bookmate for fiction.

For reading on my MacBook, I use the default PDF viewer.

After attending a training by Maxim Dorofeev, author of the "Jedi Techniques" method, I completely changed my approach to email and adopted the zero inbox method.

I write drafts in iA Writer, then edit and transfer them to Google Docs for publishing or further processing.

While working, I usually listen to Apple Music playlists or Chillhop online radio, which I find perfect for productivity.

How do you continue learning and stay inspired?

I regularly watch TED talks and take various courses. While Coursera didn’t suit me, I enjoy Skillshare, where I’ve completed around 30 lessons on diverse topics—from content marketing tips to creating Instagram photo notes.

I also use Google’s Primer app for quick, concise learning materials.

I frequently change my desktop and phone wallpapers, choosing from Smashing Magazine’s monthly curated images by global designers.

Do you still use paper in your work?

After university, I decided to avoid paper since I type faster than I write, and my handwriting isn’t great.

However, over the past three years, I’ve gradually returned to paper. Sometimes my girlfriend and I spend 15 minutes drawing in notebooks, listing three pleasant things that happened during the day. It’s a great way to remember positive moments and relax.

What do you carry in your bag?

Once, I traveled across Europe for a whole month with just a small backpack. To buy something new, I had to get rid of an old item first. It was an excellent experience.

Since then, packing for any trip means taking only my passport and laptop; everything else is secondary.

How do you manage your time?

In my second year at university, I started looking for online jobs. My first remote gig was translating articles from English. I quickly experienced the challenges of working from home.

I was easily distracted, missed deadlines, and procrastinated. To overcome this, I studied time management systems.

I tried everything from notebooks to apps like Remember the Milk, Google Tasks, and Wunderlist. Eventually, I settled on Things, which suits me best in logic, design, and speed.

I jot down new ideas in an "Inbox" folder, which I review at the end of the day. This helps avoid mental clutter by recording thoughts immediately and revisiting them later.

I experimented with working at night, shifting tasks to evenings, and working with frequent breaks. I found that mornings are my most productive time. I wake up at 6:00 a.m. and either start working or go to the gym if scheduled.

Every day I make a to-do list. Complex tasks are broken into projects and tackled step-by-step. I review accomplishments daily and weekly, adjusting plans accordingly.

I schedule meetings and discussions for the afternoon when my energy dips.

During a five-month stay in China last year, I adopted several local habits.

For example, after lunch, people take naps—even in cafes or offices where they use folding beds and pillows. It looks amusing but is effective.

Chinese people also carry water containers everywhere and drink frequently. Even police officers have special holders for small thermoses on their belts.

Now, I drink water regularly and take 20–40 minute naps after lunch, which helps me quickly recharge and feel refreshed.

What are your hobbies?

Several years ago, I created a list of 100 things I had never tried, calling it my "Lifelist." I shared it on my blog and began completing the items, which shaped many of my interests.

• Hiked 50 kilometers on foot.
• Learned to make falafel.
• Disconnected from the internet for a week.
• Rode a motorcycle.
• Learned to snowboard.
• Mastered Photoshop.
• Remained silent for three days and accomplished many postponed tasks.

Whenever I have free time, I pick an unfinished item from the list and work on it. It’s rewarding to see others follow my example; hundreds have created their own lists and are growing personally.

What role does sports play in your life?

Three years ago, I joined a gym. A friend helped design a program, and I trained with weights three times a week, enjoying the routine.

However, frequent travel led to long breaks between workouts, so I sought alternatives.

I discovered Freeletics, an app offering hundreds of bodyweight exercises. It’s perfect for remote workers and travelers since workouts require no equipment or gym visits.

I trained with Freeletics in various cities, including Yekaterinburg, Bender in Transnistria, and Shenzhen, China.

This year, I decided to try something new and took up boxing. I didn’t expect it to be so challenging and engaging. It requires intense training and constant strategic thinking to anticipate opponents’ moves.

Sergey Kaplichny’s Lifehacks

To Lifehacker readers, I recommend reading books, growing continuously, creating exciting projects, and inspiring others.

Here are some fiction books to get started:

• "101 Reykjavik" by Hallgrímur Helgason. I first read this over seven years ago after watching the film. The author’s mastery of language is astounding. The book is rare, and I once traveled to Iceland to buy it in English.
• "Froth on the Daydream" by Boris Vian. A poignant novel also adapted into a remarkable film. The wordplay fascinated me, though the sad story is deeply moving.
• "More Than Ben" by Sergey Sakin and Pavel Tetersky. A cult classic about two charming troublemakers in 1990s London, featuring light drugs, shoplifting, harmless scams, robotic English life, and tests of friendship—all with great humor.
• "Pollyanna" by Eleanor Porter. One of the kindest books I’ve read. Young orphan Pollyanna teaches her stern aunt and everyone around her to find joy in everything. It’s inspiring to apply Pollyanna’s "glad game" to real life.
• "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. A timeless classic I reread at least once a year, always discovering new insights.

For business literature, I’d include these in an exclusive book box:

• "Remote: Office Not Required" by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. This book was my gateway to remote work. I had tried freelancing before but fully embraced it after reading this.
• "Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way" by John Parkin. A straightforward guide to embracing zen by letting go. One of the best self-help books thanks to the author’s relatable style.
• "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative" by Austin Kleon. A bible for creatives with invaluable advice.
• "The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter" by Meg Jay. This book helped me answer important questions. Though aimed at 20-30-year-olds, it’s useful for many.
• "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. Helped me understand and accept my introverted nature and develop my strengths. Great for self-reflection.

*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are banned in Russia.

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