Products And Tools I Am Using As An Educator, Writer and Video Creator

People have often asked me what products and resources I use daily to make YouTube videos and those tools that help me manage my time for effective results.

Every day, I pick one task that can have more impact and meaning in the literature community if I get it done.

For better efficiency, I depend on high-quality products and resources to make my work more manageable.

Generally, I rely much on technology because it requires less time to get the task done from the software or the gadgets than to hire people and make them work.

Of course, I have my team to get the work done for repeated tasks, but I prefer doing the work alone when it is about creative aspects or providing value to the literary world.

Affordable And Costly Products

I started my journey as a writer and educator with a cheap table and a plastic chair, costing me less than 1000 ₹.

As I progressed in my career, I upgraded my Gadgets. In this post, you will find gadgets that are affordable as well as those that are more costly.

A common mistake is that when we earn more, we get tempted to shop or eat at premium restaurants without considering the long-term implications.

Therefore, as you progress in your career, it is crucial to be mindful of your spending habits.

Take only some of the money at home, and the remaining to purchase books, courses, technology, and hiring people. It will help you achieve financial independence in the long term.

It took years of persistence and discipline to reach a point where I could afford to buy all these products.

The infrastructure I have built fill me with a sense of pride that I came this far in my career.

In the hope that more and more students achieve greatness in their lives, here is list of all the products that I believe the literature enthusiasts find helpful for personal as well as professional use.

Daily Productivity Planner By Tiny Change

The very first thing I do every morning is to write some pages of what I want my day to look like at the end. I create a to-do list and prioritize the most crucial tasks for the day, such as creating a video or writing a blog.

There are other tasks like solving the doubts of the students, team meetings and assigning work to them, etc. Additionally, as I am married, I also have duties towards my family.

The Daily Productivity Planner notebook helps me make the most out of each day. The best thing about it is that I can plan weeks and months and track essential projects, events, expenses, etc.

If you have a lot of things going on in life and want to avoid feeling scattered, you need this product.

Quartet Infinity Glass Desktop Pad

I don’t have a good memory; I have to make a quick note of something I may forget. Therefore, I use a Clean Erase Glass Desktop Pad for quick access. I found it helpful in many ways.

There is a small pull-out drawer to store markers and other accessories. Unfortunately, I got it broken while moving my desk setup to another room. I tried fixing it with a fevi-quick, but it is of no use.

A temporary fix. My bad.

Still even without the little pull-out drawer, I have been using the product for over years now and is 100 percent productive.

10-Minute Hour Glass

It is always the first 10 minutes and the habit of breaking down big goals into smaller ones that keep me engaged in dealing with bigger goals.

If I can stay focused for 10 minutes, I get into the flow and can work for longer hours.

Moreover, there are a lot of challenges as a writer. The topmost is writing long-length blogs like this post.

Even while writing the post, I have used the 10-Minute Hour Glass often.

The 10-minute rule is always practical for the activities I have been putting off or find challenging.

A small investment in 10 Minute Hour Glass has saved me countless hours that could have gone in vain if I had waited for motivation to complete it.

How I Streamlined My Teaching Process At College

When I started teaching in a college as a teaching assistant, preparing lectures was crucial.

As I taught graduate students from different departments such as BA, B.Com, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Law, it was a challenge for me to maintain separate notebooks for each. 

In addition, keeping track of attendance for each class became confusing.

I already had an iPad, a gift I received from my mother.

To make the notemaking process more accessible, I decided to invest in Apple Pencil. I bought it with my first month’s salary. 

The use of iPad and Apple Pencil in creating lectures was game-changing.

1. I created all the notes and stored them in the cloud. 
2. I updated the schedule of my classes on Google Calendar and set reminders to keep me updated about the next period. I could also write quick notes on Google Calendar.  
3. It eliminated the need for multiple notebooks.
4. Digital note-taking also made quick edits and expanded the information on a topic more accessible. 

I purchased the iPad back in 2017. It’s still working as if I bought it yesterday. That is the beauty of Apple Products. It never gets old. 

You can go with the basic one. It works perfectly fine and will help you for years to come.

As you buy an iPad, consider investing in an Apple Pencil to revolutionize your learning or teaching practice.

Shooting Videos

Initially, I used the same iPad to shoot videos, but later, I realized the need for a professional camera.

That’s when I made my first significant investment as an online educator. I bought a Canon G7X Mark II after creating 100+ videos on iPad.

The camera of the iPad is also good but it occupies memory space and takes time to set up on shooting days.

All the products we have discussed before are the basic needs of a student or professional work. Do not think you are extravagant. These are needs; not desires.

Coming back, a good camera is necessary for delivering top-notch video content. For recording audios I used the mic: Boya by MM1 Super-Cardioid Shotgun Microphone

With Canon G7X Mark II, I have created over 450 videos in high-quality 1080p resolution.

To date, I am creating videos from Canon G7X Mark II. Now, better cameras are available if you can spend a little more. Canon G7X Mark II is outdated.

Video Editor As A Beginner

I started creating videos on YouTube in 2020. I learned about the crucial role of video editing to keep the audience engaged.

I came across an IOS application as I searched more on the web. It was LumaFusion. I quickly started working on it. Here, iPad and Apple Pencil again played a significant role in video editing. 

iPad’s processing power is impressive, and it renders video with ease.

On the other hand, Apple Pencil helped make precise cuts and overall video editing experience. I used the Lumafusion for a year before upgrading to a desktop setup. 

With the help of these two products, I reached the first 5000 subscribers on Limitless Literature. With the use of iPad and Apple Pencil, I edited over 100 videos.

After five years, I still use these products for note-making and many other ways. 

Chromebook

Not only did I save money for an Apple Pencil from my first teaching job, but I also bought a laptop. It cost me the sum of thirty-five thousand rupees.

Laptop is a must-have tool for both students and working professionals to access research papers, blogs, software, etc.

Now, there are good laptops in the same range. You can even go for advanced technology like Chromebook.

Tripod

The camera I purchased broke my pocket, so I was delaying buying a tripod for the next month.

It was when my sister learned about my newfound passion for creating videos for YouTube she gifted me a tripod on my birthday. Until then, I improvised by placing the camera on my bookshelf to shoot videos.

It’s funny how we think we did everything on our own, but when I look back at my career, I could not have reached here without the roles that students, friends, and family had played.

I have been using the same tripod, Digitek DTR 550 LW, for years now, and it is the same as fresh out of the box. 

Desk Setup

With each upgrade, I found that investing in tools and technology can significantly impact office productivity.

As I added more technology, I had to spend less time completing a task, allowing me to focus more on making an impact and meaning in the literature world.

This new world of technology was eye-opening for me. I can streamline my work process with greater ease now. I decided to invest in a complete desk setup.

It took me two years to acquire all the products listed below. These gadgets have enhanced what I can accomplish throughout my work day.

Ergonomic Chair

A separate headline is needed on this topic. Many people overlook the importance of a chair.

I was one of them to experience the impact of the wrong chair.

The chairs I purchased initially looked comfortable in design, but after sitting on them for a few hours, I experienced severe back pain. I could not work for more than a few hours on them.

It was not I was spending less on the office chairs. Those wrong ones also cost me between five and seven thousand rupees.

Then I searched for more chairs and found Green Soul’s Ergonomic Chair. Yes, the same one that is popular among the YouTubers.

There is a reason behind this. It’s not like a scam or flowing with the water that everyone wants to get the product.

It genuinely offers excellent support and provides the comfort I was looking for. Even after two years of using the chair, I can still sit for 7-8 hours without any discomfort.

In addition, its height, back, and arms are adjustable, making it perfect and my favorite chair of all time.

If you do not want to go with the gaming chair, do extensive research before you buy it for yourself. Spending time on picking the right will save money and overall well-being. In case you want to go with Green Soul.

Studio-Light Setup

An often neglected tool by beginners in content creation is studio lighting. I have also made this mistake in the past. It wasn’t until after creating 200+ videos I eventually decided to invest in studio lights. I was surprised to find how it immediately enhanced the video quality.

Earlier, I thought I needed to update my camera as it produced dull-quality videos. Little did I know, the missing piece was not a better camera but studio lights.

There were three reasons why I was ignoring the studio setup:

1. Lack of awareness about the importance of studio lights. I later realized that even an average camera can produce high-quality videos with proper lighting.
2. I was overwhelmed by the different choices available on the internet. Later, I found a good ring light, which I needed as a beginner. 
3. “Studio Lighting Setup” These words always horrified me, and so I was not confident about installing lighting set up.

I blame the Indian Education System for not teaching practical skills. It is not only about studio setup, but in every aspect, the education system has limitations.

Placing an order of Ring Light from Amazon and setting it up behind the camera as a key light was a simple task I always hesitated.

It has been years since I have been using Digitek LED Ring Light. You can check it here.

Green Screen

Green Screen is another important tool to elevate productions to a whole new level. I have created many videos on YouTube with the help of a green screen.

I even used it to create videos for the Limitless Literature UGC-NET English Literature Course, which we provide only to course subscribers.

What I liked about the green screen is:

1. You do not have to worry about the actual physical background. Whether it is an untidy and small room or even an open space, you can use a green screen and try different locations to find the perfect fit for your content.
2. It’s easy to install but requires proper lighting to separate the speaker from the green background. All the popular YouTubers like Dhruv Rathi or Ravish Kumar use green screens to elevate video production.
3. It is cheaper than investing money in renovating a room, which may involve new furniture interior design.

I have recently moved from my hometown in Rajasthan to a new city. The green screen allowed me to create the same video production quality. So it is portable enough to carry from one place to another.