Basecamp, iPhoneless walks and naps — These are Aarati Kasturirangan’s Work Hacks

Sometimes, ya gotta just take a midday nap to kickstart those creative juices.

For this round of Work Hacks, we chatted with Aarati Kasturirangan, director of programs at Bread & Roses Community Fund, which funds grassroots social justice projects by pooling individual donations from donors of all levels.

Besides being an ardent support of naps, Kasturirangan is an active community organizer and the mom of two youngsters. Here’s how she stays motivated and sane while juggling multiple projects at once.

###

What’s the first thing you do every day before doing any job-related work?

Snuggle with my husband and kids.

Where do you work? Coffee shops, home office, company office?

I work out of our lovely office in The Philadelphia Building.

What’s your KPI for every day? How do you know it’s been a productive day?

I am juggling so many projects. I feel good when I add tasks to Basecamp, the project management platform we use. That way I know things are not getting lost in the shuffle.

What’s your preferred workday soundtrack?

Bob Marley and Concrete Jungle.

What’s a time-saving life hack you practice?

I set my clothes out for the gym every night so I can’t use that as an excuse to not go in the morning.

What motivates you about your work?

I believe in the power of community organizing to make systems-level change. The people we fund are building a vision for a more just world. I want to be part of that.

When life gets busy, how do you make sure you make time for your personal priorities?

I try to walk places a lot. That helps me to slow down and breathe and allows me space to think. It’s hard to look at your iPhone when you’re walking (also dangerous — I cracked my head on a telephone pole once doing that). Plus, you never know what fun new thing you will stumble upon when walking! New restaurants, parks to take my kids to, the secrets of the city unfold …

What tool or practice do you wish existed to help you get it all done?

I wish we could implement daily naptime in our society. It happens in other parts of the world. When I take a nap, everything seems possible. But it’s so hard to make that time happen.