I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always know what I’m doing when it comes to programming. When I get stuck, I often turn to Stack Overflow for answers. It’s a great resource for deciphering cryptic error messages, but you do have to be careful about some of the code you get there, as it sometimes goes against “best practices.” However, having access to a whole community in which to ask questions is invaluable to a programmer like me.

Whether it’s working on a new blog post or sharing documents with teammates, Google Drive is my go-to office suite. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office, the ability to easily collaborate is priceless.

I started reading about minimalism a year ago, and my life has changed drastically since then. Minimalism, at its core, is focused on eliminating the excess from your life. It’s about owning only the things that actually bring value to your life and eliminating the distractions of clutter and debt. I’ve thrown away and sold huge piles of items that I just didn’t use all that often. Now, practically everything I own is used regularly and has a purpose. Since getting rid of all my excess stuff, I’m free from the burden of owning stuff, making my life simpler and happier.

I don’t have a favorite type of water bottle, but this is another item that’s always by my side. I consider it to be one of the key parts of my health routine. Having water easily within reach helps me stay hydrated, fills me up to keep me from overeating, and (partially) keeps me away from calorie-filled sodas and juices. I don’t exercise as often as I’d like, but having water nearby all day is the next best thing I can come up with.

There is a ridiculous amount of content being generated on the Internet each day. Feedly is my RSS reader that helps me keep it all organized. Whether it’s on my phone or on my laptop, I feel like I’m always up to date on the latest news.

This is another gadget that’s always by my side. The Fitbit One is an awesome pedometer that keeps track of your sleeping habits, daily steps, and stairs climbed. Since I started wearing it 18 months ago, I’ve taken almost 3 million steps, climbed over 6000 floors, and walked/ran over 1000 miles. I’ve stopped taking the elevator and often find excuses to walk somewhere whenever possible. I even enjoy taking out the trash and checking the mail just to get a few more steps!

As a developer, I need a text editor that can do whatever I can imagine. Sublime Text has been there for me through thick and thin. Whenever I need to search and replace across projects using regular expressions, jot down a quick note, or re-format some nasty text, Sublime Text does the job. It’s myriad of plugins and shortcuts keep me running on all cylinders.

My laptop is both a gaming machine and a workhorse. Its i7 processor and dual graphics cards let me sit back and relax with whatever game I’m addicted to at the moment, plus it doesn’t ever hang when all of my development tools are up and running. I can work from anywhere, at anytime, and there’s rarely a moment when I don’t have my machine within reach.

I love personal finance and Mint.com is my one-stop shop for keeping track of it all. I know exactly where I stand financially, as Mint allows me to determine exactly where my money goes each month. Because of this, I’m able to make much better financial decisions, whether it’s paying off those pesky student loans or saving for goals like travel and retirement.

I’m a major soccer fan, and MLS Live allows me to watch all my favorite teams each weekend (Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, and Seattle Sounders). There is some seriously wicked talent over here in the US, and we’re even attracting some excellent players from overseas. Having the MLS Live package helps me unwind each weekend with hours of excellent soccer.