Productivity Tools for Network Engineers: What’s in Your Toolbox?

In the world of network engineering, staying organized isn't just helpful, it's essential. Between managing complex projects, documenting troubleshooting steps, and constantly learning new technologies, engineers juggle more digital clutter than ever. That’s why, in our latest episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff 🛠️💬 and Jeff Clark crack open their personal toolkits to share how they stay organized and productive.

The Reality of Digital Chaos

Andy kicked things off by sharing a relatable truth: even after years of refining workflows, organization nirvana often feels just out of reach. Engineers everywhere suffer from a common challenge: important information scattered across post-its, notebooks, OneNote tabs, and dozens of browser tabs. What’s the fix? Tools that bring order to the chaos without becoming a burden themselves.

Kanban for Engineers: Asana in Action

Enter Asana. Andy gave us a peek behind the scenes at how he uses it to manage podcast production. Inspired by Agile and Dev workflows, Asana’s Kanban-style boards help visualize each episode’s journey from “idea” to “complete.” By organizing tasks into swimlanes (like Show Ideas → Recorded → Editing → Completed), nothing gets lost in the shuffle. Bonus: subtasks, links, bios, and due dates live right inside each card.

Beyond Proprietary: Markdown & Obsidian

Jeff brought a fresh take with Markdown-based notetaking. Frustrated by the limitations of OneNote (especially when switching jobs), he migrated to Obsidian, a lightweight, local-first tool that works with plain-text Markdown files. Why? Portability, flexibility, and the ability to keep notes searchable, shareable, and usable in any editor. For engineers tired of vendor lock-in, this shift could be a game-changer.

Visual Thinking: Mind Mapping Tools

Some engineers think in bullet points, others in branching diagrams. Andy showcased how mind maps help him clarify everything from marketing strategies at work to navigating YouTube’s convoluted channel transfer process. These tools are ideal for seeing how ideas interconnect and are perfect for visualizing complex systems or workflows.

Taming the Task List: Microsoft To Do

What good is a great idea if you forget to act on it? Andy’s solution: a “Brain Dump” list and a “Top 3” daily priority list using Microsoft To Do. This minimalist approach prevents overwhelm and keeps focus tight. Rather than juggling five different task systems, everything funnels into one place, with just three must-do items highlighted each day.

The Unsung Heroes: Deskpad & Rectangle

Screen real estate is another overlooked frontier. With an ultra-wide monitor, Andy relies on Deskpad and Rectangle to carve up his screen into zones, keeping comms, notes, and work in their respective places. Clean layout = clear mind.

Takeaway: Productivity Is Personal

There’s no one-size-fits-all system. Some engineers thrive in task boards, others in bullet journals or Markdown files. The key is to experiment until you find a setup that aligns with your workflow and thinking style.

🎧 Missed the episode? Catch “Tech Tidying: Sanity Saving Apps” on your favorite podcast platform or watch the visual breakdown on YouTube. Want to share your favorite productivity tool? Hit us up on Discord—we’re always looking for new tricks to try.