LIVING A LITTLE requires time for reflection, especially when it comes to finishing another trip around the sun.

Ahead, you’ll learn my BEST OF 2024—from my TRAVEL GEAR OF THE YEAR to the workout hacks, books, and entertainment that left an impression.

POST SUMMARY

• THE TRAVEL GEAR OF THE YEAR

• THE WORKOUT HACKS

• THE BOOKS

• THE ENTERTAINMENT

• THE LIVE A LITTLE MOMENTS

And how can I forget to mention the LIVE A LITTLE moments? There were plenty, but I’ve pulled a few to share that made life that much sweeter.

It would be awesome if we could get a thread of favorite gear and top moments in the comments below.

Let’s LIVE A LITTLE more, together, in 2025.

THE TRAVEL GEAR OF THE YEAR

A big part of LIVING A LITTLE is seeing the world, and nothing gives me more satisfaction ahead of a trip than having my travel gear on point.

Ask anyone who’s dropped me off at an airport in the past year, and they’ll say my TRAVEL GEAR OF THE YEAR is spot on. My travel gear philosophy starts with layers you can peel off, beautifully broken-in jeans, and comfortable boots that make more sense to wear than to stuff into a carry-on.

Inside my plane bag, there’s my dopp kit with my scents and watches (I like to take 3 watches with me on longer trips). Then, I’ve got my notebooks, chargers, shades, and small books/notebooks. Follow to the bottom right corner, and you’ll notice my gaming mouse. Yes, my gaming mouse is my biggest hack for getting work and writing done while traveling (I bring my laptop with me nearly everywhere I go, but that doesn’t need to be illustrated above).

The gaming mouse is an accessory my brother bought me about 6 years ago, and I’ve used one ever since. It helps keep my fingers from getting locked up, and it gives me blazing speed for writing, building product layouts, and surfing the web. Did I mention the gaming mouse looks cool when cord-connected to my laptop as I write at a freshly discovered coffee house?

THE GOOD STUFF

• Carhartt x ‘47 Brand MLB Hat (Price Varies)

• Garrett Leight Kinney Sun Shades ($385)

• Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket ($239)

• TravisMathew Cloud Waffle Crew ($129)

• Levi’s 541 Athletic Taper Premium ($98)

• Blundstone Boots #1609 Antique Brown ($199)

• Field Notes National Parks 3-Pack ($15)

• G-2 Pen Set of 12 ($14)

• Anker 633 Wireless Charger Kickstand ($55)

• Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L ($229)

• Peak Design Mobile Wallet ($49)

• Evergoods Civic Access Pouch 0.5L ($42)

• Glorious Model D Gaming Mouse ($33)

• Dark Energy Parachord Charger Cable ($28)

• Apple AirPods Max ($549)

• Le Labo Patchouli 24 ($107)

• Seiko 5 Sports SKX Series SRPE57 ($295)

• Omega Moonswatch Mission to Moon ($270)

• Coros Pace 3 Eliud Kipchoge Edition ($249)

• Education of a Wandering Man by Louie L’Amour ($8)

Note: I do not make any affiliate dollars off my links.

THE WORKOUT HACKS

In the spring, I got a kick out of creating cringe workout hype videos with AI. This vid above is one of those AI generated clips. I sent it to a few friends. This is the first time I’m passing it to the public. Is JT missing a few brain cells? Yes, probably yes.

But I’m a firm believer in learning to laugh at yourself and entertain yourself—especially during workouts that kick your ass.

I’d run a few miles around Riverside Park in the Upper West Side, then finish at this turf field where I’d stretch and knock out a bunch of burpees. I’d aim for 100 total in sets of 10-15 at a time.

Here are my other workout hacks I discovered in 2024.

Men’s Health 4-Week Chest Program

One of the many perks when I was writing at Men’s Health was access to all the downloadable workout content. I found this chest program at the beginning of the year, and I pretty much repeated it all the way through for several months. It gave me a great base of strength and helped me change up my lifts—which made me more excited and curious about my workouts for a period of time.

Kettlebells Are Awesome

From the chest program, I learned you can get solid results with kettlebell lifts. Not only did I build muscle, but I also found myself breaking a sweat by the end of my workout. I wanted to know more, so I went on a deep dive on kettlebell workouts and hit those a ton all the way into the summer.

• Favorite Kettlebell Lift: Gorilla Row

I’m not on kettlebells as hardcore as I was for the first half of the year, but now I know that if I see kettlebells inside a gym, I can knockout an awesome workout.

No Headphones Wave

Someone in Austin told me you run faster when you don’t wear headphones. I decided to give it a try, and, lo and behold, I’m running like 2 minutes faster on my 2 mile runs.

So now I’m running and walking outside with no headphones. It’s refreshing on my mind—therapeutic in a way. It also feels good not having any headphones trapping sweat in my ear canal.

I usually run 3 miles tops, so I haven’t tried zero headphones for longer distances. But, for short runs, I’m loving the no headphones wave and hope to continue it as I aim for longer distances here in 2025.

THE BOOKS

I wrote an entire article on my favorite books of 2024, and I hope to give more recommendations through 2025. (It helps keep me accountable to stick to regular reading too).

Reminder:

LIVING A LITTLE requires embracing curiosity as a way of life—and few things feed that hunger better than a good book.

Go check out that article here to get all the links + my thoughts on what I loved about each book.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

A mix of my favorite movies and TV I vividly remember watching (or re-watching). Not pictured are 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, where I watched them on back-to-back nights the second week living in Austin.

• Master and Commander

• Daisy Jones & the Six

• Shōgun

• A Complete Unknown

• Reggie

• Parts Unknown: Far West Texas

• Interstellar

• Nuclear Now

• Lawrence of Arabia

THE LIVE A LITTLE MOMENTS

Some of my favorite memories in 2024 that reminded me to stop and smell the roses.

• First time at Wrigley Field, pictured with my brother. We visited Chicago to celebrate my Dad’s 60th birthday. I’m a huge baseball fan.

• Fishing trip in Charleston, SC. I fell in love with the nature in Charleston and enjoyed staying out at Isle of Palms.

• At Jones Beach Ampitheatre in Long Island, where I saw Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, and Lukas Nelson all in one night. (Willie sadly had the flu and needed to take the night off.)

• When in Austin, do as the Austin-ites do. I checked out the Comedy Mothership and had a damn good time. It compares just as well as many of NYC’s best comedy clubs.

• Watching Messi play for the first time at the Copa America in Atlanta. I’m still learning to enjoy soccer. I was a total bandwagon fan and bought a jersey at the game.

• Making a huge pivot in my career and moving across the country to work at Huckberry—2024’s greatest blessing to me.

Now that’s what I call LIVING A LITTLE, brother.

THANKS FOR READING

Cheers to the year ahead.

Let’s LIVE A LITTLE more, together, in 2025.

JT