Head Strong
How I Keep It Together
How the National Geographic photographer and co-founder of ocean-conservation agency SeaLegacy manages his mind and keeps his priorities in check
5.30am Don’t Touch That Phone
Nicklen and his wife have an ‘ongoing dispute’ about what should happen first thing. ‘She rolls over to get her phone, and I see my phone as the devil.’ It infringes on ‘my time, my life, my energy and my mental freedom’. Once they get up, he makes coffee and does ‘everything in my power not to touch a phone, computer or anything’.
7am Get AHit Of Nature
Nicklen’s mind isn’t ready to work until he’s had time outdoors, often walking with his dogs, kiteboarding or mountain biking. The fresh air helps energise him for the day ahead. He does his best thinking after ‘oxygenating my brain’, as he puts it.
11am Tackle Pending Problems
Nicklen surrounds himself with acore team –about half a dozen strong –to help keep all the details in line. He doesn’t delegate management duties, though. Every day, he sets aside time to talk through any issues his team may be having. His tactics: gather those involved, be bluntly honest (but not aggressive), never leave the conversation with unresolved feelings and lighten up with some humour.
12pm Grab ASnack
‘I eat when I’m hungry,’ he says, sometimes just munching on a bag of nuts he threw into his backpack. Unless he’s having dinner with friends or his wife, he says, ‘time is too precious to sit around just sort of staring at
