BETWEEN SHOOTS, EDITING, and trying to save our oceans, you’d think award-winning National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen would thrive on organization. Fact: He doesn’t, and that’s okay with him. As cofounder of SeaLegacy, a production company devoted to ocean conservation, he’s found that success stems from managing your strengths and weaknesses. How he does it:
5:30 A.M.
Don't Touch that Phone
Nicklen and his wife, fellow National Geographic photographer, conservationist and other SeaLegacy founder, Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, have an “on going 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.” After they say good morning, he makes coffee and does “everything in my power not to touch a phone, computer, or anything.”
7:00 A.M.
Get a Hit of Nature
Nicklen’s mind isn’t ready until he’s had some time outdoors, often walking with his dogs, kiteboarding, or mountain biking. The fresh air helps him organize his thoughts and energizes him for the day ahead. He does his best thinking after “oxygenating my brain,” as he puts it.
11:00 A.M.
Tackle Pending Problems
Nicklen surrounds himself with a core team—about a half dozen strong—to help keep all the details inline. He doesn’t delegate management duties, though. Everyday, he sets aside time to talk through any issues his team maybe having. His tactics:gather those involved, be bluntly honest (but not aggressive), never leave the conversation with unresolved feelings, and lighten up with some humor.
12:00 P.M.
Snack Away
“I eat when I’m hungry,” he says, some-times just munching on a bag of nuts he threw into his back-pack. Unless he’s having dinner with friends or his wife, he says,“time is too precious to sit around just sort of staring at a plate.”
2:00 P.M.
Say Yes to "No"
“My favorite word is no,” Nicklen says. His priorities are to protect both the planet and his personal freedom. To determine which activities and projects are worth it, “I use the barometer of excitement,” he says. That means yes to being immersed in nature but no to having a film crew follow him to make a movie about his life.
4:00 P.M.
Hold on to Hope
“Ultimately, our planet is dying—we’ve lost 69 percent of biodiversity on earth in the past 50 years,”he says. When he starts feeling “down and defeated,” he connects with other conservationists. “I find out very quickly that they are striving, pushing ahead, and trying to make a difference. I find a lot of hope in that. And the only emotion bigger than fear is hope, so I pursue that.”
6:00 P.M.
Play
An ideal day for this former competitive table-tennis player finishes with a cold beer and a game of ping-pong.
9:00 P.M.
Burn Your Fuel
If his eyes don’t immediately close upon hitting the pillow, he knows he didn’t “live hard enough that day,” and he plans to program a little more “life” in to the next.
A version of this article originally appeared in the October/November 2023 issue of Men's Health.
