Offline, On Purpose #2: Analogue Organizing
Simple tools to reduce digital distractions, strengthen your memory and clear your brain
Welcome back to Offline, On Purpose, the weekly series to help you reclaim your time and attention, and build a life filled with creativity, meaning, connection, community, and purpose. Here is week one in case you missed it (vote for week 3 theme at the end of this newsletter).
I’ve seen a lot of people dragging the idea of “going analogue.” It’s too try hard, too cringe, too consumerist. I get it, when seemingly everyone on the internet is talking about the same thing it becomes uncouth, if you will, but also, maybe it just means we’re all on to something?
Maybe we’re all craving what we’ve been lacking, the experiences that make us feel human, connected, and alive. For years we’ve been asleep behind the wheel, numbing ourselves to the richness of life because social media has encouraged everyone to craft online versions of themselves for an audience of people they don’t even know, and who don’t really know them. All the while, losing sight of who we actually are in the process.
The goal of Offline, On Purpose is to help you reconnect with yourself and spend more time doing things that bring joy, passion, meaning and connection into your life.
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Time passes regardless of how we choose to spend it, but I don’t think any of us would regret nourishing our humanity and creativity through painting, writing, journaling, being in nature and fostering stronger relationships. Could the same be said for scrolling on TikTok or Instagram?
This week, I’m giving you a simple action plan for analogue organizing. It’s a way to reduce screen time and digital distractions by using tools like notebooks, planners, and clocks. Remember, these are my suggestions and ideas, take what works for you and leave the rest. I hope this helps you consider how you use technology, and where it might make sense to switch things up.
Analogue Organizing
All you need to change your life is a fresh new notebook. All joking aside, there is evidence that writing by hand strengthens memory and learning, and that “the slower pace of handwriting fosters deeper thought and creativity.”
Yes typing is faster and easier, and having an online calendar we can access from any device is more convenient, but sometimes that comes at a cost. That’s not to say we should ditch technology entirely, but the process of slowing down and using more intention for certain planning and organizing can actually help us think more clearly and deeply.
From a personal perspective, I started to notice that I could not remember anything. It got to the point where I was so reliant on my devices I was setting reminders for my reminders. I had multiple calendars, numerous email accounts, and a Notes app filled with so many lists and random thoughts I could never find things that were actually important.
When I started journaling regularly I noticed how much better I felt after doing a brain dump. Writing down everything and anything, it was like I could feel the metaphorical cobwebs in my brain clearing out. For years I had abandoned a physical planner and notebooks in favor of digital versions but it was becoming chaotic and unmanageable.
I decided to start doing some analogue organizing, and aside from getting frustrated by my crappy handwriting, I noticed how much it strengthened my memory and helped me feel less frazzled. Even better, it created everyday rituals and practices to help me slow down and feel more grounded.