As a full-time teacher, I find myself needing to keep up with scheduling and time slots on a regular basis. I have been using my phone for this purpose for some time, but as of late I've begun to realize how endlessly distracting and disruptive checking my phone can be when I should be engaged in other projects. I'd like to purchase a regular wrist watch again, so that I can be more punctual and pace my classes in an advantageous manner. Thank you for reminding us that we don't always need to be using our digital devices, and can take a break sometimes through making use of paper as the medium for jotting down ideas and scheduling the time blocks in our day. I really appreciated watching this video. I've been inspired to dust off my task labels and other stationery tools, so that I can be more in tune with a more natural way of writing down my thoughts and potential goals throughout the week. Cheers and let's stay productive, everyone. Thanks for reading. 😊
I have been 'kicking back' against full digitalisation for some time now. I don't believe that we, as humans, operate at our best, in such a clinical manner under all circumstances. The beauty of doing certain things in an analogue way, as you have marvellously shown in your video Carl, is that it allows our creative brains to flourish. The key is finding the right balance and understanding when is the most appropriate time for deploying one or the other methodology. Thanks for another excellent thought provoker!
That's so true. I've realised that digital is great for output--the finished product, so to speak. Analogue works so much better in almost every other area.
Bravo! There is no reason we can’t do both (be digital and analog). I’ve struggled with this, feeling the need to ditch the old and fully embrace the new, but that is a false choice; we can have both - taking the best of both worlds! Why not!
Very nice. Honestly these are analog things I never gave up. The digital options never appealed - they clearly laced the tactile and visual joy that is so important to me. Never forget the profit motive involved in getting us to give up all our analog functions. Functions that do not require high tech that must be developed, maintained, & repaired by someone else - & constantly superseded by higher tech at even greater cost. No thank you.
All that I wanted to say. Not enough room on my shelves for them. I make a point to rotate what’s stored versus what’s on a bookshelf. I was disappointed when I saw the first digital version of Alex White’s “The Elements of Visual Design”. I think it was an epub. Any way on iPad now, they’ve honored the two page spreads, image and text flow. Still nothing matches the freshness of his book in hand, browsing without worry of battery drain. It’s one of the few I don’t write notes in. Now, markup and doodles are good reasons to have a digital version.
So so true. The work I do for my company is fully digital, with links and apps provided for all processes that we needed to learn. A few years back, I started putting pen to paper for a particular process that I quickly mastered to the extent that I became the unofficial go-to person for that process. I realized that seeing the system unfold on my notebook simplified the process. Clicking on those links complicated everything. Thank you for sharing.
Your joy is infectious! I think the analog options are great for someone who works from home or even drives to and from their job. I have moved to a more digital lifestyle because of a long commute with trains, buses and lots of walking. Traveling light makes a big difference, and having just my phone, watch and Kindle makes that possible for me, and enables me to still read books and listen to podcasts and other audio.
I bought my citizen aviator watch over ten years ago and it's been the one item I have worn nearly every day since buying it. And the familiarity and sense of stability that having the same time piece with me for a decade is something that I cannot replace. Highly recommend an analog watch.
Thank you, yet again. I felt the joy in you that I experience when I default into actually doing what works best. It’s a coming home to yourself. At 73, while I find digital orderly, admirable, and fascinating in its own right; analog is visceral and more heart-connected. You are a light, and have become a port in the storms of distraction that are part of our landscape. Best wishes, thank you.
Don’t obsess and stress over analog versus digital. I use both depending on how I’m feeling and what’s available. I don’t carry my paper journal everywhere but I have my iPhone so I’ll write an entry on that. Some weeks I’ll wear my automatic field watch, others the Apple Watch Ultra. Still have an olde AW SE that I’ll wear on the right wrist and my automatic on the left. Reading is also split between analog and digital. A benefit to digital journaling is the search function. Because of this and the connection to my task manager all my work journaling is digital. I stopped fretting over analog vs digital and use which ever works best for the task I’m trying to accomplish.
yepyepyep! there’s something soothing in the soft feel of pen on paper; the anticipation behind the hard-cover of a notebook; crossing out and drawing arrows and developing personal symbols to edit and move and contain on a page. yay for discovering your podcast on this saturday morning with tech while i get ready to hang with my pals 🙃🐄…
This video resonated a lot with me. Recently I have observed how mechanical it is to take notes on the iPad with an Apple Pencil: I cannot view all the notes I have taken and the debates I am having with myself "at a glance", look at all the sheets of paper and refine my understanding of a subject, which I feel is crucial for me to understand mathematics, and whenever I am writing anything in general. So, I took out the cheap Hero fountain pen my mother gave me when some 8 years back, filled it with Noodler's bulletproof black ink, and jotted down some ideas in my diary, and then went of to study mathematics. And as expected, my brain felt a lot better. There is more going on than simply the tactile feel of the pen on paper when physical tools are used to understand a subject. Whenever I take analogue notes, my brain sorts of snaps an image of it and stores it "That weird diagram you drew using purple pen on left side" "That table was in the bottom half" "The first derivation was crossed out". This type of "connection" with the notes is lost when I am using the iPad, which saddens me for I expected it to be a "solution". Perhaps it was a solution to problems which do not exist. (It is still a wonderful tool for reading books though. I first read on my PC or on my iPad, and if I like it, I buy a physical copy). In this day and age when the so called "productivity gurus" lecture on how to implement an "efficient workflow" and how one should work smart and not hard, your video is a breath of fresh air. In my opinion, a person should find the most natural way to do something (instead of magical pills!) and evolve as and when required... Or maybe never evolve for a few things... Maybe this selective evolution is what self-discovery and growth is all about. Thank you for uploading this honest video! Really liked it!!
Stumbled upon your video today. It resonates so much with me! Literally just sold my Apple Watch to my sister because I'm leaning towards analogue watches again. I love Apple products and its ecosystem, but feel that the Apple Watch does not add any extra value to the whole experience. I prefer to do academic reading via physical books/documents etc, although for leisure reading I will have to hold on to my Kindle for now. Having an infant to deal with makes Kindle easier to navigate compared to an actual book, although I do buy hardcopies if I love the ebook I read
I really appreciate the fact that you let your system to EVOLVE and share the experience with viewers. The challenge of marrying advantages and necessities of digital with the fact that our brains work better with paper and hand notes is real. You inspired me to start scanning my notes into Apple Notes and this is really helpful. Greetings from Poland! Lukasz
Writing this after spending about an hour trying to find the final volume of a three book set. I know I could get it in seconds if I opted for Kindle, but I have never really been able to work effectively using Kindle. Bedtime reading yes, academic research, no. So husband and I are now engaged on a quest for a book that won't break the bank. I am also finding the intrusiveness of a phone quite hard going, lots of information I don't need being thrown at me. I am one of those people who disappears down rabbit holes quite easily, so I am changing over to a paper diary for the new academic year. This is a great series, Carl, thank you for flying the flag for the analogue joys of life. Miffy
Like your videos. Forces to self reflect. With my usage of apple watches, I'm not fully ready to get rid of them (e.g. 2fa integration with corporate services and the widget showing next of many meetings in my busy calendar), but what I did after watching your experience - disabled majority of notifications and unpacked my 20y old Tissot that I started wearing during weekends. Good experience so far. Thanks for your positive influence.
When it came time to clear out my mum’s house after she passed away, I stumbled upon her old diaries. Some were just a few lines and scribbles about what she did on certain days. She wasn’t prolific; entire weeks and months went by without anything written. The diaries from before I was born helped me put dates to stories I’d only ever heard through family lore, while those from the early to mid-'80s brought a flood of memories rushing back. Who will sit down and read a journal stored in Evernote or Day One after we’re gone? Our Markdown files? Will anyone even be able to access them? Will they know the passwords or be able to navigate our digital accounts? There’s something irreplaceable about the tangible, the physical. Diaries, letters, records, books-things you can hold, things that carry weight and texture.
That's precisely why I think it's essential for everyone to use paper. It's been around for thousands of years and will be around in another thousand years. A .doc file created today won't be openable in twenty years time. Thank you for sharing that story, Rob.
YES! This this this. I love the convenience of digital tools, but it ends up being an information dump rather than something thoughtful, meaningful, and useful. I moved back to notebook only recently for my task list and day-to-day notes. It's helped me tremendously in getting the right things done.
Ah, love to see the Grid Systems book! I had the privilege of studying with Josef Müeller-Brockman in design school. Made a huge impact on my practice. I also love your other items. Several are on my desk as I type this.
I’m ditching my Apple Watch. At first it seemed like a good idea to always have access to certain information and alerts. Then I realized that not only did it not make my life better, it made it worse.
As a collector of mechanical watches this warms my heart in a way I don't have words to express. I wear a watch so that I know what time it is when my phone is in another room -- which is a freeing place for it to be.
I'm experimenting with the same. Now that my child is an adult, one of the main reasons has gone, that was to be able to see messages from them or school during the day in a timely way. 8 years of statistics has provided some interesting insights, but I'm not sure that there's been enough of them to justify the cost of an Apple Watch. I'm now switching the question over to 'how do I feel?' rather than sleep, exercise, heart rate numbers. Watchless, my wrist feels lighter and I am able to find flow without time pressure in the day.
Carl, I agree with everything you’re saying, specifically about books, and hard bound cover books, there’s something so authentic about holding a “real” book in your hands that you don’t get from using a digital copy of that book. I actually look forward to now buying hard copies of my digital copies to read again and this time turning physical pages or even writing in the margins if I want to. Yep, “old School is the best school” . Slowing down helps me to retain more information, helps my memory. Get out of the “rat race of life”. 🎉🎉
I've noticed something similar. When I finish my day's work, I love grabbing a book and sitting on the sofa with my little dog beside me and my wife quietly studying for her exams at the dining table. It feels calming, relaxing and a great way to decompress at the end of day largely spent in front of screens.
Along with wearing my Tudor, I also carry a small notebook and write random thoughts, grocery lists, ideas about things. I love the notebook so much!!! I can buy refills for it every year and while the initial cost of the notebook was costly, the refills are a fair cost…Plotter makes great products. I also got fountain pens which makes writing in my journal enjoyable as well… I still use my iPhone for making notes and pictures for different albums and ideas that I can’t really do with my notebook.
what we need to understand about note taking apps is that we are supposed to use them as a second brain for storage of information we want for a long period of time (book analysis, research, cold war, etc). It works as a external ROM for our brain. Whereas, for stuff we need to remember at the moment or for an ongoing process (RAM), we need to use physical old fashioned way of writing down info on paper by hand... this is the only effective way.
Müller-Brockmann is the goat. I've got 2 copies of Grid Systems. Bible for us designers. Carl, I'm having this urge recently to simplify too and minimize belongings, Marie Kondo style. Talking about design, another hero, Dieter Rams said: Less, but better. I'm applying that to my apartment, room for room currently and updating, discarding things but getting the best of any item I want to have but getting rid of the rest. It feels quite liberating to not be bogged down by too much stuff and I guess you feel similar with all the digital impact on your mental health?
What a brilliant video Sir 👏 Thank you so much for creating this video, I work for a technology company and always found put everything especially planning as a waste of time, starting on paper is so helpful, and gets the work done too, of course whatever I put on paper gets converted into digital for collaboration at workplace but there is no comparison for starting to pen down thoughts on a paper. I have also given up on Apple Watch, uninstalled all the Task and Note taking apps, they are of no use. And of course, books are back too, spend several hundred pounds on iPads and Kindle but nothing worked effectively.
no you are not going through mid life crisis, I am in my early 20s and everything that you said its absolutely true I hate online journaling, I absolutely despise ebooks nothing can beat feel of real paper its so satisfying and digital notes are indeed distracting but able I would like a app to scan them and let me edit them too otherwise it takes more time
I am so glad you made this video. As a child of the 80s, computers were out of reach. Now in my 50s, I work with a lot of young people and I often feel inadequate around technology. I feel like I'm trying to put a square peg into a round hole. I appreciate this video because while I value technology advances, I need to find a way that makes technology work for me as opposed to being frustrated most of the time. I love writing on paper - I love physical books - I love taking notes. This is a great help. I wonder if the young people who grew up with technology are better off? So much of their learning seems passive? Or perhaps their brains are better suited at this technology? Thanks so much!
Digital tools help in the right places. Your calendar is arguably better digitally. However, taking notes in a course or lecture is better with pen and paper (See Tokyo University 2014 study) and I would argue getting your news from an old fashioned print newspaper is better for you than algorithmic articles popping up in a social media feed.
Brilliant, Carl. My sentiments exactly as I am moving also in this direction. So gratifying. And it is fun to see YOU having more fun in the way you are working in your own life. A mentor of mine used to say, “Life is not a thought, it is a feeling.” Looks to me like you are nurturing the feeling side and that it is bringing you incredible dividends. Thanks for sharing it with us. Quite inspiring!
I blend digital and physical when it comes to books (fiction and non fiction self help/reference). I often like to read digitally the first time, and then if I truly loved the book or want the book around to flip through idly or reference, then I buy a physical copy. That way I get the best of both worlds, reading a lot without sacrificing a ton of space but also keeping physical copies of the ones I treasure and having my own library. Textbooks are a different story. I prefer physical copies most of the time. Maybe a philosophy textbook I could read digitally, but otherwise physical copies are the way to go due to the most likely need to flip back and forth between pages. Admittedly, this method does not work very well if you like to highlight books and save your highlights digitally for ease of reference. I have not gotten into that yet so this works for me for now.
Hi Julia, That's something I've been doing, too. I initially bought the book on Kindle, and if I found the book enlightening, I will often purchase the physical book.
I have been reading some bound books and honestly the experience is amazing. I really did miss reading this way a lot. I’ve been looking back on how to use my bullet journal again because it was the best system I’ve had so far, although it does need some digital adaptations as the world has become more digital in the last 6 years. You’re inspiring me to just buy a pack of notebooks and write the old way. This year I set out to journal more and I’ve filled out five blank notebooks with all sorts of ideas and thoughts.
Loved this content. I myself switched back to analogue ways of doing things. Sold my ipad and apple watch. Got an S23 Ultra as my all in one go do device for everything digital and I have the m1 air for all desk computing stuff. I have gone back to wearing analogue watches, physical books for reading. Sketching on my sketchpads and a all in one pocket notebook to keep track of my work and routine. Never got into the habit of Journaling no matter how many times I tried to do it. Just 'not my thing'. I just open docs and spill out my thoughts and close it. This shift has bought me 'peace' literally and I won't be going back to digital for these things where the joy of getting things done the analogue way is a much more fun and calming experience. And an icing on the cake I do listen to some of the old songs which are on cassettes (which i own) using my Sony Walkman and wow. My children love that stuff 😂
WOW! You reminded me that I still have all my old mini-discs and a player. Twenty years ago, I mixed together a lot of songs that are on that player. Perhaps it's time to dig it all out and see if everything is still working.
@@Carl_Pullein mini discs will work if no foreign material has latched onto it + the player reads the discs with laser. Hopefully it's all working Give it a try. The nostalgic value by just the mere press of a button and the sound produced is immeasurable. My Sony disc Walkman doesn't work anymore so my discs are just there for those good old memories
hi carl! it took me two years to figure out that analogue suits me and my daily schedule much more than digital, especially after i realised that i could never live up to my digital daily schedule because it was too overwhelming for me. i absolutely agree with all of your points! doing works and brain dumping on papers are top-tier activities to boost critical thinking and creativity for me. love your video, new subscriber here!
Brilliant and a sigh of relief! I am going full analogue. I even use typewriters. I have switched to all your recommendations. The biggest benefits (as shown now by science) is that your thought processes and responses change radically, e.g, fountain pens with notebooks).
Loved the video! I grew up with technology all around me and I am finding having a notebook on me way more effective than just jotting it down in my phone. I seem to always forget things I put in my phone only. On another note, one tip I would say for your videos is to add chapters so you can easily skip to parts you need. I find it hard to come back and reference a video without them. :)
Thank you. Also, thank you for the tip. These days, UA-cam adds chapters automatically for us. However, it does take a few hours for the technology to crawl through the video and add them.
My system tends to be a blend of digital and analog. I use Apple Notes for work stuff and things I need access to in the long term, I use Reminders for running task lists for work and grocery/store lists, and I use a physical journal for keeping track of things in my personal life like monthly goals, exercise tracking, journaling, etc. I wear an Apple Watch, but have been thinking a lot about going back to an analog watch.
Stumbled across this and agree lots. I’m happy with my Apple Watch but the constant charging gets old and it’s handy for paying for stuff and more. To be honest if it broke I might consider not replacing it. I’m 100% with you on books and reverted back a few years ago. One thing I would like to add is for those of you that haven’t tried a hardback is just another level of physical beauty. The pages feel protected and it’s so much more premium and enjoyable to read. Highly recommended getting one or two of your favorite books as hardbacks and seeing how you like them!
Hi Carl, I can only agree with you. In march I startet with analogue journaling, after using Day One and Apple Journal before. I really enjoy writing with different fountain pens. And a Little later I started using an analogue calendar (X17), as I used to do years ago. In addition to my Apple calendar. I know this is double labour. But I love planning on paper. The calendar is now always on my desk. I just like it. For the way, I still have my appointments on my iPhone. I like this hybrid way of working. And I really love writing with fountain pens and the feel of paper. That's why I really like your videos about analogue planning and working. Greetings from Bavaria / Germany.
Carl, so cool to see. I saw a video a few weeks back and they were talking about how we do not own anything any longer. Music, it is all on Apple, Spotify or wherever. Our books, all on a kindle, our data, we rest assured that it will be there tomorrow. I own all of these nice watches and wearing this apple watch. Strangely, the band just broke and I have been wearing one of my Seiko diver's watch and I love it. I worked in IT for 25 years and I love my technology but have really liked these subtle changes.
I got a Garmin watch for the health features. I have never had it hooked to my phone for phone functions. It talks to the phone but the phone doesn't talk to it. But I get all of the great health features. So not distracting.
Carl, it sounds like you have reached an ideal balance between digital and analog. One thing I have started doing is writing my analog stuff on a legal pad (unencumbered by a notebook) and then scanning pages into my system. That way, I can have all that information digitized and stored in Devonthink, Apple Notes, or where ever and I don't have to fuss with the cumbersomeness of taking scans with my phone. Love the work you're doing! Keep it up!
It does feel like I have a happy balance. I'll be reviewing things later this year to see how else I can reduce screen time and increase creative and thinking time.
I like analogue for a lot of things. I collect fountain pens, so that is a nice match. I even use typewriters for drafting. Your list was a good one. There are a lot of obstacles with digital tools getting in the way. For a few things I've found a compromise: a reMarkable tablet which uses E-ink. Everything is handwritten like it's on paper, but it's all on the device. I have a great planner with more features than a typical planner, and all my work notebooks are on it. I can even read and annotate articles from the internet on it. Currently working on a research project. I took a bunch of notes with index cards, typed the outline on my typewriter, and am editing it with fountain pen. I'll probably type the first draft of the final product. And, yes, typed text is easily digitized and then I can write my notes and edits all over the typed copy before editing on the computer.
Perfect Carl, absolutely spot on with this video. I embrace a lot of analogue to get me away from screens and i love to write - putting pen to paper - but I've got lost in kindle and audio books this year so going back to paper will be a joy.
Great video, I've grouped all of my notes over the years & photgraped them as there's personal gold in them. Digital is great but I find my mind being taken 'out' correcting etc away from flow. Thank you for this 👍
I’m a lover of analogue methods and objects and trying to return to those ways, so this was fun to watch! PS: If you don’t think you’ll use your Apple Watch / other digital products anymore, I recommend donating them 😊
Magnificent video, mate. I love my Mac computers and Apple gear, but I’ve recently reintroduced my Filofax with Franklin Covey planner inserts so I can enjoy my fountain pens again and it’s made life more enjoyable. Also wear my Rolex more often than my Apple Watch again. Thanks for making this video. Regards from South Australia.
Agreed for all except project planning. While it’s best to use a whiteboard, iPad’s Freeform app is a great portable way to write things out and select/move things around
Very valuable stuff, Carl. I agree with most of it, especially with real books. Because when reading a book you have something physical in your hand, you can read it in the sun, it‘s so much better. Regarding the Apple Watch: I almost only use it for workouts, because I love running with music and don‘t want to be distracted by or carry an iPhone. Just put it on focus mode, no distractions, awesome. When going to work or going out: always analogue. One exception: When going for a holiday where I plan to go running - I and don‘t want to carry two watches - it‘s the Apple Watch. But disable all notifications! :-)
Hi Thomas, that's the same for me. I wear my Apple Watch when working out and when travelling. Although for me, travelling with my Apple Watch is more for security. I've heard horror stories of watches being stolen in other countries.
ROFL @ rekindling your childhood and/or mid-life crisis! Well, you just go ahead and rock BOTH of those for us all, OK? I'm here for it! LOL I've been doing Audible books for the last few years, but when you showed that book on grids... that real, hard-cover, bright red book... I hate to admit it, but I drooled. Just a little bit. :P I just commented on the last video of yours that I watched, and this one took me further down the analog rabbit hole. I'm not saying it's a BAD rabbit hole! No, no, no! I think that maybe we should ALL unplug more and be more "analog" in our lives. In our learning, schooling, relating, communicating... all of it. You know what? I think your ON to something, buddy! * digital high fives, cuz you're far away and I'm here... clap snap *
Great video, thanks! I'm constantly going back and forth between analogue and digital, throwing away all my digital tools, buying a bunch of notebooks.. it's a real struggle to find the perfect system.
With age you realise, I am writing this at 42- 1. life is too short, 2. time is more valuable then anything else, 3. Less is more. 4. Not everything must be digital. 5. Not massive data is information is required for every decision. Something you must believe in yourself. 6. Technology is useless if useless, if you have to upgrade, relearn, update it in every few months. 7. Memory doesn't just mean the storage in your device, but also in your mind. 8. Technology is for people, people are not for technology. 9. There is another real world outside internet where you can find real love, real friendship, real freedom and real meaning. 10. Always enjoy you cup or tea. You don't know which one is your last. May God bless us all.
As a Musician and Composer I navigate between digital and analogue. The iPad has been a game changers as I can carry my entire library of scores and resources in one small device. However, in my home studio, I have 3 bookcases of traditional printed scores and sheet music. There is something about holding the book. Feeling the small indents and imperfections in the paper. Composing with mixed medium is another area. Some days are ultra high tech with the use of DAWs and synths. Other days is good old fashioned pen and paper. Love that you've found your space and equilibrium.
Thank you for sharing that, Christopher. That's what I've discovered, too. There's a balance between the two, and finding that balance brings so many benefits.
This is a great video and a great way to look at it. If you haven't yet I'd recommend old fashioned wet shaving as well. It's a very satisfying process with the brush, the soap, and the feedback from a safety razor. It's another place to make the mundane a better and more worthwhile experience
I'm not surprised given the mindset of this video. The Venn diagram of fountain pens, wet shaving, watches, journaling, and to an extent pour over or manual coffee prep is almost a circle. It makes sense as it's a way to turn everyday mundane tasks into mindful experiences.
I worked for a paper based firm last year, they were incredibly inefficient in many ways but it opened my mind to the amazing usefulness and brain-friendliness of paper-based systems.
I recently visited the Korean Immigration office, which is entirely paper-based. Yet, what amazes me is how effective the Immigration service is here. Whether computers are working or not, the office is always open and can process all applications. In 22 years it's never failed.
I love the video, not sure if since I am trying to become more analog, I am resonating more with these videos, the phone is a tremendous tool but I find myself been distracted all the time, using a notebook, camera, iPod, has brough me a bit more mindfulness and less distraction, and been a bit more present in conversations with other people, so you may think these devices are design to keep us captive and addicted...
I would be curious to see you do a test of going full analog for all your productivity management systems for a time (paper calendar or planner, paper project support lists, paper task lists, etc). The problem I found is that when I switched my entire productivity life over to systems like GTD, and when I started using digital tools like Todoist or Evernote, I felt like I became a mental pack rat, a mental hoarder. That's where I think David Allen went wrong...potentially boundless or infinite collections is not a good thing. His "back of the envelope" model only works well when you have a defined space on the envelope, not a bottomless planning pit. When I went back to full analog, for calendar, for tasks, for planning, I found my inner essentialist again. I rediscovered the truth that less is more, that part of being effective is learning to eliminate or get rid of stuff, not always keep it front and center in your mind. Having to use only paper tools again, with only limited space, helped me rediscover that. In short, when using all digital tools, I was getting lost in the infinite, and having my life stuck in a boundless digital space with no limits to how much could be added felt totally disorienting. Getting some defined boundaries again with paper brought back a perspective on life that I had lost. I'm not saying I boycott all digital. I still use internet, email, digital banking, etc., but now they feel like true tools as opposed to my very existence.
For me, digital task management and calendars are generally better. I can easily set up my recurring tasks and appointments, which reduces the chance I will miss something. However, when it comes to planning and isolating the most important work for the day, I find pen and paper work best.
Hi Carl, it is really a great pleasure to follow you, with what enthusiasm and with what growing intellectual depth you present your analogue transformation. That is really inspiring. Thank you very much
In one of your videos, you talked about writing your daily 2+8 into a small memo notebook & have it sitting at your workspace. (analog) Are you still doing that? … Loved the joyful tone of this video! … I recently went back to wearing a watch. The main reason is that I love the fun vibes of Swatch watches. (And they’re Swiss!) … I was curious as to what your 5 items were and almost yelped for joy over the last idea: physical books. I belong to several book clubs and almost everyone “reads” via ebook or audible. I don’t get it. I don’t get the same pleasure, nor the same processing of content. Thank you for this video!
Oh yes. That little notebook keeps me focused on the important things each day. Yes, I've seen some of the Swatch Omega Moon Watch editions and they look fantastic!! Very tempting hahaha
I like when analog or digital enhances the other. My beautiful botanical notebook is perfect for collecting ideas on meal prep, but all my final lessons learned and tweaks go into the paprika app. I also like staring at my tick tick while I unload my daily to do unto a paper planner.
I love your points in this video, first time viewer btw, and I'm definitely going to put some into practice to see how they work for me. However reading physical books I know for certain won't work for me. I discover this back in college where I found myself actually taking in the content more consistently and accurately if I were reading off a digital device (back then off my laptop, and now off my tablet), vs if I was reading from a physical book. I'm not sure why but I find myself being more distracted with physical books. I even went as far as to scan the pages of books and read the images off my laptop. That being said, I was wondering if there were anything you refused to go analog that you didn't mention in this video? and if so why?
Hi David, Funny you should ask that. I'm about to do a 3-month experiment by going back to using only a Franklin Planner (Oct to Dec). I used an FP from 1993 to 2009, so I'm very familiar with how it works, and I am curious, after 15 years of digital tools, if paper tools work as well or better. I will be reporting the results of my experiment in the New Year.
Great video! I've also been going with pen and paper. It's interesting how addicting our phones can be. Feels like I'm missing out by not keeping up with the latest digital update.
Excellent, Carl. I've used fountain pens (I am assuming that Montblanc on your desk is not necessarily a ballpoint or rollerball ?) from the age of twelve, onwards; I still read physical books - the smell a new book exudes can be all-encompassing; & as you assert, there's nothing quite like that tactile sensation that a digitized, sterile format is completely bereft of. For myself tho', the keystone to the analogue world is the subtle diversification of all (our) senses, so much so that they can be amalgamated in an instant - no app can manifest that so readily. Technology (ironically) can dissociate the former, bring about many pathologies that otherwise would not insinuate themselves into the fabric of our lives. I too, stiil write handwritten letters to those within a personal & professional capacity, sport a hand-wound wristwatch, & never leave home without at least three fully-charged fountain pens. I would concur, technology has it's place - but it will never supplant the finest computer on the planet - that which sits between our ears..... Stay safe & well ! Andrew.
Thank you, Andrew. I agree with you. The tactile touch of pen and paper somehow removes the sterile feel of digital. (and yes, it is a fountain pen. A gift from my wife for publishing my book 🙂)
A wonderful gift, Carl, & no doubt, well deserved. If we are to manage our lives in an ever-increasing technological world, we must (also) retain links, howsoever tenuous, to that simpler, less machinated era. Enjoy your day ! Andrew 🙂
Love your references to 007 in almost every video 😅. More on-topic: been using a rocketbook a couple of years now and love the writing, but I dont like the cleaning of the book and the rewriting everytime. Looking to buy an e-ink tablet but not sure yet which one. Any ideas/experience with those?
There are some great names in the Bond books (and films) 🙂 I tried a ReMarkable a couple of years ago and didn't like it. Nothing wrong with the tablet, but coming from a fountain pen world, tapping plastic on glass just doesn't work for me.
Here’s a book you might find interesting; Revenge of Analogue: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax. I have it on my night stand with a pencil and notepad ready. I’m making the switch back to reading a book before bed and banning my techs to across the room. I grew up without all this tech and always had my nose in a book. It’s astounds me how quickly technology dominates our attention, and almost with a firm grip.
@@neitaoutdoors4278 yes, physical copies are the best! I own mine but still won’t scribble on the pages so a pencil and notepad it is. I also have sticky tabs ready to mark pages. I’ll transfer my notes to my commonplace book the next day along with my thoughts.
I also find easier that reviewing my work is easier with paper then digital. You can add remarks, add thoughts, etc. much easier. By the way, I use Kindle only for cooking books the rest I buy.
@@ogdanem same with me! Only I use my ereader for fiction, because i hardly annotate those. I much prefer physical books when it comes to non-fiction, and when possible preloved. I’d buy brand new only if I couldn’t get hold of a second-hand one.
I started writing recently with a Mont Blanc pen my mother used to own and she gave it to me, truly a special feeling and to finally have something to put my thoughts into feels extremely good and it makes me feel lighter. I dont know why but doing it on a phone or computer just doesnt feel the same i dont know if its because when we write we actually have to make the letters instead of just pressing buttons
Interesting video, Carl. Thanks. That is one hell of an expensive watch! I have dabbled in ebooks, but prefer actual books to read from, and as I read a lot of books a year (150 plus) this is much better for my eyes.
Hey Carl, I noticed that you use/create narrow columns in your journal and project notebooks for shorter notes. Can you please tell me more on what specifically you write in the narrow column?
I agree with everything apart from the books, i have relegated my Garmin watch to training only, opting for my Omega Seamaster as well, i write everything onto paper but I read books constantly, I have kindle unlimited and have 3 or 4 books on the go at any one time, certain books i buy, i have the Daily Stoic as well for example, but i read whenever I can and carrying books around all of the time would be impractical. I love real books though and the smell of a bookshop is only beaten by fresh cut grass to me!
I agree with you about book. When reading at home--where I do most of my reading--I will read real book. When flying, I prefer carrying my Mini iPad. That's lighteer than carrying three or four books.
First, thank you for sharing this that work for you, and explaining why/how they benefit you. I am confused though. You can easily write directly into your iPad or tablet, which would accomplish the same goal. Using your tablet would allow you to catalog and store whatever you’ve created easier, in case you want to share or review what you wrote years later. As far as the watch, I agree completely. I had an automatic watch created for me by hand to remember the 15th anniversary of the company I started. I rarely use my smartwatches now, for the same reasons you shared. I feel much less stressed because I do not have a watch on my wrist forcing me to be aware of every notification I receive the second I receive it. But again, I hand write my notes, as well as journal daily with my iPad. I like your way of adding real life moments within the pages of your journal though. I also look your appreciation for hard copies of books. I am an author, and I love signing copies of my books for people. I have about a dozen books that are used for teaching youth, and I always give them a digital copy of their textbook and a hard copy of their workbook. I believe the mixture of the two is the best way to make sure they have full access but also enjoy a personalized experience. I agree that there is value in having a book you hold and develop an intimate relationship with.
For me, the handwritten notes are because I have an unhealthy lifelong obsession with fountain pens (fortunately, it's not fatal). Plastic-on-plastic tapping just doesn't have the same tactile feel a beautifully smooth fountain pen nib has on paper. I also found it annoying to tap the screen each time I wanted to write with my pencil and hope that the right note was waiting for me. I played for hours, trying to find the right time gap between the existing and new notes. Agh... Just thinking about it now winds me up.
@@Carl_Pullein I completely understand. I have over 50 fountain pens. I have pens worth as much as a house then I have pens that are just special to me for various reasons. I also enjoy the feeling of writing by hand. I find it more intimate and timeless. I have Audis and Porsches. I appreciate the journey the founder went through to build the company, the quality of the vehicles they produce, and I find them to be a good balance between value and cost. I wrote by hand for years, for the same reasons you mentioned. My Audi trunk was supposed to be air sealed. I had a few of my journals in the trunk. One day I went into the trunk to find something, and water had gotten inside somehow. Multiple journals were ruined. I made a decision to write digitally after that because I want the youth and young adults in my family to learn from my daily experiences for generations. I started a family business that has grown into a national company worth multiple millions of dollars. I bought all the property on a street I grew up on in Atlanta in my old neighborhood, with the purpose of building both a headquarters for our company and a community space for the neighborhood. I grew up in a very poor and underserved area of the city. I also am building a multifamily estate, so my family can live together near our family business as a tribe or extended family unit within walking distance of our family owned business. I want my family to be able to read my journal to understand how and why I did all of this. It would be a problem if my journal was to be damaged again. This way, not only will it be preserved, multiple copies of it can be made, so everyone who wants a copy can have one. After my first journals were destroyed, I said I would not make that mistake again. I am also adopting multiple children. I decided to let them read my journal as well, to make sure they want to be adopted into my home and family. I do not believe decisions should be made for children when it will change the course of their future. By creating my journal digitally, I can easily print and present a copy to them. I love the experience of handwriting also, but it just does not provide the same level of utility for me at this stage in my life. I even write the notes for my books this way, for similar purposes.
@@Makingthetransition Ah, you touch on something I read in Leonardo Da Vinci's biography (the Walter Isaacson version). Leonardo's journals and notebooks have survived for over 500 years. When writing Steve Jobs's biography, Steve Jobs was unable to provide his digital journal entries from the early 1990s because the software to open them no longer existed. Despite the efforts of Apple's best engineers, no one could open them. They are lost forever, yet 7,000 pages of Leonardo Da Vinci's notes will remain with us for many years.
@@Carl_Pullein great point. I thought about that. I also thought about the issue with my passwords to unlock my device and to open my journal app. I screenshot the pages of the journal then transfer them to a PDF file and add recent entries to a book I’ve created. I believe this is the best option I’ve found so far. This way the journal is not dependent on a particular app, software that at some point will become outdated, or locked behind multiple passwords. I don’t think I have every answer or the perfect process, I just know while Leonardo Da Vinci’s journals lasted 500 years, mine didn’t last 5 minutes once water hit them, and that was devastating for me.
I would love to see how you would make some of these completely analogue, on paper. I find digitizing my to-do lists and my calendar is not only a distraction taking me away from my work, but not as easily accessible as just glancing at my notebook / calendar / planning book or whatever. I would like to keep more and more items on paper so I don’t have to turn on a computer or my phone to see it. Also, I seem to remember items better if I write them down in some fashion. I am planning on getting a desk pad calendar for appointments and events as well as some simple grid paper for weekly plannings and daily to-do lists. Thanks for this video. It has inspired me to get more organized in ways that will help me.
Hi Paul, I've just ordered a new Franklin Planner set. I plan to go all in on the Franklin Planner for the year's final quarter. That will cover my day-to-day work and a two-week trip at the end of the year. (Weirdly getting very excited about this experiment, LOL)
@@Carl_Pullein Good luck with the Franklin Planner. It can be a great way to work through your day-to-day tasks. I used one for several years. What I found for myself is that I was re-writing tasks again and again just to get them on the next day’s list. I found that aspect a bit frustrating over time - feeling almost pressured to push onto the next day again and again. So, at this point, I’m thinking of keeping things a bit more free form. I won’t be re-writing tasks, but instead looking through the lists or looking back at the lists as I move forward. I am also going to try your weekly planning square. But I’m actually hoping that becomes more of a monthly planning thing that highlights the general things I should be doing while the task lists will be my specific reminders and motivators to get things done. We will see how it goes.
Pretty much every app lets you disable automatic spell checking, by the way. I know because I always do that. That said I agree that even the best devices cannot replicate both the feel and the simplicity of a pencil and paper. When I write or draw I don't want to create new files, organize things or click around, I just want to take a pen and do it.
Brillant ...the whole problem, killing all apps that pretent to offer focus is in the word you used "Editing"...On top of this, Notion, where you end up editing, formating, reflecting on how to connect the note which ultimately does not deliver any value.
I’m enjoying an analog system that uses a notebook for each major project I’m working on, one for weekly/long term plans, and a final one for daily time-blocking. It’s much more enjoyable vs a digital system and who doesn’t like having a legitimate reason to buy notebooks!?
@@Carl_Pullein Another cool part of a notebook system is that ironically you get more out of your tech devices, iPad, Macbook etc because you can use those screens for research etc instead of having to keep your system open on valuable screen real estate.
Hi, what do you write about in your journal daily? 😊 Can you please teach us how you manage projects using your notebook? At a glance, both your journal and planner seem full and organized... I might takeaway a thing or two and incorporate those in my style (which I'm still trying to put a pin on). Thank you!
What I write in my journal can be seen here: ua-cam.com/video/hS564qpan3M/v-deo.htmlsi=PzzPWsFQOfX-5SFc And how I manage my projects can be seen here: ua-cam.com/video/YJZkYNlp_bA/v-deo.htmlsi=bCahqla7ukR2ZZvZ
I wonder how the grid system book compares to the Tufte books. Thanks for the video. As for journaling (1) and planning(3/4), I have experimented with doing them on my iPad with hand-writing. It is not the same feeling but should it not be the same mentally? Smart watch (2), is not applicable to me with a far less connected simple Garmin. But, I would go back to a Speedmaster if could afford one. Time to grab a book and settle on the sofa.
I like the content & this isn't a personal comment - but I kinda wish you were speaking a little more slowly on this video. Because of the theme, its making me think in general I don't want to listen to fast & frantic yt videos any more ... I wonder how much time that would add to the length or whether you could just trim the word count a bit. 20/21mins seems a good length for this topic. Just a thought
Hi Carl, great video (again)! I’ve had a major struggle with analog vs digital for years. Currently I’m digital for everything. I use Goodnotes to “write” but it’s still not the same. Have you ever tried any weekly or daily paper planners like Full Focus or anything? Thinking about going back to that too.
This year, I began doing all my planning, at least initially, on paper. This has been fantastic. It's slowed me down and given me time to think things through properly. I am about to embark on a three-month experiment using a Franklin Planner as my main time management tool. I am quite excited about this. It's been fifteen years since I last used a Franklin Planner.
@@Carl_Pullein keep us posted on the one you find most useful! I’ve used Full Focus and Ink & Volt over the years and loved them. I would do my planning and enter tasks into Todoist. I think I may go back but would love to hear your experience. Thanks again!
I am analog in all of these things except for books. My eyes just don't do well with regular print any,ore. Fiction is digital and audio. Non-fiction is still paper. It saves some money, too.
Journalling
Watch
Planning projects
Weekly planning
Books
As a full-time teacher, I find myself needing to keep up with scheduling and time slots on a regular basis. I have been using my phone for this purpose for some time, but as of late I've begun to realize how endlessly distracting and disruptive checking my phone can be when I should be engaged in other projects.
I'd like to purchase a regular wrist watch again, so that I can be more punctual and pace my classes in an advantageous manner.
Thank you for reminding us that we don't always need to be using our digital devices, and can take a break sometimes through making use of paper as the medium for jotting down ideas and scheduling the time blocks in our day.
I really appreciated watching this video. I've been inspired to dust off my task labels and other stationery tools, so that I can be more in tune with a more natural way of writing down my thoughts and potential goals throughout the week.
Cheers and let's stay productive, everyone. Thanks for reading. 😊
That has been a benefit. I don't feel such a slave to my phone anymore. 🙂
Just configure your phone to be less distracting?
@@yugen042 I use DayWise for that. Thank you for the reminder. Yes, I can do that too.
I have been 'kicking back' against full digitalisation for some time now. I don't believe that we, as humans, operate at our best, in such a clinical manner under all circumstances. The beauty of doing certain things in an analogue way, as you have marvellously shown in your video Carl, is that it allows our creative brains to flourish. The key is finding the right balance and understanding when is the most appropriate time for deploying one or the other methodology. Thanks for another excellent thought provoker!
That's so true. I've realised that digital is great for output--the finished product, so to speak. Analogue works so much better in almost every other area.
Bravo! There is no reason we can’t do both (be digital and analog). I’ve struggled with this, feeling the need to ditch the old and fully embrace the new, but that is a false choice; we can have both - taking the best of both worlds! Why not!
So true. This is what I am discovering myself. 🙂
Very nice. Honestly these are analog things I never gave up. The digital options never appealed - they clearly laced the tactile and visual joy that is so important to me. Never forget the profit motive involved in getting us to give up all our analog functions. Functions that do not require high tech that must be developed, maintained, & repaired by someone else - & constantly superseded by higher tech at even greater cost. No thank you.
I agree. There is something about the tactile touch of analogue things that digital cannot reproduce.
All that I wanted to say. Not enough room on my shelves for them. I make a point to rotate what’s stored versus what’s on a bookshelf. I was disappointed when I saw the first digital version of Alex White’s “The Elements of Visual Design”. I think it was an epub. Any way on iPad now, they’ve honored the two page spreads, image and text flow. Still nothing matches the freshness of his book in hand, browsing without worry of battery drain. It’s one of the few I don’t write notes in. Now, markup and doodles are good reasons to have a digital version.
So so true. The work I do for my company is fully digital, with links and apps provided for all processes that we needed to learn. A few years back, I started putting pen to paper for a particular process that I quickly mastered to the extent that I became the unofficial go-to person for that process. I realized that seeing the system unfold on my notebook simplified the process. Clicking on those links complicated everything. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing that. 🙂
Your joy is infectious! I think the analog options are great for someone who works from home or even drives to and from their job. I have moved to a more digital lifestyle because of a long commute with trains, buses and lots of walking. Traveling light makes a big difference, and having just my phone, watch and Kindle makes that possible for me, and enables me to still read books and listen to podcasts and other audio.
I bought my citizen aviator watch over ten years ago and it's been the one item I have worn nearly every day since buying it. And the familiarity and sense of stability that having the same time piece with me for a decade is something that I cannot replace. Highly recommend an analog watch.
Yeah, I also get waves of nostalgia from my watch. 22 years and it's been to many countries and experienced a lot with me.
Got an email Baron Fig has. notebooks back in stock!
@@AlexiaandShae Sadly, not the Plus sized ones. Only the A5 size 😞
Thank you, yet again. I felt the joy in you that I experience when I default into actually doing what works best. It’s a coming home to yourself. At 73, while I find digital orderly, admirable, and fascinating in its own right; analog is visceral and more heart-connected. You are a light, and have become a port in the storms of distraction that are part of our landscape. Best wishes, thank you.
Aww, thank you. You're right; something about pen and paper lights up my passion.
Don’t obsess and stress over analog versus digital. I use both depending on how I’m feeling and what’s available. I don’t carry my paper journal everywhere but I have my iPhone so I’ll write an entry on that. Some weeks I’ll wear my automatic field watch, others the Apple Watch Ultra. Still have an olde AW SE that I’ll wear on the right wrist and my automatic on the left. Reading is also split between analog and digital. A benefit to digital journaling is the search function. Because of this and the connection to my task manager all my work journaling is digital. I stopped fretting over analog vs digital and use which ever works best for the task I’m trying to accomplish.
yepyepyep! there’s something soothing in the soft feel of pen on paper; the anticipation behind the hard-cover of a notebook; crossing out and drawing arrows and developing personal symbols to edit and move and contain on a page. yay for discovering your podcast on this saturday morning with tech while i get ready to hang with my pals 🙃🐄…
This video resonated a lot with me. Recently I have observed how mechanical it is to take notes on the iPad with an Apple Pencil: I cannot view all the notes I have taken and the debates I am having with myself "at a glance", look at all the sheets of paper and refine my understanding of a subject, which I feel is crucial for me to understand mathematics, and whenever I am writing anything in general. So, I took out the cheap Hero fountain pen my mother gave me when some 8 years back, filled it with Noodler's bulletproof black ink, and jotted down some ideas in my diary, and then went of to study mathematics. And as expected, my brain felt a lot better. There is more going on than simply the tactile feel of the pen on paper when physical tools are used to understand a subject. Whenever I take analogue notes, my brain sorts of snaps an image of it and stores it "That weird diagram you drew using purple pen on left side" "That table was in the bottom half" "The first derivation was crossed out". This type of "connection" with the notes is lost when I am using the iPad, which saddens me for I expected it to be a "solution". Perhaps it was a solution to problems which do not exist. (It is still a wonderful tool for reading books though. I first read on my PC or on my iPad, and if I like it, I buy a physical copy).
In this day and age when the so called "productivity gurus" lecture on how to implement an "efficient workflow" and how one should work smart and not hard, your video is a breath of fresh air. In my opinion, a person should find the most natural way to do something (instead of magical pills!) and evolve as and when required... Or maybe never evolve for a few things... Maybe this selective evolution is what self-discovery and growth is all about.
Thank you for uploading this honest video! Really liked it!!
Stumbled upon your video today. It resonates so much with me! Literally just sold my Apple Watch to my sister because I'm leaning towards analogue watches again. I love Apple products and its ecosystem, but feel that the Apple Watch does not add any extra value to the whole experience.
I prefer to do academic reading via physical books/documents etc, although for leisure reading I will have to hold on to my Kindle for now. Having an infant to deal with makes Kindle easier to navigate compared to an actual book, although I do buy hardcopies if I love the ebook I read
Thank you for sharing that. I've begun doing the same thing; buying the physical book of a book I enjoyed reading on Kindle.
I really appreciate the fact that you let your system to EVOLVE and share the experience with viewers. The challenge of marrying advantages and necessities of digital with the fact that our brains work better with paper and hand notes is real. You inspired me to start scanning my notes into Apple Notes and this is really helpful. Greetings from Poland! Lukasz
Thank you, Lukasz. I'm always asking the question, "how can I do it better?"
Writing this after spending about an hour trying to find the final volume of a three book set. I know I could get it in seconds if I opted for Kindle, but I have never really been able to work effectively using Kindle. Bedtime reading yes, academic research, no. So husband and I are now engaged on a quest for a book that won't break the bank.
I am also finding the intrusiveness of a phone quite hard going, lots of information I don't need being thrown at me. I am one of those people who disappears down rabbit holes quite easily, so I am changing over to a paper diary for the new academic year.
This is a great series, Carl, thank you for flying the flag for the analogue joys of life.
Miffy
Thank you, Miffy. Ooh the joys of looking for a lost book. Beats searching digital files any day of the week 🙂
Like your videos. Forces to self reflect.
With my usage of apple watches, I'm not fully ready to get rid of them (e.g. 2fa integration with corporate services and the widget showing next of many meetings in my busy calendar), but what I did after watching your experience - disabled majority of notifications and unpacked my 20y old Tissot that I started wearing during weekends. Good experience so far. Thanks for your positive influence.
When it came time to clear out my mum’s house after she passed away, I stumbled upon her old diaries. Some were just a few lines and scribbles about what she did on certain days. She wasn’t prolific; entire weeks and months went by without anything written. The diaries from before I was born helped me put dates to stories I’d only ever heard through family lore, while those from the early to mid-'80s brought a flood of memories rushing back.
Who will sit down and read a journal stored in Evernote or Day One after we’re gone? Our Markdown files? Will anyone even be able to access them? Will they know the passwords or be able to navigate our digital accounts?
There’s something irreplaceable about the tangible, the physical. Diaries, letters, records, books-things you can hold, things that carry weight and texture.
That's precisely why I think it's essential for everyone to use paper. It's been around for thousands of years and will be around in another thousand years. A .doc file created today won't be openable in twenty years time.
Thank you for sharing that story, Rob.
YES! This this this. I love the convenience of digital tools, but it ends up being an information dump rather than something thoughtful, meaningful, and useful. I moved back to notebook only recently for my task list and day-to-day notes. It's helped me tremendously in getting the right things done.
So true. There's something more intent and meaningful when you write things down.
Ah, love to see the Grid Systems book! I had the privilege of studying with Josef Müeller-Brockman in design school. Made a huge impact on my practice. I also love your other items. Several are on my desk as I type this.
Oh WOW! That must have been a fantastic experience.
I’m ditching my Apple Watch. At first it seemed like a good idea to always have access to certain information and alerts. Then I realized that not only did it not make my life better, it made it worse.
That's what I discovered too. I like to be able to take my little boy out for his walk (Yorkshire terrier) and not be disturbed by taps and beeps
As a collector of mechanical watches this warms my heart in a way I don't have words to express. I wear a watch so that I know what time it is when my phone is in another room -- which is a freeing place for it to be.
Me too. 2 week in with no watch. I feel free!!
@@marcozuniga8008 You're right; it is so freeing.
I'm experimenting with the same. Now that my child is an adult, one of the main reasons has gone, that was to be able to see messages from them or school during the day in a timely way. 8 years of statistics has provided some interesting insights, but I'm not sure that there's been enough of them to justify the cost of an Apple Watch. I'm now switching the question over to 'how do I feel?' rather than sleep, exercise, heart rate numbers. Watchless, my wrist feels lighter and I am able to find flow without time pressure in the day.
Carl, I agree with everything you’re saying, specifically about books, and hard bound cover books, there’s something so authentic about holding a “real” book in your hands that you don’t get from using a digital copy of that book. I actually look forward to now buying hard copies of my digital copies to read again and this time turning physical pages or even writing in the margins if I want to. Yep, “old School is the best school” . Slowing down helps me to retain more information, helps my memory. Get out of the “rat race of life”. 🎉🎉
I've noticed something similar. When I finish my day's work, I love grabbing a book and sitting on the sofa with my little dog beside me and my wife quietly studying for her exams at the dining table. It feels calming, relaxing and a great way to decompress at the end of day largely spent in front of screens.
Along with wearing my Tudor, I also carry a small notebook and write random thoughts, grocery lists, ideas about things. I love the notebook so much!!! I can buy refills for it every year and while the initial cost of the notebook was costly, the refills are a fair cost…Plotter makes great products. I also got fountain pens which makes writing in my journal enjoyable as well…
I still use my iPhone for making notes and pictures for different albums and ideas that I can’t really do with my notebook.
There is so much to enjoy about putting pen to paper.
wow another one! so many videos are poping up going back to paper and pen!! this is a huge trend! and loving it. bringing back our creative thinking.
I've noticed the same thing, Jordan. There's a joy in paper and making things that digital tools cannot replicate.
And here we are, watching this on UA-cam 😎
Hopefully on a computer or TV and not mindless scrolling via a phone.
Hopefully he'll release it on vinyl soon 🤞😌
Not me. I have all the videos I watch printed out as a flip book and delivered to me in my mountain hut.
what we need to understand about note taking apps is that we are supposed to use them as a second brain for storage of information we want for a long period of time (book analysis, research, cold war, etc). It works as a external ROM for our brain. Whereas, for stuff we need to remember at the moment or for an ongoing process (RAM), we need to use physical old fashioned way of writing down info on paper by hand...
this is the only effective way.
Excellent.
Müller-Brockmann is the goat. I've got 2 copies of Grid Systems. Bible for us designers. Carl, I'm having this urge recently to simplify too and minimize belongings, Marie Kondo style. Talking about design, another hero, Dieter Rams said: Less, but better. I'm applying that to my apartment, room for room currently and updating, discarding things but getting the best of any item I want to have but getting rid of the rest. It feels quite liberating to not be bogged down by too much stuff and I guess you feel similar with all the digital impact on your mental health?
That's so true. Minimising stuff does feel so liberating. And I too, love Dieter Rams and the less is more philosophy.
So you're a designer that has many errors and contradictions?
What a brilliant video Sir 👏
Thank you so much for creating this video, I work for a technology company and always found put everything especially planning as a waste of time, starting on paper is so helpful, and gets the work done too, of course whatever I put on paper gets converted into digital for collaboration at workplace but there is no comparison for starting to pen down thoughts on a paper.
I have also given up on Apple Watch, uninstalled all the Task and Note taking apps, they are of no use.
And of course, books are back too, spend several hundred pounds on iPads and Kindle but nothing worked effectively.
Love that. Thank you for commenting. 🙂
no you are not going through mid life crisis, I am in my early 20s and everything that you said its absolutely true I hate online journaling, I absolutely despise ebooks nothing can beat feel of real paper its so satisfying and digital notes are indeed distracting but able I would like a app to scan them and let me edit them too otherwise it takes more time
Aww thank you.
As someone who fills out a journal every morning before work and after work it is refreshing to open a fountain pen and to just put my thoughts down.
Hahaha Oh yeah! I know how that feels 🙂
I am so glad you made this video. As a child of the 80s, computers were out of reach. Now in my 50s, I work with a lot of young people and I often feel inadequate around technology. I feel like I'm trying to put a square peg into a round hole. I appreciate this video because while I value technology advances, I need to find a way that makes technology work for me as opposed to being frustrated most of the time. I love writing on paper - I love physical books - I love taking notes. This is a great help. I wonder if the young people who grew up with technology are better off? So much of their learning seems passive? Or perhaps their brains are better suited at this technology? Thanks so much!
Digital tools help in the right places. Your calendar is arguably better digitally. However, taking notes in a course or lecture is better with pen and paper (See Tokyo University 2014 study) and I would argue getting your news from an old fashioned print newspaper is better for you than algorithmic articles popping up in a social media feed.
Brilliant, Carl. My sentiments exactly as I am moving also in this direction. So gratifying. And it is fun to see YOU having more fun in the way you are working in your own life. A mentor of mine used to say, “Life is not a thought, it is a feeling.” Looks to me like you are nurturing the feeling side and that it is bringing you incredible dividends. Thanks for sharing it with us. Quite inspiring!
Thank you, Otis. It's true, bringing pen and paper back into my life has reignited the joy of planning and journaling and so much more.
I blend digital and physical when it comes to books (fiction and non fiction self help/reference). I often like to read digitally the first time, and then if I truly loved the book or want the book around to flip through idly or reference, then I buy a physical copy. That way I get the best of both worlds, reading a lot without sacrificing a ton of space but also keeping physical copies of the ones I treasure and having my own library. Textbooks are a different story. I prefer physical copies most of the time. Maybe a philosophy textbook I could read digitally, but otherwise physical copies are the way to go due to the most likely need to flip back and forth between pages. Admittedly, this method does not work very well if you like to highlight books and save your highlights digitally for ease of reference. I have not gotten into that yet so this works for me for now.
Hi Julia, That's something I've been doing, too. I initially bought the book on Kindle, and if I found the book enlightening, I will often purchase the physical book.
I have been reading some bound books and honestly the experience is amazing. I really did miss reading this way a lot. I’ve been looking back on how to use my bullet journal again because it was the best system I’ve had so far, although it does need some digital adaptations as the world has become more digital in the last 6 years. You’re inspiring me to just buy a pack of notebooks and write the old way. This year I set out to journal more and I’ve filled out five blank notebooks with all sorts of ideas and thoughts.
There are a lot of things that real books and pens and paper brings us. For me, the biggest one is has been having a real sense of connection again.
Loved this content. I myself switched back to analogue ways of doing things. Sold my ipad and apple watch. Got an S23 Ultra as my all in one go do device for everything digital and I have the m1 air for all desk computing stuff. I have gone back to wearing analogue watches, physical books for reading. Sketching on my sketchpads and a all in one pocket notebook to keep track of my work and routine. Never got into the habit of Journaling no matter how many times I tried to do it. Just 'not my thing'. I just open docs and spill out my thoughts and close it. This shift has bought me 'peace' literally and I won't be going back to digital for these things where the joy of getting things done the analogue way is a much more fun and calming experience. And an icing on the cake I do listen to some of the old songs which are on cassettes (which i own) using my Sony Walkman and wow. My children love that stuff 😂
WOW! You reminded me that I still have all my old mini-discs and a player. Twenty years ago, I mixed together a lot of songs that are on that player. Perhaps it's time to dig it all out and see if everything is still working.
@@Carl_Pullein mini discs will work if no foreign material has latched onto it + the player reads the discs with laser. Hopefully it's all working
Give it a try.
The nostalgic value by just the mere press of a button and the sound produced is immeasurable.
My Sony disc Walkman doesn't work anymore so my discs are just there for those good old memories
Carl, once again a great video. And I totally agree with you, smartwatches really are a focus inhibitor.
Good points. I have faced all the issues you mentioned. Trying to do some of the things you mentioned but finding it hard to
hi carl! it took me two years to figure out that analogue suits me and my daily schedule much more than digital, especially after i realised that i could never live up to my digital daily schedule because it was too overwhelming for me. i absolutely agree with all of your points! doing works and brain dumping on papers are top-tier activities to boost critical thinking and creativity for me. love your video, new subscriber here!
Thank you. And thank you for sharing your experiences.
Brilliant and a sigh of relief! I am going full analogue. I even use typewriters. I have switched to all your recommendations. The biggest benefits (as shown now by science) is that your thought processes and responses change radically, e.g, fountain pens with notebooks).
That's the biggest thing I've discovered this year. Since adding pen and paper back into the mix, I feel I've become more creative.
@@Carl_Pulleinagreed, it has been eye opening!
Loved the video! I grew up with technology all around me and I am finding having a notebook on me way more effective than just jotting it down in my phone. I seem to always forget things I put in my phone only.
On another note, one tip I would say for your videos is to add chapters so you can easily skip to parts you need. I find it hard to come back and reference a video without them. :)
Thank you. Also, thank you for the tip. These days, UA-cam adds chapters automatically for us. However, it does take a few hours for the technology to crawl through the video and add them.
My system tends to be a blend of digital and analog. I use Apple Notes for work stuff and things I need access to in the long term, I use Reminders for running task lists for work and grocery/store lists, and I use a physical journal for keeping track of things in my personal life like monthly goals, exercise tracking, journaling, etc. I wear an Apple Watch, but have been thinking a lot about going back to an analog watch.
Stumbled across this and agree lots. I’m happy with my Apple Watch but the constant charging gets old and it’s handy for paying for stuff and more. To be honest if it broke I might consider not replacing it. I’m 100% with you on books and reverted back a few years ago. One thing I would like to add is for those of you that haven’t tried a hardback is just another level of physical beauty. The pages feel protected and it’s so much more premium and enjoyable to read. Highly recommended getting one or two of your favorite books as hardbacks and seeing how you like them!
That's true about hardbacks. There's something luxurious about them that makes it a joy to read.
Congratulations for your analog transformation!!!! A good balance is the best and enjoying is the key to happiness 👍
Thank you.
Hi Carl, I can only agree with you. In march I startet with analogue journaling, after using Day One and Apple Journal before. I really enjoy writing with different fountain pens. And a Little later I started using an analogue calendar (X17), as I used to do years ago. In addition to my Apple calendar.
I know this is double labour. But I love planning on paper. The calendar is now always on my desk. I just like it.
For the way, I still have my appointments on my iPhone. I like this hybrid way of working.
And I really love writing with fountain pens and the feel of paper.
That's why I really like your videos about analogue planning and working.
Greetings from Bavaria / Germany.
Thank you, Frank. Glad you liked the video. I'll be looking at other areas to reduce screen time and increase thinking and creative time.
Carl, so cool to see. I saw a video a few weeks back and they were talking about how we do not own anything any longer. Music, it is all on Apple, Spotify or wherever. Our books, all on a kindle, our data, we rest assured that it will be there tomorrow. I own all of these nice watches and wearing this apple watch. Strangely, the band just broke and I have been wearing one of my Seiko diver's watch and I love it. I worked in IT for 25 years and I love my technology but have really liked these subtle changes.
That's so true. eBooks do feel like I am renting them. I get the same feeling with music on Spotify and Apple Music too.
I got a Garmin watch for the health features. I have never had it hooked to my phone for phone functions. It talks to the phone but the phone doesn't talk to it. But I get all of the great health features. So not distracting.
Carl, it sounds like you have reached an ideal balance between digital and analog. One thing I have started doing is writing my analog stuff on a legal pad (unencumbered by a notebook) and then scanning pages into my system. That way, I can have all that information digitized and stored in Devonthink, Apple Notes, or where ever and I don't have to fuss with the cumbersomeness of taking scans with my phone. Love the work you're doing! Keep it up!
It does feel like I have a happy balance. I'll be reviewing things later this year to see how else I can reduce screen time and increase creative and thinking time.
I like analogue for a lot of things. I collect fountain pens, so that is a nice match. I even use typewriters for drafting.
Your list was a good one. There are a lot of obstacles with digital tools getting in the way.
For a few things I've found a compromise: a reMarkable tablet which uses E-ink. Everything is handwritten like it's on paper, but it's all on the device. I have a great planner with more features than a typical planner, and all my work notebooks are on it. I can even read and annotate articles from the internet on it.
Currently working on a research project. I took a bunch of notes with index cards, typed the outline on my typewriter, and am editing it with fountain pen. I'll probably type the first draft of the final product. And, yes, typed text is easily digitized and then I can write my notes and edits all over the typed copy before editing on the computer.
Ooh, a real typewriter. Maybe that will be my evolution next year hahahaha
Perfect Carl, absolutely spot on with this video. I embrace a lot of analogue to get me away from screens and i love to write - putting pen to paper - but I've got lost in kindle and audio books this year so going back to paper will be a joy.
It is such a joy, Nicolas. Holding those physical books is something very special.
Great video, I've grouped all of my notes over the years & photgraped them as there's personal gold in them. Digital is great but I find my mind being taken 'out' correcting etc away from flow. Thank you for this 👍
You're very welcome, Denis. Glad you liked it.
You summarize what I needed lots of years to understand. Many thanks
You're very welcome, Christine.
I’m a lover of analogue methods and objects and trying to return to those ways, so this was fun to watch!
PS: If you don’t think you’ll use your Apple Watch / other digital products anymore, I recommend donating them 😊
Sadly, because of the dangers of having my analogue watch stolen when travelling in Europe, I shall be using my Apple Watch when travelling there.
Love your enthusiasm for analog. Couldn’t agree more!
Thank you, Pete.
well done, i feel i've started a similar path for a while now, well put and elaborated with a good state that looks quite pleasant!
Thank you. 🙂
Magnificent video, mate. I love my Mac computers and Apple gear, but I’ve recently reintroduced my Filofax with Franklin Covey planner inserts so I can enjoy my fountain pens again and it’s made life more enjoyable. Also wear my Rolex more often than my Apple Watch again. Thanks for making this video. Regards from South Australia.
You're very welcome. Enjoy stepping back to a more analogue world. I certainly am.
@@Carl_Pullein hey Carl, you might like a fascinating video Veritasium did on analogue computers. Look it up on UA-cam. All the best mate. 👍🏼
Agreed for all except project planning. While it’s best to use a whiteboard, iPad’s Freeform app is a great portable way to write things out and select/move things around
Very valuable stuff, Carl. I agree with most of it, especially with real books. Because when reading a book you have something physical in your hand, you can read it in the sun, it‘s so much better. Regarding the Apple Watch: I almost only use it for workouts, because I love running with music and don‘t want to be distracted by or carry an iPhone. Just put it on focus mode, no distractions, awesome. When going to work or going out: always analogue. One exception: When going for a holiday where I plan to go running - I and don‘t want to carry two watches - it‘s the Apple Watch. But disable all notifications! :-)
Hi Thomas, that's the same for me. I wear my Apple Watch when working out and when travelling. Although for me, travelling with my Apple Watch is more for security. I've heard horror stories of watches being stolen in other countries.
ROFL @ rekindling your childhood and/or mid-life crisis! Well, you just go ahead and rock BOTH of those for us all, OK? I'm here for it! LOL I've been doing Audible books for the last few years, but when you showed that book on grids... that real, hard-cover, bright red book... I hate to admit it, but I drooled. Just a little bit. :P I just commented on the last video of yours that I watched, and this one took me further down the analog rabbit hole. I'm not saying it's a BAD rabbit hole! No, no, no! I think that maybe we should ALL unplug more and be more "analog" in our lives. In our learning, schooling, relating, communicating... all of it. You know what? I think your ON to something, buddy! * digital high fives, cuz you're far away and I'm here... clap snap *
Aww thank you, Coleen. It's become one of my favourite times of the day to sit down and read a real book.
Great video, thanks!
I'm constantly going back and forth between analogue and digital, throwing away all my digital tools, buying a bunch of notebooks.. it's a real struggle to find the perfect system.
The new transcribe function in Evernote is great, for your scanned written notes :)
I haven't tried that yet, although I've been using it it in Apple's Photos app for a while.
With age you realise, I am writing this at 42-
1. life is too short,
2. time is more valuable then anything else,
3. Less is more.
4. Not everything must be digital.
5. Not massive data is information is required for every decision. Something you must believe in yourself.
6. Technology is useless if useless, if you have to upgrade, relearn, update it in every few months.
7. Memory doesn't just mean the storage in your device, but also in your mind.
8. Technology is for people, people are not for technology.
9. There is another real world outside internet where you can find real love, real friendship, real freedom and real meaning.
10. Always enjoy you cup or tea. You don't know which one is your last.
May God bless us all.
Beautifully put. Thank you for sharing. Now where did I put my cup of tea?
As a Musician and Composer I navigate between digital and analogue. The iPad has been a game changers as I can carry my entire library of scores and resources in one small device. However, in my home studio, I have 3 bookcases of traditional printed scores and sheet music. There is something about holding the book. Feeling the small indents and imperfections in the paper. Composing with mixed medium is another area. Some days are ultra high tech with the use of DAWs and synths. Other days is good old fashioned pen and paper. Love that you've found your space and equilibrium.
Thank you for sharing that, Christopher. That's what I've discovered, too. There's a balance between the two, and finding that balance brings so many benefits.
This is a great video and a great way to look at it. If you haven't yet I'd recommend old fashioned wet shaving as well. It's a very satisfying process with the brush, the soap, and the feedback from a safety razor. It's another place to make the mundane a better and more worthwhile experience
Hahahaha funny you should mention that. I began using a double edged razor four months ago. And you're so right, it'd incredibly satisfying.
I'm not surprised given the mindset of this video. The Venn diagram of fountain pens, wet shaving, watches, journaling, and to an extent pour over or manual coffee prep is almost a circle. It makes sense as it's a way to turn everyday mundane tasks into mindful experiences.
I worked for a paper based firm last year, they were incredibly inefficient in many ways but it opened my mind to the amazing usefulness and brain-friendliness of paper-based systems.
I recently visited the Korean Immigration office, which is entirely paper-based. Yet, what amazes me is how effective the Immigration service is here. Whether computers are working or not, the office is always open and can process all applications. In 22 years it's never failed.
I love the video, not sure if since I am trying to become more analog, I am resonating more with these videos, the phone is a tremendous tool but I find myself been distracted all the time, using a notebook, camera, iPod, has brough me a bit more mindfulness and less distraction, and been a bit more present in conversations with other people, so you may think these devices are design to keep us captive and addicted...
That's the biggest thing I've noticed. I no longer feel "captive", a lot freer and I love picking a pen up and just writing my thoughts.
It’s great to hear about your experience in getting away from digital. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Roland.
I would be curious to see you do a test of going full analog for all your productivity management systems for a time (paper calendar or planner, paper project support lists, paper task lists, etc). The problem I found is that when I switched my entire productivity life over to systems like GTD, and when I started using digital tools like Todoist or Evernote, I felt like I became a mental pack rat, a mental hoarder. That's where I think David Allen went wrong...potentially boundless or infinite collections is not a good thing. His "back of the envelope" model only works well when you have a defined space on the envelope, not a bottomless planning pit. When I went back to full analog, for calendar, for tasks, for planning, I found my inner essentialist again. I rediscovered the truth that less is more, that part of being effective is learning to eliminate or get rid of stuff, not always keep it front and center in your mind. Having to use only paper tools again, with only limited space, helped me rediscover that. In short, when using all digital tools, I was getting lost in the infinite, and having my life stuck in a boundless digital space with no limits to how much could be added felt totally disorienting. Getting some defined boundaries again with paper brought back a perspective on life that I had lost. I'm not saying I boycott all digital. I still use internet, email, digital banking, etc., but now they feel like true tools as opposed to my very existence.
For me, digital task management and calendars are generally better. I can easily set up my recurring tasks and appointments, which reduces the chance I will miss something. However, when it comes to planning and isolating the most important work for the day, I find pen and paper work best.
Hi Carl, it is really a great pleasure to follow you, with what enthusiasm and with what growing intellectual depth you present your analogue transformation. That is really inspiring. Thank you very much
Aww, thank you. Glad you liked the video(s) 🙏
In one of your videos, you talked about writing your daily 2+8 into a small memo notebook & have it sitting at your workspace. (analog) Are you still doing that? … Loved the joyful tone of this video! … I recently went back to wearing a watch. The main reason is that I love the fun vibes of Swatch watches. (And they’re Swiss!) … I was curious as to what your 5 items were and almost yelped for joy over the last idea: physical books. I belong to several book clubs and almost everyone “reads” via ebook or audible. I don’t get it. I don’t get the same pleasure, nor the same processing of content. Thank you for this video!
Oh yes. That little notebook keeps me focused on the important things each day.
Yes, I've seen some of the Swatch Omega Moon Watch editions and they look fantastic!! Very tempting hahaha
Wow. Loving the enthusiasm. I’m inspired. Thank you. 😁
Thank you, John.
I like when analog or digital enhances the other. My beautiful botanical notebook is perfect for collecting ideas on meal prep, but all my final lessons learned and tweaks go into the paprika app. I also like staring at my tick tick while I unload my daily to do unto a paper planner.
Me too! Using the tools that best do the job.
This video makes me happy! Full of insights - and the joys of finding the balance between paper and tech.
Hi Claudia, glad you liked it.
I love your points in this video, first time viewer btw, and I'm definitely going to put some into practice to see how they work for me. However reading physical books I know for certain won't work for me. I discover this back in college where I found myself actually taking in the content more consistently and accurately if I were reading off a digital device (back then off my laptop, and now off my tablet), vs if I was reading from a physical book. I'm not sure why but I find myself being more distracted with physical books. I even went as far as to scan the pages of books and read the images off my laptop.
That being said, I was wondering if there were anything you refused to go analog that you didn't mention in this video? and if so why?
Hi David, Funny you should ask that. I'm about to do a 3-month experiment by going back to using only a Franklin Planner (Oct to Dec). I used an FP from 1993 to 2009, so I'm very familiar with how it works, and I am curious, after 15 years of digital tools, if paper tools work as well or better.
I will be reporting the results of my experiment in the New Year.
@@Carl_Pullein That would be an interesting experiment! I look forward to what you learn.
Great video! I've also been going with pen and paper. It's interesting how addicting our phones can be. Feels like I'm missing out by not keeping up with the latest digital update.
Oh, I've been down that road. Have become a bit more sceptical in recent years.
Excellent, Carl. I've used fountain pens (I am assuming that Montblanc on your desk is not necessarily a ballpoint or rollerball ?) from the age of twelve, onwards; I still read physical books - the smell a new book exudes can be all-encompassing; & as you assert, there's nothing quite like that tactile sensation that a digitized, sterile format is completely bereft of. For myself tho', the keystone to the analogue world is the subtle diversification of all (our) senses, so much so that they can be amalgamated in an instant - no app can manifest that so readily. Technology (ironically) can dissociate the former, bring about many pathologies that otherwise would not insinuate themselves into the fabric of our lives. I too, stiil write handwritten letters to those within a personal & professional capacity, sport a hand-wound wristwatch, & never leave home without at least three fully-charged fountain pens. I would concur, technology has it's place - but it will never supplant the finest computer on the planet - that which sits between our ears..... Stay safe & well !
Andrew.
Thank you, Andrew. I agree with you. The tactile touch of pen and paper somehow removes the sterile feel of digital. (and yes, it is a fountain pen. A gift from my wife for publishing my book 🙂)
A wonderful gift, Carl, & no doubt, well deserved. If we are to manage our lives in an ever-increasing technological world, we must (also) retain links, howsoever tenuous, to that simpler, less machinated era. Enjoy your day !
Andrew 🙂
You might enjoy the book, "The Revenge of Analogue" by David Sax, in case you haven't actually read it yet!
I'm reading it right now 🙂
Love your references to 007 in almost every video 😅. More on-topic: been using a rocketbook a couple of years now and love the writing, but I dont like the cleaning of the book and the rewriting everytime. Looking to buy an e-ink tablet but not sure yet which one. Any ideas/experience with those?
There are some great names in the Bond books (and films) 🙂
I tried a ReMarkable a couple of years ago and didn't like it. Nothing wrong with the tablet, but coming from a fountain pen world, tapping plastic on glass just doesn't work for me.
Here’s a book you might find interesting; Revenge of Analogue: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax. I have it on my night stand with a pencil and notepad ready. I’m making the switch back to reading a book before bed and banning my techs to across the room. I grew up without all this tech and always had my nose in a book. It’s astounds me how quickly technology dominates our attention, and almost with a firm grip.
Thanks for the tip. I've ordered it from my library - a physical copy.
Ordered it! Thank you for the heads up.
@@Carl_Pullein Truly? Please do a review if you get the chance, i’d love to compare notes. Ta!
@@neitaoutdoors4278 yes, physical copies are the best! I own mine but still won’t scribble on the pages so a pencil and notepad it is. I also have sticky tabs ready to mark pages. I’ll transfer my notes to my commonplace book the next day along with my thoughts.
Writing in a paper journal has been my daily routine for years now 🎉
It's such a great way to collect your thoughts.
I also find easier that reviewing my work is easier with paper then digital. You can add remarks, add thoughts, etc. much easier. By the way, I use Kindle only for cooking books the rest I buy.
That's true. I find reviewing documents on paper too.
@@ogdanem same with me! Only I use my ereader for fiction, because i hardly annotate those. I much prefer physical books when it comes to non-fiction, and when possible preloved. I’d buy brand new only if I couldn’t get hold of a second-hand one.
I started writing recently with a Mont Blanc pen my mother used to own and she gave it to me, truly a special feeling and to finally have something to put my thoughts into feels extremely good and it makes me feel lighter. I dont know why but doing it on a phone or computer just doesnt feel the same i dont know if its because when we write we actually have to make the letters instead of just pressing buttons
You're right, there is something special handwriting instead of tapping. :-)
Interesting video, Carl. Thanks. That is one hell of an expensive watch!
I have dabbled in ebooks, but prefer actual books to read from, and as I read a lot of books a year (150 plus) this is much better for my eyes.
You're right there. I have my reading space set up with a good light behind me. Makes reading so much easier.
Hey Carl, I noticed that you use/create narrow columns in your journal and project notebooks for shorter notes. Can you please tell me more on what specifically you write in the narrow column?
I agree with everything apart from the books, i have relegated my Garmin watch to training only, opting for my Omega Seamaster as well, i write everything onto paper but I read books constantly, I have kindle unlimited and have 3 or 4 books on the go at any one time, certain books i buy, i have the Daily Stoic as well for example, but i read whenever I can and carrying books around all of the time would be impractical. I love real books though and the smell of a bookshop is only beaten by fresh cut grass to me!
I agree with you about book. When reading at home--where I do most of my reading--I will read real book. When flying, I prefer carrying my Mini iPad. That's lighteer than carrying three or four books.
First, thank you for sharing this that work for you, and explaining why/how they benefit you. I am confused though. You can easily write directly into your iPad or tablet, which would accomplish the same goal. Using your tablet would allow you to catalog and store whatever you’ve created easier, in case you want to share or review what you wrote years later. As far as the watch, I agree completely. I had an automatic watch created for me by hand to remember the 15th anniversary of the company I started. I rarely use my smartwatches now, for the same reasons you shared. I feel much less stressed because I do not have a watch on my wrist forcing me to be aware of every notification I receive the second I receive it. But again, I hand write my notes, as well as journal daily with my iPad. I like your way of adding real life moments within the pages of your journal though. I also look your appreciation for hard copies of books. I am an author, and I love signing copies of my books for people. I have about a dozen books that are used for teaching youth, and I always give them a digital copy of their textbook and a hard copy of their workbook. I believe the mixture of the two is the best way to make sure they have full access but also enjoy a personalized experience. I agree that there is value in having a book you hold and develop an intimate relationship with.
For me, the handwritten notes are because I have an unhealthy lifelong obsession with fountain pens (fortunately, it's not fatal). Plastic-on-plastic tapping just doesn't have the same tactile feel a beautifully smooth fountain pen nib has on paper.
I also found it annoying to tap the screen each time I wanted to write with my pencil and hope that the right note was waiting for me. I played for hours, trying to find the right time gap between the existing and new notes. Agh... Just thinking about it now winds me up.
@@Carl_Pullein I completely understand. I have over 50 fountain pens. I have pens worth as much as a house then I have pens that are just special to me for various reasons. I also enjoy the feeling of writing by hand. I find it more intimate and timeless.
I have Audis and Porsches. I appreciate the journey the founder went through to build the company, the quality of the vehicles they produce, and I find them to be a good balance between value and cost. I wrote by hand for years, for the same reasons you mentioned. My Audi trunk was supposed to be air sealed. I had a few of my journals in the trunk. One day I went into the trunk to find something, and water had gotten inside somehow. Multiple journals were ruined.
I made a decision to write digitally after that because I want the youth and young adults in my family to learn from my daily experiences for generations. I started a family business that has grown into a national company worth multiple millions of dollars. I bought all the property on a street I grew up on in Atlanta in my old neighborhood, with the purpose of building both a headquarters for our company and a community space for the neighborhood. I grew up in a very poor and underserved area of the city. I also am building a multifamily estate, so my family can live together near our family business as a tribe or extended family unit within walking distance of our family owned business. I want my family to be able to read my journal to understand how and why I did all of this.
It would be a problem if my journal was to be damaged again. This way, not only will it be preserved, multiple copies of it can be made, so everyone who wants a copy can have one. After my first journals were destroyed, I said I would not make that mistake again.
I am also adopting multiple children. I decided to let them read my journal as well, to make sure they want to be adopted into my home and family. I do not believe decisions should be made for children when it will change the course of their future. By creating my journal digitally, I can easily print and present a copy to them.
I love the experience of handwriting also, but it just does not provide the same level of utility for me at this stage in my life. I even write the notes for my books this way, for similar purposes.
@@Makingthetransition Ah, you touch on something I read in Leonardo Da Vinci's biography (the Walter Isaacson version). Leonardo's journals and notebooks have survived for over 500 years. When writing Steve Jobs's biography, Steve Jobs was unable to provide his digital journal entries from the early 1990s because the software to open them no longer existed.
Despite the efforts of Apple's best engineers, no one could open them. They are lost forever, yet 7,000 pages of Leonardo Da Vinci's notes will remain with us for many years.
@@Carl_Pullein great point. I thought about that. I also thought about the issue with my passwords to unlock my device and to open my journal app. I screenshot the pages of the journal then transfer them to a PDF file and add recent entries to a book I’ve created. I believe this is the best option I’ve found so far. This way the journal is not dependent on a particular app, software that at some point will become outdated, or locked behind multiple passwords.
I don’t think I have every answer or the perfect process, I just know while Leonardo Da Vinci’s journals lasted 500 years, mine didn’t last 5 minutes once water hit them, and that was devastating for me.
I used to journal and planning in notion but i switch blank white pages. Tbh thats a best decision i took
I would love to see how you would make some of these completely analogue, on paper.
I find digitizing my to-do lists and my calendar is not only a distraction taking me away from my work, but not as easily accessible as just glancing at my notebook / calendar / planning book or whatever. I would like to keep more and more items on paper so I don’t have to turn on a computer or my phone to see it. Also, I seem to remember items better if I write them down in some fashion.
I am planning on getting a desk pad calendar for appointments and events as well as some simple grid paper for weekly plannings and daily to-do lists. Thanks for this video. It has inspired me to get more organized in ways that will help me.
Hi Paul, I've just ordered a new Franklin Planner set. I plan to go all in on the Franklin Planner for the year's final quarter. That will cover my day-to-day work and a two-week trip at the end of the year. (Weirdly getting very excited about this experiment, LOL)
@@Carl_Pullein Good luck with the Franklin Planner. It can be a great way to work through your day-to-day tasks. I used one for several years. What I found for myself is that I was re-writing tasks again and again just to get them on the next day’s list. I found that aspect a bit frustrating over time - feeling almost pressured to push onto the next day again and again. So, at this point, I’m thinking of keeping things a bit more free form. I won’t be re-writing tasks, but instead looking through the lists or looking back at the lists as I move forward. I am also going to try your weekly planning square. But I’m actually hoping that becomes more of a monthly planning thing that highlights the general things I should be doing while the task lists will be my specific reminders and motivators to get things done. We will see how it goes.
@@paulbunyar1289 Hi Paul, I used one for 14 years only going digital in 2009. I'm looking forward to the experiment.
Pretty much every app lets you disable automatic spell checking, by the way. I know because I always do that.
That said I agree that even the best devices cannot replicate both the feel and the simplicity of a pencil and paper. When I write or draw I don't want to create new files, organize things or click around, I just want to take a pen and do it.
🤭 sitting here reading your book, which I bought on kindle.
Aww thank you 🙂
Brillant ...the whole problem, killing all apps that pretent to offer focus is in the word you used "Editing"...On top of this, Notion, where you end up editing, formating, reflecting on how to connect the note which ultimately does not deliver any value.
Completely agree, Hilaire.
Carl, may I recommend a book The Gutenberg Parenthesis by Jeff Jarvis. You might enjoy that.
Ooh, thank you. I'll look into that book. 🙏
Yes nothing better than sketchbook, little paintings, and your own handwritten notes. Can go back thru your notebooks anytime. Digital not the same.
That's so true, Lynn.
I’m enjoying an analog system that uses a notebook for each major project I’m working on, one for weekly/long term plans, and a final one for daily time-blocking. It’s much more enjoyable vs a digital system and who doesn’t like having a legitimate reason to buy notebooks!?
I heard of that technique before. Sound like an excellent idea to me.
@@Carl_Pullein Another cool part of a notebook system is that ironically you get more out of your tech devices, iPad, Macbook etc because you can use those screens for research etc instead of having to keep your system open on valuable screen real estate.
Loving this video. So relaxing........
Hi, what do you write about in your journal daily? 😊
Can you please teach us how you manage projects using your notebook? At a glance, both your journal and planner seem full and organized... I might takeaway a thing or two and incorporate those in my style (which I'm still trying to put a pin on). Thank you!
What I write in my journal can be seen here: ua-cam.com/video/hS564qpan3M/v-deo.htmlsi=PzzPWsFQOfX-5SFc
And how I manage my projects can be seen here: ua-cam.com/video/YJZkYNlp_bA/v-deo.htmlsi=bCahqla7ukR2ZZvZ
I wonder how the grid system book compares to the Tufte books. Thanks for the video. As for journaling (1) and planning(3/4), I have experimented with doing them on my iPad with hand-writing. It is not the same feeling but should it not be the same mentally? Smart watch (2), is not applicable to me with a far less connected simple Garmin. But, I would go back to a Speedmaster if could afford one. Time to grab a book and settle on the sofa.
I like the content & this isn't a personal comment - but I kinda wish you were speaking a little more slowly on this video. Because of the theme, its making me think in general I don't want to listen to fast & frantic yt videos any more ... I wonder how much time that would add to the length or whether you could just trim the word count a bit. 20/21mins seems a good length for this topic.
Just a thought
Just a suggestion - you could go to settings and choose a slower speed. I often change the speed of videos, according to what's convenient to me.
Hi Carl, great video (again)! I’ve had a major struggle with analog vs digital for years. Currently I’m digital for everything. I use Goodnotes to “write” but it’s still not the same. Have you ever tried any weekly or daily paper planners like Full Focus or anything? Thinking about going back to that too.
This year, I began doing all my planning, at least initially, on paper. This has been fantastic. It's slowed me down and given me time to think things through properly.
I am about to embark on a three-month experiment using a Franklin Planner as my main time management tool. I am quite excited about this. It's been fifteen years since I last used a Franklin Planner.
@@Carl_Pullein keep us posted on the one you find most useful! I’ve used Full Focus and Ink & Volt over the years and loved them. I would do my planning and enter tasks into Todoist. I think I may go back but would love to hear your experience. Thanks again!
Yes this is it ive switched to twking the highlights off my kobo and writjingnthem into a commonplace book at tthe end of the week
Ooh, I like that idea. 🙂
Things you write in somehow sink in deeper.
I've noticed that too. 🙂
I am analog in all of these things except for books. My eyes just don't do well with regular print any,ore.
Fiction is digital and audio. Non-fiction is still paper. It saves some money, too.