Endless digital systems, software tools and apps exist to help lives run more smoothly, but there is a growing community of people who have opted to go back to analogue working — abandoning notifications and updates in favour of pen and paper.
What is Analogue
Analogue working means working offline with pen and paper. It can feel less immediate than digital working, which offers endless possibilities and storage space, but it is worth understanding the benefits before dismissing it.
Reasons to Go Analogue
Research published under the title "The Pen is Mightier than the Keyboard" found across three separate studies that students who took notes on laptops performed worse on conceptual questions than students who took notes longhand. Laptop note-takers have a tendency to copy word for word, whereas notes taken by hand are reframed by the writer in their own words. The bottom line is that writing down notes by hand helps to retain that information better.
The Hidden Value of Analogue Friction
Going analogue also forces a useful discipline: cutting out the things that will never realistically get done. Looking at a task list and asking whether it is a wish list — things hoped for but probably never achieved — or a realistic set of tasks is a valuable exercise.
The act of writing something down creates friction, or resistance, that signals whether adding it is genuinely worth the time. Digital working can make it all too easy to add more tasks to a to-do list in a split second, without giving them any real thought. A task manager and a calendar are only useful when treated with appropriate discipline — anything that needs to get onto them should have a very good reason for being there.
Analogue Systems
There are several analogue systems worth exploring. Out of the four listed below, bullet journalling is probably the most well known in productivity circles. However, it does not suit everyone at all times. Trying out a range of these systems and using the one that works best — or even creating a hybrid version — is a perfectly valid approach.
- Bullet journaling — a modern Filofax; a place to dump all thoughts and organise them. A detailed explanation of the method is available online for those who wish to explore it further.
- White board — being more intentional with a task list by putting a white board on the wall, creating three columns (to do, doing and done), writing tasks on sticky notes and moving them across the columns as they are completed.
- Mind maps — writing the main theme in the middle of a sheet of paper and branching out with other smaller ideas.
- Standard day planner — a day-to-view diary. The constraints of the physical space encourage selectivity about what can realistically be achieved.
Does This Mean Giving Up Digital Altogether
Not necessarily — for most people it is about finding the right balance. Digital tools provide the freedom to access information everywhere and that is genuinely useful, particularly for remote workers. Digital files can also be backed up, which provides reassurance against losing large amounts of data.
A practical middle ground that many people find effective is using a digital calendar while keeping email and social media alerts switched off on a phone, and doing planning work offline. Finding the balance that works individually — and that ensures the person rather than the technology is in control of the day — is the goal.
How Professional Academy Supports Your Journey
For those interested in Sales, Marketing, Management or Digital Marketing, Professional Academy offers both electronic and printed study materials alongside the opportunity to complete a professional qualification within a timeframe that suits each learner's circumstances. To find out more about the right qualification level, the Qualifications Navigator is a useful starting point, or the Professional Academy team is available to discuss options on a call.
