Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
I started using a paper calendar as sort of a joke. It was part of my experiment to live as if I were back in 1993. I ditched all modern tech and bought a weekly planner from the dollar store. My busy adult life still needed some kind of planning system. I didn’t expect to stick with it after my experiment was up, but you know what? I did.
The experiment ended but the paper calendar stuck around. It found a home on my desk, where I’ve been using it every day since then. It’s strange because Google Calendar had been my go-to tool for years. It organized everything in my life, from my kids’ dentist appointments to my bike rides. But weirdly, I feel more in control of my schedule with pen and paper than I did with Google’s digital tools.
Do you feel stressed by your digital life? 10 votes Yes, my digital life is a disorganized mess. 30 % Sometimes, and I'm thinking of changing. 20 % Sometimes, but I can deal. 10 % No, my digital life is perfect for me. 40 %
I made the switch to slow down
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority
Maybe you’ve felt the same way I was feeling: the constant dinging, the notification dots, that feeling that no matter what you do, you’re a disorganized mess who can’t get all your ducks in a row. So, you add more to your calendar, more to your to-do list, more to your note-taking apps.
I’ve been there too. I was worn down by digital fatigue and wanted something that would slow my life down without losing control of the things that matter. The paper planner I bought for that experiment turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. It slowed me down and made me think about each item I added to my day.
I gained some mental space by switching It took some self-discipline to get started, but the habit of sitting with my calendar each morning formed surprisingly quickly. Here’s what I do at the beginning of every day: Open my planner and see if there are any items left over from yesterday.
Add those to today’s tasks and put three exclamation marks next to them (!!!).
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