So much of my daily work happens on the computer. It’s where I write. Where I read journal articles. And even where almost all of my meetings happen. I’ve had such a marked increase in time in front of the computer that I have been wearing blue light glasses regularly since around 2021. I have been looking for ways to step away from the computer over the last year to counter this increase. Some has come in making time for in person meetings, but the bulk of the change has come in the form of going analog.
The research journal that I have previously written about here is an example. I could have done the journal in a Word document or with an app. Instead, I use a notebook and a collection of colored pens that now occupy a ziploc baggie. (I’m in the market for a fun pencil case if you have recommendations.) Writing by hand makes me slow down because honestly if I don’t I can’t reread what I wrote. It also gives me space to randomly draw diagrams or chart out a timeline for a project.
The other thing I’ve taken analog is book reading. With the exception of books I only have access to on the computer through the library website, I am reading away from my computer. While I have never been opposed to writing in books, I’ve started using 2 colors of small post its to flag passages I want to take notes on and footnotes or references I want to take a closer look at. After I’ve reviewed the book, I sit down and take notes. So far I’m finding my digitized notes are more curated. Instead of typing out pages of full quotations like I do when I sit at the computer to take notes while reading, I have summaries of things that I know I can use the book as a citation for and more select extended quotes. Reading away from the computer also means I can use the comfy chair in my home office more often, go sit outside, or pull out my book while waiting at my son’s soccer practice.
Going analog forces me to slow down. It gives me opportunities to change scenery. And it helps me curate rather than compile everything and anything.
practical phd 
I would be keen to try this! Do you have any advice for efficiently navigating through old analog notes like you would with hyperlinks and search in digital notes?
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In my research journal, I use those sticky flags to mark off pages that I want to come back to. I’ve been arbitrary with colors but do use thicker ones to mark off a schedule I came up with and want easy access to. You could assign colors to different categories of entries you want to reference again as well. For the reading notes, I eventually type up notes so it’s easier to see everything all together for a project. Nothing analog is going to reproduce the ease of use of the digital, but that’s okay too! It takes the time it takes!
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