One of the reasons for my not being active on Journaly aside from my low motivation for language learning is the rediscovered appreciation for analog. Last year was a transitional one for me, where I slowly pulled myself out of the overwhelming digital world and rekindled my passion for good old analog tools and methods. This was also me finally saying "No, thank you" to the fast-paced, so-called productive life. Sometime in 2024, I finally admitted that I didn't like the way I'd shaped myself around this craze. I'm exhausted from constantly trying to be productive, and I've been for a while. I needed a breather — more like, I needed a change.
The idea of productivity is closely connected to digital technology. A gazillion of tools help you juggle tons of tasks every day, and many of us gravitate towards them. They have become part of every inch of our life, and we're constantly bombarded with new technologies and shiny new toys in such a short span of time. It feels like we're getting deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole. Honestly, I don't know what's on the other side when we come out of it, or if we ever will. As much as I appreciate the evolution of technology, there are many questionable outcomes that I've seen in people and in myself. It's quite alarming how much of control we let digital technology have over us, many times willingly. I've had this constant apprehension about our relationship with technology for quite some time. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I sincerely worry about our future... my future. What concerns me the most is the state of my brain in such an overstimulating way of life. I won't go into detail because I'd be rambling on about it until humanity becomes extinct (Earth would be so thrilled), and I'd sound like a crazy middle-aged woman (which I am) and you don't want that.
Long story short, I've been reincorporating more analog methods and tools back into the aspects of my life that I want to improve: reading, writing, planning, learning, note-taking, and overall knowledge management. So, it's not that I haven't been writing, but I've been writing wildly and messily in physical journals to the point that my writer's callus came back. This suits my current mindset better than typing eloquent entries on my computer. I'd love to write more on Journaly, though. I'm thinking about creating a new analog system that can replace my current digital Journaly trackers and correction notes in Obsidian. They are practical enough, but it falls short compared to the amount of time and effort I've invested. So, let's see what happens.
This doesn't mean I'd go 100% digital-free or anything; that would be downright unrealistic. However, I'm trying to use them more as complements rather than as my primary tool. I want to reduce screen time, get rid of unnecessary stimulation, and give my brain the space it needs to relax and function properly. In other words, I just want to slow down, be more intentional about what I do, particularly regarding input and output, and not be afraid of being inefficient or unproductive in the process.
Happy Weekend!
Oh, I'm also a crazy middle-aged woman, and I couldn't agree more. In my opinion, digital technologies have created the illusion that we're limitless, when in fact we're not. And I think being limited is the biggest relief for us. Yes, let us see what happens. I'm pleased to hear from you on Journaly.
Excellent English!
Indeed, we're not limitless and our brain cannot function or shouldn't function like computers. And our strength lie in the limitation and the unpredictability💪🏻Thank you @Akiko for a lovely comment✨
Thank you for your kind comment and for all the corrections @quassnoi ! I appreciate it 🙏🏻✨
I’ve been thinking about the same thing lately, mostly due to the scattered nature of digital tools. There are so many similar tools that offer plenty of features yet lack certain things, so my “ideal” flow is never complete. I've also been a bit tired of trying to be efficient or productive all the time and have started admiring the slow process of understanding things better and in more meaningful ways. I’ve started logging my reading alongside my thoughts in my notebook, too, and I’ve found that the act of writing helps me deepen my thinking and take more time to form opinions—because it’s inevitably a painfully slow process. Great writing by the way, I love your style! Looking forward to reading more to come :)
I totally empathize with the desire for a more analog life. I recently bought a typewriter and have been enjoying using it :)
Thank you, @Sayuri for commenting🙏🏻, and it's always good to know that there are many people that feel the same. You know what? I'm taking a similar approach to reading these days, and I'm having such a great fun. As you said, doing this analog way has really improved my understanding and retention. I might talk about this in the future, here.
Thank you for the comment and the correction, @Ersatzjello 🙏🏻Wow, a typewriter! That's amazing. I'd love to have one in the future; it's in my bucket list.