Appreciation post: Going back to a paper planner after years of phone calendars

I used to rely on Google Calendar for everything, but after my phone died during a trip to Portland last month, I grabbed a $12 spiral-bound planner from the drugstore. Now I actually remember what I wrote down because writing it by hand sticks in my brain better. Has anyone else found that analog scheduling cuts down on missed appointments?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordanc684d ago

Notice how we keep adding steps between us and the stuff we actually need to remember. I mean, think about it - we use a phone to set a reminder, which sends a notification to our watch, which we glance at and forget two seconds later. But with a paper planner you have to physically flip it open, write it down with a pen, and then look at it again later to check what's coming up. That extra effort forces your brain to actually pay attention (instead of just letting the phone handle everything passively). It's like the difference between typing a grocery list and handwriting it - you remember the items way better when you write them out. Same reason people say they feel more connected to music on vinyl or books on paper, you know? We're just not wired to process everything through a screen.

avery_walker305d ago

My buddy Tim tried switching back to a paper planner after his phone fell in a puddle. He kept forgetting to check it at first, but once he got in the habit, he said he actually showed up to stuff on time for once. Feels like the physical act of writing it down makes a difference somehow.