Can you be more productive with pen and paper? [WRAP 142]

Hey Reader,

I started a personal challenge this month — 30 days without alcohol or processed sugar (dessert, etc). I don't drink a lot, just a few beers a week on average, but it's nice to detox a couple months each year.

I put together a group in Father Fire for other dads to join and cheer each other on. Request an invite here and come hang 👋

💡 One Big Idea: More Productive with Pen and Paper

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the countless productivity apps on your phone or computer?

I know I have. And I’m not alone.

Despite the promise of increased efficiency, I often find myself with too many digital to-do lists, reminders, and notifications. I open an app with the intention of completing a task but get distracted by another notification or feature.

That’s why I’m a big believer in the power of analog tools for productivity.

Here’s why pen and paper might be the productivity hack you’ve been missing:

Fewer distractions

Unlike digital apps, a notebook doesn’t ping you with notifications or tempt you with other features. When you sit down with your pen and paper, you’re focused solely on the task at hand.

Better retention

Research shows that writing things down by hand helps us remember them better. When you physically write out your tasks or ideas, you’re more likely to recall them later.

Increased visibility

It’s easy for digital tasks to get buried in an app. But when your to-do list is sitting on your desk, it’s a constant, visible reminder of what needs to be done.

Flexibility

Whether you prefer bullet journaling, sticky notes on a whiteboard, or index cards for project planning, analog tools can be adapted to fit your unique style and needs.

Now, I’m not saying we should completely abandon digital tools. I still use apps like Notion, ClickUp, and Google Docs for collaborative work with my team. But I’ve found that starting with pen and paper for planning and organizing makes me much more productive when I do switch to digital tools.

My process looks something like this:

Plan and brainstorm ideas on paper
Organize tasks and projects in a bullet journal or on a whiteboard
Transfer necessary information to digital tools for team collaboration

By starting with analog, I already know exactly what I need to do when I open up a digital tool. The app becomes a place to execute, not to plan.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by digital productivity tools, why not give analog a try? Start small - maybe just write out your daily to-do list by hand for a week and see how it feels.

You might be surprised at how much more focused and productive you become when you step away from the screen and pick up a pen.

👀 One Video to Watch: Analog Action in 7 Minutes

In this video you'll learn how to set up a bullet journal and start taking "analog action" in 7 minutes. You don't actually need an official bullet journal to do this, but it is my favorite tool. You can do it with an index card or sheet of paper!

Watch the video here or click the image below.

A quick favor while I have you — if you're on YouTube I would really appreciate a subscribe to my new channel, HeyCreator. I am in the midst of filming some new productivity videos on my channel, but HeyCreator is still shipping weekly shows and shorts. Check it out and subscribe!

Last thing, I also host a free community for dads called Father Fire where we talk about parenting, marriage, career, and just funny kid stuff. We're over 100 members and I'm going to host a live call for everyone in the next few weeks. If you want to join us, click here and I'll see you inside!

Have a great weekend,

Matt Ragland

p.s. if you have a (literal) minute to share feedback, click here.