Analog Clarity in a Digital World 🖋️
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Hello Reader, Awhile back, I decided I was sick and tired of disposable pens. I write down so much and so I blow through pens, even good quality ones. I'd been using a little Kaweco Sport fountain pen a bit in my watercolor painting hobby and I thought, "Well, fountain pens are a lot less wasteful." So I got a nice-ish piston filler fountain pen and some (very sparkly) ink. (Here's a video that explains how that works, it's cool!) Problem solved! I know you might be thinking, "But Sarah, just write your notes in Notion and then you'll have everything stored digitally and there won't be any waste." Here's the thing about that: Yes, I love digital notes and use my Notion hub like a giant internal Wikipedia. And yet, it doesn't replace that analog process. I use old fashioned pen and paper for so much:
Scientists have discovered that not only does writing things down by hand help you remember, but it also helps make connections in different parts of your brain. Cool, right? When I read that, I felt very validated! Josh and I are in the midst of finishing the editing of my Squarespace SEO Hacks course and it's actually pretty funny how often I say in the video lessons, "Write this down! Yes, on paper!" Or in my free Engineer Luck course, I, again, prompt folks to write down answers to questions I ask so they can think on them further. I tend to get a little pushy with my Spark Session clients especially, suggesting that they get away from their computers and brainstorm ideas for their newsletters or blogs or even a new service they have tickling the backs of their brains. Nearly every single conversation I have with clients, colleagues, and friends includes some mention of information overload, screen exhaustion, and just digital overwhelm. (Sound familiar?) Perhaps a little analog clarity is what we all need right now. Clarify is one of the three core pillars of my Alignthority® (notice that fancy ® by the way?) Marketing System, and this practice again helps me walk the walk towards clarity even further. What I've found is that the more I shift into initial pen and paper doodling, writing, and thinking (in my mind, I call this my "rough draft thinking"), the more "right" my finished work feels. It turns out, my shift to fountain pens wasn't just about reducing waste, though that was a nice part of it; it was a conscious decision to continue on a path towards reclaiming a tangible, thoughtful approach to my work in a too-noisy world. By embracing the analog, I've not only discovered a more sustainable note-taking habit, but also a more effective and fulfilling creative process. In a world saturated with digital noise, the simple act of putting pen to paper has become a powerful tool for clarity, connection, and ultimately, creating work that truly resonates. Talk soon, Sarah |