I am fully aware of the irony of writing this piece on a laptop, while using the internet, for people to read on their phones but stay with me. Having spent some time in Spain this month, with very patchy wi-fi, I have had to amuse myself ‘off-line’. While sat working on Japanese verb endings (I had brought my notes and notebook with me), listening to the only album my phone held in offline form, I was reminded of a video I had recently watched about people wanting to return to a simpler time – an age of analogue. Now I was being forced to try it out in real time.
As I cursed myself for not thinking to download more music* and for being complacent about internet access while in a villa in a very remote area of north-east Spain, I realised what I needed to do was to embrace the opportunity I was being given – and of course, use it as an idea for a blog post!
* My old phone needs to be cleared daily as it does not have any storage, so having no music available on Spotify was entirely my own fault for not moving over to my new phone, which I have had for over a year – this is possibly some sort of metaphor about the downside of resisting change …
As I will be starting my new – hopefully forever- job this month, the plan is to get into a good early morning routine, which I will then develop into a good evening one. The end game being that I spend less time on the brain rot aps, and more time actually doing things that will benefit me and my life.
Grab a note book
I love of a good list in a notebook – it is the backbone of this website.
I will always encourage a hand written plan over storing it on a laptop. Not just for the practical reasons either, like losing all you work thanks to the power of tech (my previous laptop ate a whole first draft of a book -sob!).
In a world that feels like it is dominated by screens, there’s something so undeniably refreshing about returning to the simplicity of noting things down with a pen on a pad.
Handwriting your notes, jotting down quick ideas or even sketching out plans can enhance creativity in ways that digital devices just can’t match. Plus there is the added bonus of there being less distractions by way of notifications from your notebook.
You may click on your phone to note down a great line for a future haiku, when you see that you have 3 new messages on Whatsapp, and before you know it, you are messaging friends and the line has been lost forever. Taking a small notebook around with you means that all of your thoughts and ideas are a few seconds away from being being noted done, without any digital distractions.
That is the real benefit of going ‘non-digital’; It is the fact that the tactile experience of pen on paper encourages mindfulness. It allows your thoughts to flow freely without the distractions of notifications and pop-ups. Moreover, studies have shown that writing by hand can improve memory retention, making it a powerful tool for learning and organisation. I’m personally finding this particularly useful in my language learning journey.
Add to that the satisfaction of crossing out completed tasks on a paper list. A tick against a task is a small but mighty triumph in our digital age.
Another bonus is that the work is easier to get rid of if you don’t want to keep it or for anyone else to read it. My immense trust issues, coupled with my lack of tech skills have led me to believe that anything I write on my laptop is potentially available to a semi-skilled hacker, and that can potentially create a subliminal block that doesn’t allow you to truly write what you want.
I may be somewhat biased, but I will pick a pen and pad every time.
Reading Books
Anyone who has suffered a Ryanair flight knows that you need to pack light to avoid their fees. That’s why I was only able to take one book away on holiday with me. That book was Alex Kerr’s Lost Japan – and I have still not finished it. (In fact, that book came to Japan with me in 2023, so I am determined to finish it before my next trip!)
When I remember the hours I used to spend curled up with a book I become quite nostalgic. Perhaps I subconsciously feel now that sitting for hours at a time is self-indulgent, and yet seem to be happy to waste hours online. Books – whether you are physically reading them or listening to them, deserve to have the time chiselled out of your day to be concentrated on. Not ‘I’ll read for 10 minutes a day’ like it is a chore to be done. There is a lot to be said of the impact University had on me too, as being forced to read books does kind of takes away your love for them. I know a few people who find they now read less as it feels like ‘working’ rather than an enjoyable task.
It would also be remise if I did not wade into the ‘is listening to an audio book technically reading’ debate. Audio books have opened up a whole new world to those who would otherwise not be engaging with literature, but for the purpose of ‘analogue v digital’ I think it boils down to intent. The hobby of reading, sitting down and blocking out everything else verses passively having a book on in the background are very different experiences. Audio books have a very necessary place in reading, they make words accessible for those who are unable – for whatever reason – to read the books, particularly if reading in a second language or if someone has visual impairments.
However, to truly benefit from a book, I believe you must give it undivided attention. I recently had a book playing while building some Ikea furniture, but I had to restart it once I was finished working, as I realised I hadn’t been listening and taking the content in.
In our fast-paced lives, finding time for real books, whether through reading or listening, requires intentional effort. It’s about reclaiming the joy and solitude that comes with getting lost in a story, allowing ourselves the luxury of uninterrupted engagement with a book. This intentional reading fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for literature, enriching our lives in ways that digital interactions just can’t. By consciously choosing to prioritise this time, we can rekindle* a love for books that may have dimmed.
* Re- Kindle, see what I did there? I am just professionally funny!
Analogue Music – are you listening?
With just one album downloaded on my Spotify account (AAA by HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster, if you are interested) I got to really listen to each song. The only aspect missing from the experience was the lyrics. Remember sitting, listening to new albums and singing along with the provided lyrics? If you’re as old and as British as me you might even remember getting the lyrics from the Smash Hits magazine. A new album was an event, back in the day.
Perhaps the renewed love for vinyl records and CDs is all about craving a hands-on, immersive music vibe? In today’s digital world, where tunes often just blend into the background or shuffle randomly, playing physical media adds a special charm to the experience. Picking out an album, sliding it from its cover, and placing it on a turntable or in a CD player makes listening to music a more intentional and engaging experience. This way, you get to enjoy music as full albums, where each song is part of the bigger story crafted by the artists.
Unlike digital formats that often lead to passive listening, vinyl and CDs demand your attention and reward you for it. They encourage you to enjoy each song in order, appreciating how the tracks are carefully arranged to reflect the artist’s vision. This kind of listening helps you appreciate the finer details of the music and the artistry involved. I clearly remember having to sit quite still while listening to records because if I stood on the wrong floor board the stylus would jump and scratch them.
On top of all of that, the physical elements of albums, like artwork, photos, and those all important lyrics, add to the experience by giving you a peek into the musician’s creative world. Album covers often stand on their own as art, capturing the mood and themes of the music inside. Holding an album in your hands reminds you of the human effort and creativity behind its creation, making you respect and admire the music even more.
Arguably, analogue music has a warmer, richer sound quality that many music lovers feel digital formats just can’t match.
In a world where you can instantly access millions of songs, diving into analogue music is a refreshing break from the fast-paced digital scene. It encourages us to slow down, listen with purpose, and form a deeper bond with the music we love. By embracing analogue music, we bring more mindfulness and appreciation into our lives, turning music from mere background noise into a fulfilling, all-around experience.
And if you don’t have a record or CD player, perhaps you can try and be more conscious of how you listen to music. Are you truly listening, or is it just background noise?
Over to you
How many aspects of your life have you given over to the digital darkside? Where can you claw back some analogue allure in your everyday activity? What other parts of your lived experience would benefit from stepping away from the ‘online’?