on digital vs analog journalling

16 Aug 2025

It was 2008 - I was swimming in assignments for grad school - and realized I had left my journal at home, again. Subconsciously, I just didn't feel comfortable bringing my inner and vulnerable musings with me on transit, to school, or to work. So I didn't. I told myself, "I'll sit and write when I get home.", and I rarely did.

It was the benefits of being able to quickly capture my thoughts and easily make additional entries on the fly that brought me back into a consistent journaling habit. While not impossible through analog means, it was definitely a feature of digital convenience that was - and still is - hard to walk away from.

So here I am again - today - stuck between that rock and hard place of reflective writing through digital or analog means.

You see, I love writing. I love pens and paper and the whole process around getting settled and sorted to write something down. It's a ritual full of texture and nuance. I also love the digital landscape and I know many people are only consistently journalling exactly because they can do so digitally, and as it turns out, I apparently am also one of them.

So friends, what of you?
Do you find yourself writing more when it’s convenient, or when it feels meaningful? Does it matter? Have you found a system that is convenient but analog?