Why Paper Is Better

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14 Dec 20105 comments
Post-it NoteIt's not just a clever marketing slogan – these days, there really IS an . We seem genetically determined to obsess over our shiny new toys, but does digital really make everything better?

Plenty of productivity experts have argued over whether apps are good for getting things done, but I want to argue today for why, sometimes, paper is better. Just for reference, the photo to the right is how I actually get some of my own 30-day projects done.

Paper has amazing battery life.

Paper may not be indestructible, but it'll last a lot longer than it takes for your iPhone to become obsolete (the next time Steve Jobs talks, probably), and you'll never have to charge it. A folded up piece of paper is also more portable than any smartphone on the market or likely to be on the market in the next decade.

Paper is distraction-free.

For the productivity experts, this is the big one, and it's definitely important. As soon as you open your laptop or switch on your Droid phone, you've got access to email, Facebook, Twitter, games, music, etc.

It's amazing – don't get me wrong – but it's an instant excuse to lose focus. A piece of paper with your to-do list or 30-day plan only does one thing. Once you're staring at that paper, you're forced to focus, and your odds of success just increased dramatically. If you only start your new wonder app after you check email, check Facebook, check your stocks, and watch the latest viral video, you're already behind.

Paper is a commitment.

Maybe I'm just old-school or a tree-hugger, but there's something about committing pen to paper, or even just printing out a document. I feel like there's something permanent about it. Just the act of creation means something. I don't feel that way with digital.

Paper means no bullshit.

I don't know any other way to say it – you can't cheat and play mind games with paper. When I use apps to track my workout or to-do list, I can always just delete an entry, edit a project, or uninstall the app completely. It's easy to blame the app - that one wasn't quite perfect for the job, so it's not really my fault. Meanwhile, I've screwed around with a dozen apps, wasted hours of time (and maybe a few bucks), and I've accomplished nothing at all.

Paper has a way of staring back at you. You can't move to a new screen or just click delete. Sure, you can throw it away, but somehow, you feel it. You know you're cheating.

Isn't there an app on this site?

You may be thinking that this is pretty hypocritical coming from a guy who has a 30-day tracking app on his own site. First off, this blog is all about getting results – I don't care how you do it. Second, I'm going to be providing a free, paper version of the 30-day tracker next week. I want you to succeed, and if paper is what it takes, then so be it.

14 Dec – Vinny

In addition to the paper, you can buy a cheap electronic egg timer at most dollar stores.

Buy one, set it for 30 minutes (or however long you want) and stay focused until it dings.

I have a total of 4 magnetic ones I have stuck to the front of my file cabinet, and sometimes I set them for different intervals in order to keep my focused.

Sadly, other times I just let them collect dust.

14 Dec – Dr. Pete

LOL - Is this where I should admit I use my iPhone as a 30-minute timer? Yeah, sometimes the uni-taskers really do help you focus. Whatever works, in my opinion. I don' think there's one "right" way; I just know that technology is a huge distraction for me most days.

19 Dec – MikeTek

I've tried the egg timer thing to no avail, can't stick with it and rarely stay on task...maybe because I use e.ggtimer.com instead of an actual egg timer.

RescueTime also has a nifty "FocusTime" feature that blocks your web access, except to "safe" sites, for a given duration - but it's too easy to disable.

I've been using Google Tasks for my long term task list. I enjoy the fact that it's integrated with my Google Apps email interface, so I don't need yet another open tab.

I still use pen/paper for tasks like outlining a large document or planning a project - it definitely helps focus one's attention. All the digital gimmicks in the world can't compete with a single sheet of paper with no tabs or buttons.

19 Dec – Andrew David Baron

Great article! There is an old saying that I like to use from time to time, "Whatever Works."

I think it all comes down to determination and staying focused. Of course, having ADHD doesn't help at all, getting distracted from the slightest noise, color, random phone call...but it does come in handy for super-focusing late at night. That's a whole other ball of wax. heh.

Personally I use my iCal that is integrated with my Gmail & Google Calenders/Google Docs/Microsoft Exchange/and various other APIs that whenever I change one thing in there, it'll affect everything else and update. So, as I work everything is changing according to how I handle the day and work load.

Whatever, I didn't tackle that day gets added on the following day to complete as extra baggage, which I try to avoid at all costs. I mean who really wants to do yesterday's work, right?

As for paper? DOESN'T work, for me. I have paper all over my desk by the end of the day with random notes from phone conversations and things to do. I got rid of using paper ages ago. I could send you a photo, it's crazy how many notes I take during the day.

What works better is using voice recognition technology like Dragon Dictation to allow me to record myself and then it transcribes it into text. I then take that text and create to do's instantly in iCal/Google Calendar/etc.

It's worth the investment of money or the 10 minute hack download w/ serial number. heh. But paper? eh...not for me.

19 Dec – Dr. Pete

@Mike - In a lot of ways, I think it's because I'm on the PC all day that paper gives me focus. It's just a change of pace. If I turn off the monitor and pick up a notepad, my brain shifts gears.

@Andrew - No argument there. We all have to find what works for us, and be honest with ourselves about what doesn't work. There's plenty of room in between the extremes, too. I actually use Excel for my daily to-do list, since so much of my work is online. When it comes to creative or personal projects, though, I find that getting away from the distractions of the PC and iPhone helps me a lot. Depends on what mode I'm in.