Paper and Pencil in a Digital Age?

For several years now folks in education, science, psychology and sociology fields have been thinking, writing and talking about both students and others doing less screen time, and many have come to the decision it's time to return to pencil and paper, simple writing that focuses more of the brain and our attention to details on tactile pages rather than digital devices.

I could write a lot about AI, constant algorithm drive-by's, advertisements, pop-ups, totally fake websites, scams and spam, adds not to mention bots, bad actors and propaganda from pols online... but none of that exists with pencil and paper. Easy breathing in the switch. Digital detox has become a thing from "dumb phones" (vs smart phones) making a serious comeback and people taking day, week or longer "digital fasts" to clear their head and simplify their life.

I have all along often and in the past year or more especially taken up pen and now my preferred thin-leaded mechanical pencils to put thoughts, ideas, lyrics, poems and prose and my prayer-prose pieces on paper in this old skool/retro way. Why?

I've mentioned plenty above here, but if you web search the many articles and thoughts on the topic, I myself resonate with much of the reasoning. For me it comes down to other reasons as well, and this I admit is personal and may or may not relate to your preferences.

There is a certain "slow-down, think harder and write" thing that happens when I move my hand onto one of these always-sharp pencils, use notebooks or various colors of paper and begin the process versus the plenty of online/digital work I do daily. I also keep an eraser handy, heh! Mind you, I do more typing than classic writing but -for me- there is a romance and a cool retro vibe of changing up from my 54 words-per-minute typing and the more labor-intensive but pondering, turtle-like movement on a piece of paper. I also confess to getting rather ancient in my years- and frankly love it, so old things continue to intrigue me even as I explore and use digital technology and dig deeper into "the new" as well.

I suppose balance is key- and that's what many and varied countries' governments and educators are saying as well, to at least give pencil and paper a shot and do hybrid teaching/learning using both tech devices and low-tech pencil or pen and paper.

It so happens brick-and-mortar as well as online writing instrument and multi-paper gear along with every sort of notebook, daily reminder and journaling book, various qualities of paper and etc. are making a strong re-appearance -in fact selling wildly as I type in January, 2026.

Young and much younger than I people have chosen less screen time for mental and spiritual, even physical health. Months ago I read a long, thoughtful blog post by a dude who has two small leather-bound journals and pencils he routinely carries into the woods shutting his phone off or even leaving it at home for an hour or more as he goes to sit, observe, ponder, write all sorts of ideas and so forth.

When I was a new Christian I created my own little booklet (ever-expanding) with pen, sheets of paper folded in half and stapled, as a personal concordance where I regularly added fresh verses of God's Word and re-read and pondered the meanings.

For some seven or more years I created super-small booklets to take with me into the woods describing all aspects of my hunts including weather patterns, time of day, exact locations and etc., which I re-discovered a couple years ago and read again with interest.

One of many, varied things I enjoy (and want to do more of) is writing very brief bits by hand, then take either color or (Lord help me!) cool black and white pics on my phone, then uploading it to my blog here in Wix and/or on this or that of my social media accounts, thus it's a both/and, hybrid approach. As always, I learn along the way and expand on my remaining brain cells :) as well as in creativity which indeed floats my boat this side of heaven!

So- it's not all that romantic to many of you I expect, but simplicity, a sense of peace, flow, back-and-forth using both analog and digital instruments interests me greatly.

One of my musician grandsons realized some time ago the benefit of using both digital and analog (reel-to-reel tape) recording methods, going back and forth which enriches the sound and also allows for a wider palate of sonic strength re. creative music-making. That principle reminds me of a favorite scripture of mine where Jesus says a disciple brings out of their store things new and old (not merely one or the other).

I'm convinced part of my God-given job on the planet is to help folks think outside their boxes and recognize the many benefits of increased learning outside their "norm" -and thus having more positive interactions with others as well as themselves growing. Lord have mercy as I pick up my pencil as well as Linux and other alternative-loaded devices :)

Oh- just got a mind-picture of me driving a stick shift Model T Ford with a 12 year old laptop on the back seat... next to a small notebook, mechanical pencil, a cigar box guitar and the dude behind the wheel rolling along with a smile :)

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn