I recently sat down with Jose Briones - digital minimalism advocate, book author, and YouTuber - for a conversation about intentional technology use, dumb phones, and the analog life. I first discovered Jose through his YouTube channel, and this conversation did not disappoint. We covered a lot of ground, from the history of technology in our homes to the surprising link between financial freedom and digital independence. Here is what came out of it.

Jose started his YouTube channel about five or six years ago, talking about digital minimalism and dumb phones. His motivation was personal. After graduating from university in 2018 and starting his first job in 2019 working with nonprofits, community centers, churches, and schools, he found himself spending somewhere around nine to ten hours a day on his phone alone. When you added in work on the computer, the total was closer to twelve or thirteen hours of screen time every day. Those were, as he put it, his darkest times.

He decided that was not how he wanted to live. He started looking for alternatives, came across the Light Phone, tried it, liked it, and stuck with it. Since then he has been making videos, writing, and building resources to help other people find their own path with technology.

From magic to extraction

Jose has an interesting way of framing the history of technology in our homes. When tech first arrived in households sometime in the 1980s, it felt magical. Think about the VCR - suddenly you did not have to stay up late to watch something. You could record it and watch it when it was convenient. Think about the first personal computers - people could compose documents at home and bring them to work. It gave them freedom. The early video games, the first consoles - everything felt like it was adding something to life.

Because those first technologies made our lives genuinely better, we were trained over time to assume that more technology always means a better life. And for a while that assumption held. But somewhere around 2014 or 2015, things shifted. Technologies stopped being primarily useful to us and started being extractive. Instead of giving us more time and agency, they started demanding more of our attention. The value proposition flipped. It was no longer about making your life easier - it was about keeping you watching longer so that advertisers could make more money from you.

I asked Jose whether this was done on purpose or whether it was just a natural evolution of design. His answer was unambiguous. Yes, it was on purpose. They saw that they could make more money by keeping people hooked to their screens than by providing great service. So they hooked people to the screen because it was easier to convince them.

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Software, hardware, and the screen in between

Some people argue that the problem is purely about software - the algorithmic feeds, the attention-grabbing apps - and not about the hardware itself. Jose sees it differently. Software is the larger problem, yes. But hardware amplifies the software. It amplifies the good and it amplifies the bad. Looking at a soccer match on a tiny flip phone screen is not the same experience as watching it on a six-inch device. The bigger the screen, the more immersive the experience - for entertainment and for distraction alike.

Jose makes a sharp observation here. If hardware manufacturers were truly focused on giving us the best utility without distraction, every company would be using e-ink displays. That technology exists. It is excellent at delivering utility without pulling you into a rabbit hole. But companies do not use it because they want the software to do its thing - to keep you engaged, to keep you scrolling.

And this is where the interesting part of Jose’s personal journey begins. Like many people, he initially thought the problem was his physical phone. Switch to a flip phone, life gets better. Simple, right? Not exactly.

It is not the device, it is the lifestyle

Jose quickly realized that while switching devices helped, it did not fix everything. The real issue was internal. He enjoyed being connected, getting information, watching podcasts, reading articles, chatting with friends. In university, he never had this problem because his life was so full - cafeterias, classmates, professors, sports leagues, intellectual lectures. He had a rich offline life and never felt that the internet was giving him a better experience.

But once he left that university environment, he lost those built-in structures. He started creating new habits, and instead of going to cafes to talk to people or attending lectures, he started scrolling more. And more. And more. Until his lifestyle became internet-dependent.

This is Jose’s core insight, and I think it is an important one. Your environment usually dictates your lifestyle. The better your environment, the better your lifestyle. A dumb phone helps, but it is not going to fix the internal struggle. You need to develop other lifestyle choices that make the offline world more compelling than the online one.

The detox trap

I asked Jose about a common strategy - simply deleting problematic apps from your smartphone. His answer was nuanced. It can help, he says, but for most people it does not work long-term. The pattern he has seen over and over goes something like this: you delete the apps, you feel great for a few months, you start thinking you have the problem under control, and then you slowly reintroduce the apps. Before you know it, you are right back where you started.

He compares it to a detox. People quit coffee or sugar for a while, feel good about it, and then go back to old behaviors once the detox period is over. The same thing happens with smartphones. Without permanent changes to your environment, willpower alone is usually not enough.

Jose does point to more permanent solutions, even on smartphones. Tools like Apple Configurator 2 can lock down a device so that you can only use the apps you choose from the start - no installing new ones, no workarounds. This is what is called a mobile device management solution, and it removes the willpower battle entirely. But if you just dump down your smartphone without these environmental constraints, the odds are you will go back to installing everything again.

The dumb phone as a gateway

I shared my own experience here. I tried managing my smartphone, I tried the MDM apps, and I still found ways to work around the restrictions - installing a browser, finding loopholes. For me, the dumb phone was actually a gateway drug to a better lifestyle. Once I started using one, I simply could not do those workarounds anymore. The option was gone, and that was liberating.

Jose uses the Light Phone 3 as his personal device. No browser, no social media. He literally cannot do those things on it. And that, he says, is a better solution than artificially limiting a smartphone. When you cannot do something, you do not need a workaround.

But here is where the conversation got interesting. I said that life in 2026 is very difficult without a smartphone. Jose disagreed - respectfully, but firmly. He acknowledged that life without a smartphone is more inconvenient. Some things take longer, some things are harder, your employer might be more frustrated. He understands if someone does not want to switch because of the inconvenience. But what he disagrees with is the idea that you have no agency to change your situation.

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You have more power than you think

Jose gave some great examples. Even in China, where super apps like WeChat handle payments, home access, and digital ID, you could argue that you need a smartphone. But does it have to be your primary device? His argument is that it does not. You can carry a smartphone for the things that absolutely require it and use a flip phone as your daily driver. You can buy a small tablet for QR codes and digital ID. You find halfway solutions.

In Scandinavia, people say you need a smartphone for bank ID. But Jose had a friend who went to Norway without one and just used cash. Is it less convenient? Sure. Is it impossible? Not at all.

He brought up France, where workers collectively fought for and won the right to not receive work emails after 5 PM. That did not happen by accident - people advocated for it. And Jose’s broader point is that we all have more power than we think. You can tell your employer that you are a good employee, show your performance, and ask not to be bothered after hours. Define what a real emergency is. Give them your phone number for true emergencies. If you are valuable and you deliver, people will accommodate you.

He even applied this to everyday situations. Go to a restaurant that only has QR code menus? Ask the owner for a recommendation. If they refuse, that tells you something about that business. You vote every day with the purchases you make and the services you use. The more you reward companies that demand technology dependence, the worse the situation will get.

Going analog

Once Jose recognized that he did not need the internet for everything, he started venturing into more offline activities. He joined a local cycling club, bought his first road bike, and now rides around town every two weeks with a group of people having real conversations. He joined a local safer streets organization and meets with them every Friday for coffee to talk about community needs and plan events.

He started reading physical newspapers and magazines instead of scrolling through Twitter. He goes to the library and reads the paper there. Sometimes he buys a copy of the weekend newspaper so he can read it slowly over a long period of time. He started cooking more from home, learning new recipes, trying to make bread - things he would never have had time for before. Or rather, things he never prioritized before.

His personal setup is the Light Phone 3 and an e-ink tablet for reading books. He buys physical books from time to time but usually borrows from the library and reads on his e-reader. He has also been tinkering with manual projects over the past five years, building things and learning new skills outside of the technology world. It has been, as he described it, a good journey.

Paper, planning, and the morning ritual

I asked Jose whether switching to a dumb phone and planning on paper could help someone who feels overwhelmed at work. His answer was practical and simple. A good reset in the beginning is important. Have a calendar, have a task list that you can reference at a quick glance.

What he started doing was looking at his screen in the morning, writing down on a small note card what he needed to do for the day - his tasks, his calendar appointments. Then he put the phone in his pocket and went about his day. When he needed to know what was next, he took out the piece of paper and looked at it. At the end of the day, that was it. Next morning, same thing. Log into the computer, look at the task list, write it down, and keep going.

Over time he developed a more refined system. But he emphasizes that in the beginning, creating that organization and that separation is especially important. It helps you learn - or relearn - how to function without constantly reaching for a smartphone.

Writing a book, one thousand words at a time

After about three years of creating content about digital minimalism, Jose had accumulated a lot of information in his head. He decided to write a book - a short, cohesive guide that people could read without having to watch every video or read everything he had written. His approach was beautifully simple. He wrote a thousand words a day.

The first ten days were difficult, he says, because you are getting used to putting things on paper. But after day seven or eight, a thousand words started feeling manageable. Some days he wrote much more - one day he hit seven thousand words in a state of flow. Other days it was a grind, and a thousand words was all he could manage. But once the habit was built, he just got on with it.

The book collected stories from people who made the dumb phone lifestyle work, stories from people who had to go back to technology but did so consciously, and personal experiences - including how he got into credit card debt by buying every new iPhone and Samsung that came out. Looking back, he admits he could have done better. But that kind of honest self-critique is healthy, and now he is thinking about a second book.

Financial freedom as the foundation

This was the most surprising part of our conversation. Jose believes that the first thing you need to do to become more independent from the online world is to fix your finances. I did not expect that. I would have guessed he would say environment or mindset. But his reasoning is compelling.

When you have financial freedom, you can choose the environment you want. When you are dependent on a specific job, you feel trapped. You cannot say no. But if you have a cushion - if you make a hundred thousand dollars but only spend fifty thousand - you have the ability to take risks. You can give yourself two years to try a different career. You can walk away from an employer who demands access to your phone around the clock.

Without financial independence, you are more likely to accept digital intrusions into your life simply because you need the paycheck. You will put up with things you would otherwise refuse. Financial freedom gives you the power to say no - not just to your employer, but to the broader societal push toward digital dependence.

Technology is amazing, but give it time

I asked Jose whether there are parts of life that are genuinely better with digital technology. Absolutely, he said. We were having our conversation across continents because of digital tools. People who advocate for digital minimalism are not saying they want zero technology. What they are saying is that they do not want technology to be extractive. They want technology to give them more of their life back, not take it away.

Jose draws the line at the shift in intent. In the 1980s, the microwave made reheating food faster and easier. The VCR let you watch your show without losing sleep. Technology was making life better. But now, technology is often making life harder because it is not focused on improving quality of life - it is focused on capturing attention.

His advice is simple and wise. When a new technology comes along, give it a year or two before you adopt it. We have been seduced by tech companies into thinking that if you do not adopt something today, you will be left behind. That is simply not true. Technology is amazing. Technology is great. Just give yourself some time before jumping in.

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The best dumb phone is the one you stick with

I asked Jose the question every dumb phone curious person asks: what is the best dumb phone? His answer was perfect. The best dumb phone is the one that you stick with. It can be a dumbed-down smartphone, a Light Phone 3, a Sunbeam F1, a Xiaomi F21 - whatever matches your lifestyle.

But if he had to pick one right now, he would choose a simple flip phone. It is economical, basic, has no distractions, and is made for simplicity. If it breaks, it is easy to replace. Just go to the store, pick one up, and start. It does not have to be fancy or expensive. It just needs to do less.

Jose also mentioned traditional watches during our conversation. He has an old Bulova watch passed down from his grandfather - a device that tells the time and carries a story. No notifications, no charging every night. Compare that to a smartwatch that distracts you with every buzz. The best smartwatches, in his view, are the ones that last a long time without charging, like the new Pebble with its 30-day battery life. Simple interface, basic information, and then it gets out of your way.

Digital minimalism is not anti-technology

One thing Jose made very clear is that digital minimalism is not about being against technology. It is about being conscious about which technology you adopt and when. It is a rejection of mindless consumption, a rejection of always having to have the latest and greatest thing just because a tech company told you to buy it.

Is it a full rejection of consumerism? Probably not, since digital minimalists still buy devices and create solutions. But it is a beginning. It is the decision to say: just because something is available does not mean I have to say yes. I am going to wait, I am going to think, and if it actually makes my life better and the world better, then I will adopt it.

And Jose makes a great point about modeling this behavior for children. He remembers always asking his mom for the newest phone in the early 2000s, and his parents did not say no often enough. That mindset - new is always better - eventually got him into financial trouble. A healthier attitude is to use what you have until it does not work anymore. Be content with the things you already own instead of seeking happiness from the next shiny gadget.

Slow down and enjoy the ride

Jose closed our conversation with something that captured his entire philosophy. Instead of flying to see his parents - a four-hour trip - he decided to take the train. In America, that means a two-day journey. And he is doing it on purpose, because he wants to have more experiences in life and enjoy the slowness of things. He wants his life to be a little bit slower than just having the latest and fastest option available.

That is what digital minimalism is really about. It is not about going back to the stone age. It is about choosing, consciously and deliberately, what kind of life you want to live. It is about saying no to what takes from you and yes to what gives back. And it starts with small steps - a flip phone, a paper notebook, a newspaper instead of a feed, a train instead of a plane.

The tools are simple. The decision is yours.

Do Your Own Research

The topics covered in this conversation - screen time effects on mental health, the attention economy, the cognitive benefits of handwriting and analog tools, and the relationship between financial autonomy and wellbeing - are backed by a growing body of peer-reviewed research. Here are some key studies and papers grouped by topic.

Screen time, smartphone use, and mental health

* Ratan, Z.A. et al. (2021). “Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 12257. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212257

* Twenge, J.M. & Campbell, W.K. (2018). “Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study.” Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003

* Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K.T. & Pignatiello, A. (2020). “Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health.” CMAJ, 192(6), E136-E141. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434

* Allcott, H., Gentzkow, M. & Song, L. (2022). “Digital Addiction.” American Economic Review, 112(7), 2424-2463. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20210867

The attention economy and addictive design

* Bhargava, V.R. & Velasquez, M. (2021). “Ethics of the Attention Economy: The Problem of Social Media Addiction.” Business Ethics Quarterly, 31(3), 321-359. https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2020.32

* Lupianez-Villanueva, F. et al. (2020). “The Struggle for Human Attention: Between the Abuse of Social Media and Digital Wellbeing.” Healthcare, 8(4), 497. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040497

* Mujica, A.L. et al. (2022). “Addiction by Design.” Medical Research Archives, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v10i2.2677

Benefits of handwriting and analog tools

* Umejima, K. et al. (2021). “Paper Notebooks vs. Mobile Devices: Brain Activation Differences During Memory Retrieval.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 15, 634158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634158

* Van der Weel, F.R. & Van der Meer, A.L.H. (2024). “Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity.” Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1219945. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945

* Marano, G. et al. (2025). “The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing - Who Wins the Battle?” Brain Sciences, 15(3), 285. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030285

Financial autonomy and wellbeing

* Fischer, R. & Boer, D. (2011). “What is more important for national well-being: Money or autonomy? A meta-analysis of well-being, burnout, and anxiety across 63 societies.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(1), 164-184. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023663

* Ngamaba, K.H. et al. (2020). “How closely related are financial satisfaction and subjective well-being? Systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 85, 101522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2020.101522

I recently sat down with Carl Pullein, a productivity consultant and YouTuber who has spent over a decade helping people get organized. Carl has been using Todoist for twelve years, Evernote for sixteen, and last year he ran a full-year experiment with a Franklin Planner. We talked about why people keep switching tools, why paper still matters, and why convenience might not be as good for us as we think.

What came out of the conversation surprised me. Not because the ideas were new, but because they made so much sense - and because science keeps confirming what a simple notebook already knew.

Here is what I learned.

Stop Switching Apps - You Are Not Doing Any Work

The first thing Carl told me was blunt. When you switch productivity apps, you are not doing any work. You are just moving stuff from one side of your desk to the other. It is the digital version of shuffling papers around and calling it progress.

Most people will never admit this, but the real reason they switch is because the new app looks prettier. Then they find a better excuse. “My current system feels overwhelming.” But here is the thing - it looks overwhelming because of what you put in there. It is not the tool. It is always what you are putting in it.

Unless something is actually broken, switching apps is one of the biggest time-wasting activities you can do. Carl has been with Todoist for twelve years. He knows every keyboard shortcut, every workaround, every little trick. That knowledge compounds over time. You do not get that by jumping ship every six months.

The Dopamine Trap of a Fresh Start

Switching apps feels good. That is the dopamine talking. You get a momentary sense of relief because you eliminate a lot of the mess from your old system when you transfer to the new one. But give it two or three weeks and it is just as overwhelming as before. Then you see a YouTube video about yet another new app, and the whole cycle starts again.

Carl put it beautifully. You are focusing on the tools instead of focusing on the craft. A carpenter who makes chairs and works of art is not constantly shopping for new hammers. Those guys have tools that are a hundred years old, handed down from their grandparents. It is not the tools that make you productive. It is you. It is the clarity of knowing what is important to you and to the work you are doing. The tools are often a distraction, especially if you are changing them all the time.

To prove this point, Carl regularly runs experiments where he switches to tools he does not normally use - Apple Reminders, Apple Notes, even a paper planner for a whole year. And every time, his system stays the same. The work gets done. The tools change, the output does not.

A Carpenter’s Hammer and the Franklin Planner

Carl’s preferred stack is simple. Todoist for tasks. Evernote for notes. Apple Calendar for scheduling. That is it. No fancy project management software. No complex integrations. When I asked him about project management, he said he uses Evernote as his project manager. He even wrote his book over three years using Scrivener for the writing and Evernote for all the surrounding notes, meetings, and checklists.

But the most interesting part of Carl’s system is not digital at all. It is the Franklin Planner he brought back into his life after first using one in 1992. What he loves about it is the layout - tasks on the left, calendar in the middle, notes on the right. When he writes out his appointments by hand, he can visually see how much time he realistically has to do actual work. If the page is full of meetings, he knows not to pile on tasks.

This is something digital tools are terrible at. You can schedule your day three times over and the app will still accept it. Paper has a built-in constraint. When the page is full, the day is full. That limitation is not a bug. It is a feature.

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The Power of a Pocket Notebook

Carl carries a small pocket notebook everywhere. When he watches his favorite podcasts in the evening - Cal Newport, The Rest Is History - he keeps his little notebook next to him instead of a phone. Random thoughts, content ideas, project sparks - they all go in there. It is, by his own admission, a complete mess. But every Saturday during his weekly planning, he goes through the previous week’s notes and pulls out anything worth moving into his digital system.

The pocket notebook serves another purpose too. Carl’s wife is Korean and operates on Korean time, which means ten minutes late. Carl is from the UK, which means ten minutes early. So he often has a fifteen-to-twenty-minute window sitting in the car waiting. And instead of scrolling, he writes. He told me there is something about pen and paper that engages the brain better than any digital tool.

I started doing something similar years ago - copying the day’s events and tasks onto a paper pocket notepad. If I ran out of space on the page, it meant I would not have the time to do the task. The page was the day. Simple, visual, and honest.

Why Handwriting Makes You Smarter

There is real science behind all of this. Carl mentioned the University of Tokyo study, and he was right - there is now a mountain of research showing that handwriting engages the brain differently than typing. When you form letters by hand, you are essentially drawing. You are engaging the creative part of your brain.

When you type, it is repetitive tapping. Plus, your word processor starts flagging grammar and spelling mistakes, so you shift from creating to editing. That is the opposite of what you want when you are planning a new project or brainstorming ideas.

Carl’s approach to project planning is to grab a clean A4 sheet of paper, a couple of colored pens, and a highlighter. Day one is the big brain dump. Day two, he comes back with a different pen and starts connecting ideas. Day three, more refinement. Then he scans it into Evernote and starts building the digital version. But the initial creative thinking happens exclusively on paper. As he put it - if you want to be creative, pick up a pencil. Or a pen.

Leonardo’s Notebooks and Samuel Pepys’s Diary

Carl told me a wonderful story from Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo da Vinci biography. When Isaacson was working with Steve Jobs on his biography, Jobs promised to send over all his journals and notes from the NeXT years. Weeks went by, nothing came. When Isaacson followed up, Jobs admitted the problem - he had typed them into a computer, and even Apple’s best engineers could not open the files. The time gap was just ten years.

Meanwhile, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks - thousands of pages of sketches, ideas, and observations - are still perfectly readable five hundred years after his death. Paper does not need a software update.

Then there is Samuel Pepys, a low-level civil servant in seventeenth-century London who kept a journal for ten years. He wrote about ordinary life - what it was like to be a middle-class married man in London during the plague. We are incredibly lucky to have that journal, because normally history only records the kings and queens. Pepys gave us the real texture of life. If everything had been digital, there is a good chance we would have none of that.

Digital Impermanence Is Real

I shared a similar story with Carl about Steve Albini, the music producer who recorded Nirvana’s In Utero. When they prepared a commemorative edition of the album, they could not open some sessions that had been recorded on a digital medium. But the master tapes Albini had recorded on analog reel-to-reel machines were still perfectly fine. They did the mix from those tapes.

Analog will always be readable. You can always open a notebook and read the letters on the page. You can always play back a magnetic recording. Digital formats carry compatibility risks that can make your work unreadable within a single decade. This is not a theoretical concern. It has happened to Steve Jobs and to one of the most important rock albums ever made.

Carl hopes that in three or four hundred years, someone might find his journals and think - so that is what life was really like in Korea in 2025. It sounds humble, but it is actually a profound thought. Your life might feel ordinary to you. It will not feel ordinary to someone reading about it centuries from now.

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Paper in a High-Tech Country

I asked Carl whether the popularity of paper journals is mostly a thing for people over forty. He surprised me with a story from South Korea, one of the most high-tech countries on the planet. His wife went back to university a few years ago to study physical therapy, alongside students straight out of high school. Carl asked her what percentage of students use digital tools versus paper notebooks. The answer was roughly sixty-forty - sixty percent digital, forty percent paper. Among the paper users, about seventy percent were women.

Near their home, there is a discount store with an entire floor dedicated to pencil cases, pens, notebooks, and folders. Carl told me he is always amazed at how many middle school and high school kids are in there buying stationery. Paper is not going away. If anything, there is a growing appreciation for the feel of pen on paper. As Carl said - plastic on glass does not work. Even with paper-like screen protectors, it is still tap-tap-tap. You do not get that wonderful sound of a pencil on paper. Or even a scratchy fountain pen with a very fine nib.

The numbers back this up. The global paper notebook market was valued at over 76 billion dollars in 2025 and continues to grow steadily year after year.

The Anti-Convenience Movement

Toward the end of our conversation, Carl said something that stuck with me. He wants to start an anti-convenience movement. All this technology is about convenience. And there are a lot of problems in the world today that are probably connected to our obsession with finding more and more convenient ways of doing things.

Take the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes. A lot of it comes down to diet, and a lot of those diets are driven by convenience. It is hard to boil potatoes, roast a joint of meat, and prepare vegetables. It is much easier to order something online and have it at your door in thirty minutes. The attraction is obvious. But long term, it is not good for you.

Carl thinks we are at the same stage with convenience technology that we were with smoking in the 1950s. We know it is not great for us, but we tell ourselves it is not that bad. Gradually, over time, we will realize how much it costs us.

Peaceful Productivity

Carl’s favorite moment of the week is when he goes to the dining room with an A4 notebook, a couple of pens, a highlighter, and a cup of tea. For an hour or ninety minutes, there is no screen. Just planning, thinking, and creating. He described it in two words: peaceful productivity.

That phrase captures everything we talked about. The point is not to reject technology entirely. Carl uses digital tools every day. The point is to recognize that some things are better done slowly, by hand, with intention. Not because it is more efficient - but because it engages your brain in a way that screens cannot.

If you want to try it, start small. Get a little notebook, write the date at the top, and list the two or three things you absolutely must do today. Keep it on your desk where you can see it. And when you cross those tasks off with a pen at the end of the day - well, Carl says the dopamine hit is ten times better than any app notification.

Pick up a pen. You might be surprised at what it does for you.

Do Your Own Research

Here are peer-reviewed studies and resources on handwriting, cognition, and the topics discussed in this article, grouped by theme.

Handwriting, Memory, and Brain Activation

* Umejima, K. et al. (2021). “Paper Notebooks vs. Mobile Devices: Brain Activation Differences During Memory Retrieval.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 15, 634158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634158

* Mueller, P. A. & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). “The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking.” Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159-1168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581

* Van der Weel, F. R. & Van der Meer, A. L. H. (2023). “Handwriting but Not Typewriting Leads to Widespread Brain Connectivity: A High-Density EEG Study with Implications for the Classroom.” Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1219945. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945

* Ihara, A. S. et al. (2021). “Advantage of Handwriting Over Typing on Learning Words: Evidence From an N400 Event-Related Potential Index.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15, 679191. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.679191

Handwriting and Learning in Children

* Longcamp, M. et al. (2008). “Learning Through Hand- or Typewriting Influences Visual Recognition of New Graphic Shapes.” Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20(5), 802-815. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2008.20504

* Marano, G. et al. (2025). “The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing.” Life, 15(3), 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15030345

Handwriting and Spelling in Schools

* Scientific Reports (2025). “Comparing the Effects of Typing and Handwriting on Spelling Performance in School.” Nature Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-03369-x

Digital Impermanence and Preservation

* Library of Congress Digital Preservation resources:

https://www.digitalpreservation.gov

By popular demand, here is my Minimal Phone review. And it's not just a quick first-impression kind of thing. I've been using this phone as my daily driver for four months now. It replaced my Punkt MP02, and I have quite a few thoughts to share.

I don't usually do phone reviews because there are better channels for that. But I do think I have something worthwhile to say about this particular kind of device. I have real experience with dumb phones. I was using the Punkt MP02 for a very long time. Half of my family uses a Punkt MP02. My daughter uses one right now. And the Punkt is a really dumb phone - classy, very well designed, but really dumb. It just does calling, texting, and a very basic calendar. That's it.

So the Punkt is dumb and a smartphone is really too smart. The Minimal Phone sits right in between. And that's where it gets interesting.

---------

Here are peer-reviewed studies and reputable sources related to the topics covered in this article:

• Rogers, R. et al. (2023). Study on the effect of displays on human retinal cells. Journal of the Society for Information Display. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. DOI: 10.1002/jsid.1191
• Siegenthaler, E. et al. (2012). Reading on LCD vs e-Ink displays: Effects on fatigue and visual strain. PLoS ONE. PubMed
• Maducdoc, M. et al. (2017). Visual consequences of electronic reader use: a pilot study. International Journal of Ophthalmology. PMC
• Benedetto, S. et al. (2013). E-Readers and Visual Fatigue. PLoS ONE. PMC
• 
  

• Hatori, M. et al. (2017). Global rise of potential health hazards caused by blue light-induced circadian disruption in modern aging societies. NPJ Aging and Mechanisms of Disease. PubMed
• Tähkämö, L. et al. (2019). Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm. Chronobiology International. PubMed
• Haghani, M. et al. (2024). Blue Light and Digital Screens Revisited. Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering. PubMed
• Wahl, S. et al. (2019). The inner clock - Blue light sets the human rhythm. Journal of Biophotonics. PMC
• Ouyang, X. et al. (2020). Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and creates damage in skin cells. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. PubMed
• Harvard Health Publishing (2024). Blue light has a dark side. Harvard Health
• 
  

• Canadian Paediatric Society (2017). Screen time and young children: Promoting health and development in a digital world. Paediatrics & Child Health. PMC
• Merkaš, M. et al. (2025). Effects of Parents' Smartphone Use on Children's Emotions, Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology. PMC
• Alrasheed, M. et al. (2025). Impact of Screen Time on Development of Children. Children. PMC
• Harvard Medical School (2024). Screen Time and the Brain. HMS

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By popular demand, here is my Minimal Phone review. And it’s not just a quick first-impression kind of thing. I’ve been using this phone as my daily driver for four months now. It replaced my Punkt MP02, and I have quite a few thoughts to share.

I don’t usually do phone reviews because there are better channels for that. But I do think I have something worthwhile to say about this particular kind of device. I have real experience with dumb phones. I was using the Punkt MP02 for a very long time. Half of my family uses a Punkt MP02. My daughter uses one right now. And the Punkt is a really dumb phone - classy, very well designed, but really dumb. It just does calling, texting, and a very basic calendar. That’s it.

So the Punkt is dumb and a smartphone is really too smart. The Minimal Phone sits right in between. And that’s where it gets interesting.

The E-Ink Screen is a Feature, Not a Bug

This phone has two things that make it excellent for this kind of device. First, it has an e-ink screen. Now, the e-ink panel is not the sharpest or crispest display you’ll ever see. It’s rather old school. And I don’t know the exact model, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that because it’s old school, consuming media on this phone is really painful.

If you have something to compare it to - the Bigme Hibeak Pro I was using has such a crisp screen that you can actually watch YouTube videos on it or browse photos. It’s not completely impossible, just very uncomfortable. On the Minimal Phone, it’s an even poorer experience. And that’s actually the point.

If, like me, you want the possibility to download your preferred podcast app and listen to your favorite podcast, or maybe use the phone to listen to a YouTube lecture without looking at the screen - the Minimal Phone is excellent for that. And because it’s a normal Android smartphone under the hood, you can install whatever you want. I’m using Obsidian on my Minimal Phone and it’s really comfortable. I can search information inside my notes whenever I need to. So it’s a very good middle ground between a totally dumb phone and a full-fledged flagship smartphone.

The QWERTY Keyboard Changes Everything

There is a second element I love about this phone. It has a QWERTY hardware keyboard. Maybe it’s because I was a Blackberry user. But either way, I love hardware keys. I prefer hardware keys to an on-screen keyboard by far. And this phone has a really well-designed QWERTY keyboard.

What I did on my Minimal Phone is that I completely ditched the proprietary launcher that comes with the device and installed the old-school BlackBerry launcher instead. What this allows me to do is configure each key to perform a specific action. You can launch an app if you want, but that’s not my preferred use. My preferred use is speed dial. I put all my family members and most of my frequent contacts on speed dial. When the phone is unlocked and I press one of the hardware buttons, it makes the call. This is something I last used on the BlackBerry Key One, and it is very comfortable. Very cool.

So those are the two main excellent functions of this phone. I could add a third one - a 3.5 millimeter audio jack. Old school. And since I’m using excellent wired planar magnetic headphones, I love the fact that the jack is built right in. I don’t have to use USB-C to jack dongles, which I hate.

A Screen That Protects Your Eyes and Your Sleep

Lots of people criticize this screen as poor quality. I think that’s actually a big advantage. And there’s another thing that’s good about it - the screen has a non-flickering amber front light. On e-ink screens, it’s a front light, not a backlight. So it’s amber and non-flickering. Very good for the eyes. If you have to use it at night, you can set it to a very, very low intensity amber color so it does not disrupt your circadian rhythm.

I don’t really think the screen is so bad. It’s clearly not as sharp as the Bigme Hibreak Pro, of course. But hey, the whole purpose of this phone is to make you do everything you would normally do on a smartphone, but less comfortably and more slowly.

* I can use all my banking apps,

* I can use all my two-factor authentication apps,

* I can use Obsidian which I have installed.

But none of those experiences is so fluid, so magical that I want to spend time on the phone just for fun. I use it when I need to do something with it and I obviously can’t use a PC or a laptop for that.

But if I had my laptop right next to me, I would for sure prefer using my laptop instead, because the phone slows me down. And that is exactly the point.

What Your Kids See When They See You With Your Phone

One additional thing that is important for me - this phone does not look like a smartphone. If my kid sees me with this, my kid knows it’s a phone, not a smartphone. And that was precisely the reason I was also using the Punkt MP02 - because it looks like a phone and not a smartphone. In our family, it’s normalized that we use phones and not smartphones. This matters more than most people think.

Now, a few practical notes. There is a fair amount of ghosting on the screen. And I think that’s actually a positive. If you hate ghosting, there’s a dedicated refresh key on the side. Press it once and the ghosting is gone. Press and hold it and you get to some settings - there are three modes. The fastest mode with three triangles drops the resolution by half. There’s a mode with two triangles that uses the highest resolution for static images and automatically switches to the faster mode when something moves on the interface. But I don’t like that one because it makes the screen flicker a lot.

On the power button there’s a fingerprint reader, so you can unlock it with your finger. The battery life is very good for how I use it. I’m mostly just calling and texting, and I can go five days without recharging. The Punkt MP02 was closer to three days with some Bluetooth use - sometimes just two. So five days is a pretty solid improvement. I’m not really listening to music on this phone if I can avoid it - I take my dedicated audio player with me. I mostly use the headphone jack for longer phone calls, using my headphones as a headset.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

The Minimal Phone is not for everyone. But if you’re looking for a way to stay connected without being consumed by your device, if you want your kids to grow up seeing a phone in your hand and not a glowing rectangle that steals your attention, this is a genuinely smart choice. It lets you do what you need and nothing more.

Research and Further Reading

Here are peer-reviewed studies and reputable sources related to the topics covered in this article:

E-ink displays and eye health:

* Rogers, R. et al. (2023). Study on the effect of displays on human retinal cells. Journal of the Society for Information Display. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. DOI: 10.1002/jsid.1191

* Siegenthaler, E. et al. (2012). Reading on LCD vs e-Ink displays: Effects on fatigue and visual strain. PLoS ONE. PubMed

* Maducdoc, M. et al. (2017). Visual consequences of electronic reader use: a pilot study. International Journal of Ophthalmology. PMC

* Benedetto, S. et al. (2013). E-Readers and Visual Fatigue. PLoS ONE. PMC

Blue light and circadian rhythm disruption:

* Hatori, M. et al. (2017). Global rise of potential health hazards caused by blue light-induced circadian disruption in modern aging societies. NPJ Aging and Mechanisms of Disease. PubMed

* Tähkämö, L. et al. (2019). Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm. Chronobiology International. PubMed

* Haghani, M. et al. (2024). Blue Light and Digital Screens Revisited. Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering. PubMed

* Wahl, S. et al. (2019). The inner clock - Blue light sets the human rhythm. Journal of Biophotonics. PMC

* Ouyang, X. et al. (2020). Blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm and creates damage in skin cells. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. PubMed

* Harvard Health Publishing (2024). Blue light has a dark side. Harvard Health

Screen time, children, and parental modeling:

* Canadian Paediatric Society (2017). Screen time and young children: Promoting health and development in a digital world. Paediatrics & Child Health. PMC

* Merkaš, M. et al. (2025). Effects of Parents’ Smartphone Use on Children’s Emotions, Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology. PMC

* Alrasheed, M. et al. (2025). Impact of Screen Time on Development of Children. Children. PMC

* Harvard Medical School (2024). Screen Time and the Brain. HMS

Hello there, wonderful people. Happy 2026!

Now, if you want to change something in your life, don’t wait for January 1st. Just change it right away. You can do it today. Start running every day, for example. It will make your life better. I’m actually running right now as I’m telling you this.

A quick public service announcement: some of you were subscribed to my Digital Pragmatism Substack. I have sent one email to all of you with some secret info about a new project that I will not announce here.

It’s a secret project.

If you were subscribed, you will know which project it is. Please check your spam folders, because today most email goes to spam. Reply to my email or act accordingly - there is a button you have to click.

Use More Paper is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Forget Goals, Set a Direction Instead

Since it’s the beginning of the year and people love to make plans and set goals, I wanted to ask you to not make plans. Don’t set goals. Actually, if you want to really set some goals, there’s a better thing to do: you can set a direction for your life.

Direction is enough. If you are fairly motivated and you know you have a connection with yourself - so you pretty much know what you hate and what you like - then direction is sufficient. You will make extreme progress. Whereas if you set goals, you can be disappointed in not reaching those goals, even if the direction would be right.

So I wanted to ask you not to make plans, but rather to choose one thing you will change. One thing you will do differently in 2026. This way you will have far more chances to actually reach this one thing you want to change. You are minimizing the chances of being disappointed.

Welcome to the Year of Analog Productivity

2026 will be the year of analog productivity, and this is what you will find here. I will tell you how I ditched my electronic devices and replaced them with paper notebooks and notepads. I will show you some of my favorite pens.

This will be the leitmotif for this channel throughout the year.

I will also post more interviews with people. I’ve got two of them which are being produced already. But I will also make more interviews and talk “analog” with interesting people.

So, welcome. Happy 2026.

Why “Use More Paper” Is the New Name

New year, new brand. But don’t worry, I will explain everything.

Two months ago I was explaining to you why Amenotes is the better brand. And then, closer to one week ago, I started examining all the domains I have purchased over time. And I saw that I have an excellent domain that I completely forgot about. This domain is usemorepaper.com.

Just how cool would it be to have a t-shirt with that!

And then I started analyzing whether Amenotes is not a better, more fancy word. And actually came to the conclusion that no - everything I’ve been doing on this channel was leading me to saying,

“Hey, use less your phone, use more paper.”

I get it, of course, that there are a lot of stationery content out there. And this one will not be a stationery website (or newsletter). You can treat it as a philosophy website, maybe a lifestyle blog?

I will not post reviews of notebooks. Well, I will post some of them, of course - those that I judge are excellent. But most of the time I will just share my ideas like I did until now.

Use More Paper is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What’s Coming Next

What is also very important is that with my wife we will actually in the future want to open a physical store that will sell notebooks - excellent quality Japanese notebooks and pens. And so it makes sense to rebrand as Use More Paper.

New year, new brand. Welcome. And remember: pick one thing to change this year. Just one. Set a direction, not a goal. And maybe, just maybe, consider putting down your phone and picking up a pen instead.

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If you want to change something in your life, don’t wait for January 1st. Just change it right away. You can do it today. Start running every day, for example. It will make your life better. I’m actually running right now as I’m telling you this.

A quick public service announcement: some of you were subscribed to my Digital Pragmatism Substack. I have sent one email to all of you with some secret info about a new project that I will not announce here.

It’s a secret project.

If you were subscribed, you will know which project it is. Please check your spam folders, because today most email goes to spam. Reply to my email or act accordingly - there is a button you have to click.

Forget Goals, Set a Direction Instead

Since it’s the beginning of the year and people love to make plans and set goals, I wanted to ask you to not make plans. Don’t set goals. Actually, if you want to really set some goals, there’s a better thing to do: you can set a direction for your life.

Direction is enough. If you are fairly motivated and you know you have a connection with yourself - so you pretty much know what you hate and what you like - then direction is sufficient. You will make extreme progress. Whereas if you set goals, you can be disappointed in not reaching those goals, even if the direction would be right.

So I wanted to ask you not to make plans, but rather to choose one thing you will change. One thing you will do differently in 2026. This way you will have far more chances to actually reach this one thing you want to change. You are minimizing the chances of being disappointed.

Welcome to the Year of Analog Productivity

2026 will be the year of analog productivity, and this is what you will find here. I will tell you how I ditched my electronic devices and replaced them with paper notebooks and notepads. I will show you some of my favorite pens.

This will be the leitmotif for this channel throughout the year.

I will also post more interviews with people. I’ve got two of them which are being produced already. But I will also make more interviews and talk “analog” with interesting people.

So, welcome. Happy 2026.

Why “Use More Paper” Is the New Name

New year, new brand. But don’t worry, I will explain everything.

Two months ago I was explaining to you why Amenotes is the better brand. And then, closer to one week ago, I started examining all the domains I have purchased over time. And I saw that I have an excellent domain that I completely forgot about. This domain is usemorepaper.com.

Just how cool would it be to have a t-shirt with that!

And then I started analyzing whether Amenotes is not a better, more fancy word. And actually came to the conclusion that no - everything I’ve been doing on this channel was leading me to saying,

“Hey, use less your phone, use more paper.”

I get it, of course, that there are a lot of stationery content out there. And this one will not be a stationery website (or newsletter). You can treat it as a philosophy website, maybe a lifestyle blog?

I will not post reviews of notebooks. Well, I will post some of them, of course - those that I judge are excellent. But most of the time I will just share my ideas like I did until now.

What’s Coming Next

What is also very important is that with my wife we will actually in the future want to open a physical store that will sell notebooks - excellent quality Japanese notebooks and pens. And so it makes sense to rebrand as Use More Paper.

New year, new brand.

You know what? Today I will share with you what are my regrets as a 10 year youtuber. I'm doing YouTube for 10 years. Wow! When I look back at this journey, I realize I've made some mistakes that significantly slowed down my progress.

1 - Haters

You know what is my number one regret? My number one regret is that I thought that I should deal somehow with the haters. And actually it slowed me down in my progress for at least several years. Because I thought that I cannot just block and delete haters. I have to respond to them, address their issues somehow.

And the reality is of course no. The best way to deal with haters is to delete their comments and to block them from your channel. And on YouTube there is an excellent option that is "hide user from this channel". And so basically you are hiding the comments from everybody else. But the hater can write those comments indefinitely. And so the hater thinks that everybody else is seeing his or her comments. But actually nobody else is seeing it.

2 - Perfectionism

Another regret is that I thought that my videos have to be perfect from a technical standpoint. And this is a 50/50 regret because it allowed me to learn how to make excellent videos, very well produced. But it actually also slowed me at least several years.

And YouTube doesn't care about your quality or the quality of your video. You don't make a filmmaker channel. You don't have to have an excellent technical quality of your videos. What matters is the message that you are transmitting and the story you are telling.

If you want to invest in something at the beginning, it's far better to invest in your storytelling skills and to prepare a recording of your videos and to know what you want to tell to people than to actually work on getting a better camera, better lens and learn how to use them. Because of course it will make a difference. If your stories are not interesting or are bad, the quality of your videos will not improve that and people will not watch your channel.

3 - Branding

And the last regret of mine is that I attached too much of importance to branding. This is because I love branding. I just did what I liked to do, you know. But actually branding on YouTube is completely unimportant.

What is important is that you know whom you are talking to. And so I am talking to people who want to become digital minimalists, who want to live a fulfilling day-to-day life and not wait for 30 years being addicted to technology and to wage slavery before retiring and maybe it will happen or maybe you will die before that. So I know who I am talking to.

Whereas the branding is secondary and I have changed too many times channels, channel names, domain names, platforms where I was hosting my website. And it's completely unimportant actually. You should just choose who are you talking to and then do it and the name of the channel is secondary.

You can do it under your name. I didn't want to because I have a very difficult name. So my story is similar to the story of Gary Vaynerchuk who is known as Gary V. But the point remains - focus on your audience, not your name or logo.

Conclusions?

Looking back, I wish someone had told me to ignore the haters completely from day one. They're not your audience, and engaging with them only drains your energy and creativity. Use that block button liberally and focus on the people who actually want to hear what you have to say.

The technical quality will improve naturally over time. Start with what you have, focus on delivering value, and upgrade your equipment gradually as you grow. The most successful YouTubers didn't wait for perfect conditions - they started creating and improved along the way.

Consistency beats perfection every time. I've seen channels with basic equipment outperform technically perfect videos simply because they showed up regularly with valuable content. Your audience cares more about what you say than how polished it looks.

Remember that YouTube is about connection, not perfection. People subscribe to channels because they connect with the creator and the message, not because the lighting is perfect or the intro is professionally animated.

So if you're just starting out, or even if you've been at it for a while, learn from my mistakes. Don't waste years like I did worrying about haters, obsessing over technical perfection, or constantly rebranding. Know your audience, deliver value consistently, and everything else will fall into place.

The truth is, most of us overthink everything when we start on YouTube. We worry about what others will think, if our videos are good enough, or if our branding makes sense. But none of that matters as much as simply starting and staying consistent.

If I could go back and do it all again, I would focus exclusively on creating content for my target audience from day one. I would ignore the haters completely, use whatever equipment I had available, and stick with a simple, consistent brand identity.

So that's my advice to you after 10 years on this platform. Don't make the same mistakes I did.

Hello there, wonderful people. I want to share one of my strongest opinions about job hunting today: if you have to job hunt, a far better strategy is just to build a business. And I will explain to you why.

I'm very good at spotting patterns, seeing things that repeat, and noticing changes in trends. I'm also an avid learner - I love acquiring new skills, reading books, and testing new concepts. At almost 50, I've learned how to produce world-class quality podcasts and cinematic videos, and this passion for learning extends to other areas of my life as well.

This learning ability has helped me spot things that are often overlooked today. One of those things is how we actually learn. You might think learning happens by repeating something over and over, and that's partially true. But real learning requires something more crucial: iteration.

The True Nature of Learning

What does it mean to learn by iterating? It means you need to try different approaches and test various concepts to truly learn. If you're just repeating the same thing over and over, you'll become proficient at that specific task, but you won't actually learn in the broader sense.

This is precisely why I believe looking for a job today is stupid. If you've lost your job or resigned from a toxic workplace, don't look for a new job.

Build a business instead.

Why shouldn't you be looking for a new job? Because the job search process doesn't allow for iteration, which means you can't learn or improve. You'll just apply through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), get rejected without feedback, then apply again with slight changes to your CV or cover letter, only to be rejected again without explanation.

The Broken Job Search System

Do you spot the pattern? Yes - it's the complete absence of feedback. And why is there no feedback? Because rejections are often not communicated at all (ghosting), or they come from no-reply email addresses, giving you zero chance to ask questions or request feedback.

You're actively blocked from being able to iterate. You'll never get better at job searching because you have no opportunity to learn from your mistakes or understand what employers are actually looking for.

Some LinkedIn gurus will tell you, "Just post articles on LinkedIn, comment on others' posts, and network so you can apply through a real person." But that's not really true. While you might gain more visibility on LinkedIn, the person who gives you a job lead will ultimately redirect you to the same ATS, where you'll get rejected without feedback.

Why Building a Business Is Different

How is building a business different? You'll have to put in exactly the same amount of effort. You'll still need to network, refine your offerings many times, and face rejection. But there's one crucial difference: every time you take action, you'll receive feedback.

Every time you make a sales call, you'll learn why a prospect didn't buy. You'll be able to identify where in the conversation things went wrong, or you can simply ask them directly, "Why didn't you buy my offer?" They'll tell you their reasons.

Maybe their feedback won't be completely honest or precise, but at least it will exist. You'll have something to work with, something that allows you to iterate. The next time you make a sales call, send an email, or meet someone at a networking event, you'll know what to do differently to avoid rejection and make the sale.

The Power of Iteration

This opportunity to iterate is what makes building a business so much more valuable than job hunting in today's environment. With each interaction, you're learning, adapting, and improving your approach based on real feedback.

In business building, rejection isn't a dead end - it's a signpost showing you where to go next. Every "no" brings you closer to understanding what will generate a "yes." This is the fundamental difference that makes entrepreneurship a more effective use of your time and energy.

The job search system is fundamentally broken. It's designed to process applications efficiently for employers, not to help job seekers improve. You can submit hundreds of applications and never understand why you're not getting interviews or offers.

When you build a business, the market gives you immediate, honest feedback. If your product doesn't sell, you know something needs to change. If your marketing doesn't resonate, you'll see it in your metrics. If your sales pitch falls flat, you'll hear it directly from potential customers.

Taking Control of Your Future

This feedback loop is invaluable. It puts you in control of your professional development rather than leaving you at the mercy of opaque hiring systems. You become the architect of your own success rather than a passive applicant hoping to be chosen.

Building a business also allows you to leverage your unique skills and experiences in ways that traditional employment often doesn't. You can create something that perfectly aligns with your strengths and passions rather than trying to fit yourself into someone else's predefined role.

The truth is, the traditional job market is increasingly failing talented people. The systems designed to "efficiently" process applications are actually preventing meaningful connections between skilled workers and the companies that need them. By building a business, you're stepping outside this broken system entirely.

So if you find yourself needing to job hunt, consider this alternative path. The effort required is similar, but the potential for growth, learning, and ultimately success is dramatically different.

Do you remember the video I made about the fact that I still buy CDs, vinyls, and music files like MP3s from the Apple iTunes store? What Amazon did recently is proof that I’m doing a good thing for my music library. And you should also consider doing the same - owning your stuff and not renting it from somebody, let’s say Amazon.

Amazon changed its policies related to Kindle books, and from February 26, 2025, you’re not able to download the books you’ve bought on the Kindle store. You’re only able to transfer them to a Kindle device, so if you use a Boox tablet or a Kobo tablet to sideload those books, well — you’re out of luck.

Of course, Amazon is doing this because the company wants to sell more Kindle devices, but you know what I mean. In the music realm:

* Spotify can do the same.

* Apple Music can do the same.

* Tidal can do the same.

You’re not the owner of your playlist.

The Illusion of Ownership

If I buy an MP3 album on the iTunes store, I own the MP3s. They are DRM-free, and I can use them anywhere I want - on my preferred digital audio player, for example. This is real ownership, not the illusion of it that streaming services provide.

The fact that Amazon is making this policy change so that after a certain date, no book - even if you spent the last 10 years collecting your Kindle books - can be downloaded ever again is plain and simple stupid.

It would be very bad, but it would be slightly better if they said, “Ok, for all the books purchased after February 26, 2025, you will not be able to download them,” whereas all the books you have bought in the last 10 years, you will still be able to download until the end of time. It would be a policy change with respect for the consumer - but of course, it would not push people to buy Kindle devices. So, screw the respect!

Amazon is not Customer-Centric

This kind of aggressive policy change will probably push some people that are more comfort-inclined to buy a Kindle for 100 dollars and forget the change. That’s exactly what Amazon wants - to lock you into their ecosystem.

I’ve seen this pattern repeat itself across digital media platforms. Companies start with consumer-friendly policies to build their user base, then gradually restrict options once they have enough market share. It’s a bait-and-switch tactic that punishes loyal customers.

Remember when you could easily transfer your purchased iTunes songs to any device? Or when Kindle books could be read on practically any e-reader? These freedoms are being systematically eliminated to force consumers into walled gardens where companies have complete control.

Curation and True Ownership

I’m a big believer in owning things, and I think that you don’t really need access to every book on earth and every music album on earth. It would be much better if you curate what you want to listen to, if you curate what you want to read, and then you own it.

There’s something deeply satisfying about building a personal library of books or music that you’ve thoughtfully selected. It reflects your tastes, your journey, your intellectual development. When you stream everything, you own nothing, and that collection can disappear at any moment.

Preferably, you own your media in such a way that you pay the artist or author the most. Because if not, those people will not make more music, they will not write additional books, they will just go to a corporation and get a job in order to pay bills.

Taking Control of Your Digital Life

The Amazon Kindle policy change should be a wake-up call for all of us. Remember: when you “buy” digital content through most platforms, you’re really just purchasing a conditional license that can be modified or revoked.

For books, consider purchasing DRM-free ebooks directly from publishers. For music, look into Bandcamp or buying MP3s that don’t have usage restrictions. Yes, it might be slightly less convenient than one-click streaming, but the peace of mind is worth it.

Physical media still has tremendous value too. A book on your shelf can’t be remotely deleted. A CD or vinyl record will play regardless of whether a company changes its terms of service. There’s resilience in tangibility that digital licenses simply don’t provide.

Supporting Creators Through Direct Ownership

When you purchase directly from creators or through platforms that give them a larger cut, you’re not just securing your own access - you’re helping sustain the creative ecosystem. Streaming services typically pay fractions of pennies per play, while direct purchases provide meaningful income.

Think about the future of creativity if we continue down this path of centralized control. When artists can’t make a living from their work, we all lose out on the books, music, and art that enrich our lives. Your purchasing decisions are votes for the kind of creative economy you want to see.

The bottom line is simple: if you value something, own it outright if possible. Don’t trust corporations to maintain your access to the content you’ve paid for. They’ve shown time and again that their priorities can shift, leaving consumers stranded without the media they thought they owned.

Message

I've been thinking about procrastination lately, and I've come to a conclusion: we've been looking at it all wrong. While the productivity gurus preach that procrastination is the enemy, I've discovered it's actually a sophisticated feedback mechanism our brain uses to protect us.

When we procrastinate, it's not because we're lazy or unmotivated. Instead, our brain is sending us important signals about what doesn't align with our values or what might be harmful to us. It's like having an internal compass that points away from potentially dangerous or unfulfilling situations.

Think about it - when was the last time you procrastinated doing something you truly loved? Something that made you feel alive and purposeful? Probably never. That's because procrastination is selective, and that selectivity holds wisdom.

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Depression

Just like depression can be a sign that something in our life needs changing, procrastination serves a similar purpose. When we're stuck in a soul-crushing job or surrounded by toxic people, our mental health suffers - and that's valuable information.

I've experienced this firsthand in corporate environments where micromanagement and lack of growth opportunities created a perfect storm for both depression and procrastination.

The key is learning to listen to these signals instead of fighting them. When we understand that our mental state is giving us feedback, we can use it as a tool for positive change.

Example

Let me share a personal story that perfectly illustrates this. I once worked with a management board where one member was particularly toxic - a classic narcissistic personality who turned every interaction into a battlefield of criticism and aggression.

Whenever I needed to send emails to the board, I found myself procrastinating. My brain recognized the pattern: every email would trigger an immediate aggressive response from this person. My procrastination wasn't laziness - it was self-preservation.

Contrast this with my morning runs. While I might not always feel motivated to run, I rarely procrastinate because my brain knows there's no real threat - just the opposite, there's a reward waiting on the other side.

What next?

Understanding procrastination as feedback has transformed how I approach tasks I'm avoiding. Instead of beating myself up, I now ask, "What is this procrastination trying to tell me?"

Sometimes the answer reveals that I'm pursuing something that doesn't align with my true goals. Other times, it highlights toxic situations I need to address or change. The key is treating procrastination as information rather than failure.

This shift in perspective has allowed me to make better decisions about where I invest my time and energy, and it's helped me identify situations that need changing rather than pushing through blindly.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating, pause and listen. What is your inner wisdom trying to tell you?