In a world obsessed with tech, my power move is something a little more… analog.
You might be thinking, it’s a little ironic, isn’t it? A woman who works in tech (and advocates for it!) is still using a pen and paper to plan her day?
Yep. That’s me. 👋🏼
As someone who lives and breathes tech, there’s often an assumption that everything in my life is automated, optimized, and 100% digital. And to be fair—I’ve tried it all. From Notion to Trello, Todoist to Google Calendar. I’ve downloaded, customized, color-coded, and even recommended these tools to others.
But despite all these powerful apps at my fingertips, there’s one ritual I keep coming back to:
Planning my day with pen and paper.
No screens. No syncing.
Just pen, paper, peace of mind, and a nice cup of coffee.
It Started in School (Thanks to “100 Times” Punishments)
My deep connection with writing began long before my tech career, back in school.
Whenever someone was late or forgot their homework, the punishment was simple:
Write “I won’t be late again” 100 times.
If you were lucky. On a bad day, it felt more like 100 hours of writing. (Yes, really !)
It was meant to teach discipline—but it had an unexpected effect on me.
I developed a bit of a superpower:
I started remembering almost everything I wrote by hand. Back then, I could recall about 90% of what I wrote.
These days? Maybe it’s more like 85% (thank you, aging brain 😅)
But still—writing things down helps me process, remember, and prioritize in a way typing never could.
It’s not just a to-do list.
It’s how I imprint my intentions for the day.
Writing is Thinking
Writing by hand forces me to slow down, quiet the noise, and really focus on what matters.
Every morning or sometimes the night before, I do a quick brain dump of everything on my mind, tasks, meetings, errands, and random thoughts.
This simple brain-dump becomes the foundation of my day. It grounds me—especially in a fast-paced tech world where distractions lurk behind every notification.
Analog = Laser Focus
Let’s be honest, productivity apps can sometimes feel like more work.
You open one to check your tasks, and 20 minutes later, you’ve reorganized your whole system, browsed Reddit, and somehow ended up on Pinterest planning a hypothetical vacation or a new board of OOTD.
We’ve all been there.
With a paper planner?
No pings. No updates. No tweaking.
Just clarity and calm.
A Moment of Mindfulness
In a field that demands constant context-switching, pen and paper planning is how I stay centered.
It’s not just about managing time—it’s about reclaiming headspace.
This daily ritual is my reset button. A moment of mindfulness in an otherwise digital storm.
The Emotional Connection
There’s something deeply satisfying about physically crossing off a task with a pen.
It feels real. It’s tangible.
And over time, those pages in my planner become something more. They turn into little journals of progress.
They don’t just show what I’ve done—but who I’ve become along the way.
This Isn’t About Choosing Sides
Don’t get me wrong—I still use digital tools daily. They’re great for collaboration, shared calendars, and big-picture planning.
But when it comes to setting the tone for my day,
Pen and paper win. Every time.
💬 Let’s Talk
Did you ever get those “write it 100 times” punishments in school?
Or maybe you have your own analog rituals that help you stay grounded?
At Hey Tech Sisters, we believe productivity should feel good and not just look good.
Find what works for you and stick to it unapologetically.
Here’s to quiet power moves, old-school methods, and making space for ourselves amidst the noise. 💛
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