Welcome to Season Six of The Journaling Guy Podcast!
I'm calling this season The Analogue Advantage, and over the coming weeks we're going to explore the benefits of handwriting, paper, attention, reflection and spending a little less time staring at screens.
In this opening episode, I explain why I've recently turned down approaches from at least half a dozen companies developing digital Journaling apps, some using artificial intelligence.
I'm not against technology. Far from it! But when it comes to Journaling, I believe there's something incredibly valuable about physically picking up a pen and writing down our thoughts.
Just because we CAN make something digital, doesn't necessarily mean we SHOULD.
We'll explore why the slower pace of handwriting might actually be beneficial, why I don't want technology organising my thoughts for me, and why sometimes the best thing about a Journal is that it simply leaves us alone!
This week's Analogue Experiment
We're introducing something new for Season Six: a small practical experiment to accompany each episode.
Find ten minutes, grab your Journal and a pen, and put your phone somewhere out of reach.
Then write: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GIVE MYSELF TEN MINUTES WITHOUT A SCREEN?
Don't worry about what you write or whether it's particularly meaningful. Just notice what happens when you spend a little time with your own thoughts, without something else competing for your attention.
No targets. No pressure. Just ten minutes.
Here's something else I'm creating...
I'm developing a physical monthly newsletter, delivered through your letterbox, and I'll be sharing its progress through my separate FREE digital Journaling newsletter.
If you'd like to follow the journey, discover more about analogue Journaling and be amongst the first to hear when the physical newsletter is ready, I'd love you to subscribe.
JOIN MY FREE DIGITAL NEWSLETTER: https://www.mrmattyoung.com/free-course
You can also find Matt's Notebook over on Substack, where I explore each podcast episode from a slightly different angle, with additional thoughts and practical ideas.
https://substack.com/@thejournalingguy
Do get in touch with any questions or feedback. I'd particularly love to know whether you Journal by hand or digitally, and why.
Email me — hello@thejournalingguy.com
Please share this episode with someone who might enjoy discovering the benefits of analogue Journaling. And if you get a moment, please leave me a review. They really do help more people discover the podcast.
Next week, we'll be asking: Does writing by hand really make a difference? We'll explore what the research actually tells us.
As Always...
Keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself.
Matt
