There's something about paper
This year I started using paper more on daily basis and use obsidian for notes that I have to refer to later. There is something about writing on paper with a pen, obviously there are many scientific studies1 that says your brain works differently when you write on paper, for me things slow down, I remember things I write on paper.
The traveler's notebook I use on daily basis for notes and tasks
The exact words and the small drawing of satellite spinning around the globe that I jotted down on paper 7 months ago when someone said he is leading a team that works on satellite data whom I met first time for a coffee at Starbucks. If I would have opened my device and typed things about the meeting/catchup I would have never remembered these details.
I have thousands of notes in my obsidian but my brain doesn't picturesquely remember any note from my digital notes, seldom the most important ones or it's contents. While I proudly showcase the digital notes I organized, pull out the notes after years by searching for keywords to look up for information, I couldn't pull out the information from back of my head.
After realizing this I have introduced more analog time into my workflow. When I read my books I don't take notes in obsidian instead I scribble with my pencil on the book I am reading. I reinforce what I learn and add it to my mental model then and there, I ask questions near the sentences, invalidate and revalidate assumptions like I am interacting intimately with the author – this makes me retain more of what I read, build mental models and change opinions faster.
When was the last time you got distracted by a notification from your digital device when planning your day or learning something? For most people the answer is "today". All the apps are designed to grab our attention. In today's world where everyone and everything inside your digital device wants little bit of your attention, your attention is the new oil – There's something about paper.