Just use fucking paper, man

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Paper for Simplicity and Focus

  • Many commenters say they returned to paper after trying numerous apps; digital tools added friction, tinkering, and procrastination.
  • Paper is favored for: short-term todos, daily/weekly lists, quick sketches/diagrams, and deep thinking.
  • Index cards, small notebooks, “hipster PDA” stacks, and single daily sheets are common patterns. Limited space forces prioritization.
  • The physical act of writing and crossing off items is described as satisfying, motivating, and clarity-inducing.

Limitations of Paper

  • Major downsides: no search, no backups, poor for long-term reference or knowledge bases, difficult refactoring/restructuring.
  • People who lose paper frequently or travel a lot see it as impractical.
  • Handwriting issues (illegible, smudging, especially for left-handed writers) make digital tools preferable for some.

Arguments for Digital Tools

  • Plain text (todo.txt, single markdown file, org-mode) appeals to those wanting simplicity and searchability, sync, history.
  • Apps praised for specific roles:
    • Simple lists and capture: Google Keep, Apple Notes/Reminders, Tasks, Simplenote, Telegram chats, email-to-self.
    • More structured systems: Obsidian, org-roam, OneNote, Notion (controversial), GitHub Issues, task managers like Things/Todoist/Remember The Milk.
  • Digital excels at: search, cross-device sync, sharing (e.g., shared shopping lists), reminders, journaling over years, and complex project tracking.

Hybrid Approaches

  • Common pattern: paper for daily/weekly planning and transient notes; digital tools for archival, long-term tasks, and project documentation.
  • Some use weekly/daily notes (on paper or in markdown/Obsidian/org) and “roll over” unfinished items, dropping stale ones.
  • Several scan paper notes (phone camera, apps like Post-it, Freeform) to archive or process them later, sometimes with OCR or models.

Specialized Devices & Gear

  • E-ink tablets (reMarkable, Supernote, BOOX, Daylight) and tablets with pens (iPad, Galaxy Tab) are seen as “paper-like” compromises: handwriting plus search, sync, and organization. Opinions vary on software quality.
  • Pens, pencils, and fountain pens are a surprisingly passionate subtopic.

Meta: Psychology, Procrastination, and Privacy

  • Many note that obsessing over tools is often procrastination or “magical thinking” about productivity.
  • Some attribute the intensity of the topic to ADHD/autistic traits and stress.
  • A minority explicitly prefer paper to keep ideas off cloud/AI systems and avoid corporate data mining.