What triggered it
Wanting a tactile system that made planning feel less slippery than apps.
Goal
Find one analog planning approach that reduces overwhelm and daily startup friction.
What I did
Tried bullet journals, dated planners, time-blocking notebooks, pocket cards, and custom templates printed at home.
Summary notes
Useful for self-knowledge, but mostly a cautionary tale now.
Lessons learned
- Capture matters more than format.
- If setup feels precious, I will avoid using it on messy days.
Mistakes and dead ends
- Bought premium stationery during rough weeks.
- Mistook aesthetic satisfaction for functional reliability.