I bought a turntable and speakers. I'm up to only five vinyl records, but they are soul and jazz records from the 1970s, so that I can hear the breathing, frets, and occasional scratches.
If I choose to put my records on, I can no longer zone out while doing whatever task I am working on. Instead, I have to interact with the music because not many songs fit on a single side of vinyl. I am present for almost every song.
I'm also considering getting a flip phone. Seriously.
My 23-year-old daughter's favorite shows are Friends, Big Bang Theory, and Sex and the City. Why? Because they depict genuine conversations without the interference of cell phones. She longs for the 90s, where waiting in line for concert tickets, having honest conversations, and going on 'real' dates were the norm, not the exception.
I realize this is only an n of 2. Still, it made me wonder how this translates to my clients - business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who are constantly bombarded with texts, emails, Slack and WhatsApp messages, as well as being interrupted by dings and notifications 24/7.
Digital Fatigue and Always On
This constant switching between applications—averaging more than 30 times a day—reduces productivity due to the never-ending interruptions and refocusing of our attention. In a frictionless world of apps and delivery services, this constant switching creates its own cognitive friction.
Research reveals that excessive digital engagement leads to mental exhaustion, reduced job performance, and heightened stress, creating a cascade effect that can impact every level of organizational performance. Feeling stressed? We reach for our phones like a pacifier and scroll until we have enough dopamine hits to feel better.
Over half of workers feel that it's more challenging to perform their jobs due to the continuous communication. I recall that in one job, I was constantly toggling between Zoom meetings, phone calls, emails, texts, and no fewer than five Slack channels. I could not even begin my real work until 5 pm when the office 'closed'. So what happens? We're catching up on email after dinner and at night. How many of us check email at night before bed, just to see that someone sent something and we feel the need to respond - at 11 pm! The relief of disconnecting from this digital overload is palpable.
The Analog Awakening: More Than Nostalgia?
I don't believe all of this is pure nostalgia for the good ol’ days that never really were (AIDS was still rampant, women endured sexual harassment in the workplace and beyond, and it was still difficult to be out of the closet). Rather, I think it's a primal response to cognitive overload.
Stationery sales have surged, with companies reporting double-digit growth. Film camera production has resumed at companies like Kodak and Fujifilm to meet demand. Vinyl records outsold CDs for the third consecutive year, with Gen Z accounting for 45% of purchases.
Is this deliberate embrace of non-digital, tactile experiences a form of cultural resistance? Maybe. Maybe not. I see it as representing a conscious choice rather than a rejection of technology. It's a desire for slower, more mindful experiences, free from algorithmic manipulation, and a recognition that there is value in the tactile, sensory experiences that analog practices provide.
Three Analog Interventions That Can Transform Leadership
As an executive coach and business consultant, I need to tie this into how we work and present ourselves as leaders.
Digital channels have become so optimized that they're borderline sterile. You scroll, click, abandon cart, repeat. Analog—the real-world, sensory stuff—breaks that pattern. It slows you down, and weirdly, that makes it more memorable. Here are just three things you can do to reclaim your attention and creativity.
1. The Power of the Pen
Activate both sides of your brain by putting thoughts to paper. Implement a morning journaling practice using pen and paper. Doodle or draw out your thoughts. The physical act of writing engages different neural pathways than typing, fostering deeper insights and more creative problem-solving. Try it and see.
2. Walking Meetings in Nature
Instead of yet another Zoom or phone call, transform one-on-one meetings and brainstorming sessions by taking them outdoors. The rhythm of walking, the sensory richness of natural environments, and the absence of screens create ideal conditions for problem-solving, 'aha' moments, and other breakthroughs. When I ask my clients to walk while we talk, usually on the phone, they are amazed at the ideas and breakthroughs they experience.
3. Analog Strategy Sessions
Remember Art Class? The smell of markers and glue, construction paper, and sparkles. Don't forget the sheer delight of play. Replace digital whiteboards and slide presentations with physical materials, such as large paper, colored markers, sticky notes, and tactile planning tools. The process becomes more collaborative and embodied, often yielding more innovative results than screen-based alternatives.
Tying it all Together
My daughter's longing for the 90s isn't truly about the decade itself—it's about the possibility of being present. It's about having conversations that meander and deepen rather than getting interrupted by notifications. It's about experiencing life in real time instead of documenting everything for later consumption.
Perhaps this analog renaissance is really about reclaiming our humanity in an age of increasing automation. When we embrace the friction of flipping a record, the slowness of handwriting, or the vulnerability of unscreened conversations, we are making a statement about what we value: the messy, imperfect, and gloriously human experience of being fully present in our own lives.
The question isn't whether analog is better than digital; it's whether we are brave enough to choose presence over productivity, depth over speed, and the uncertain magic of unoptimized moments over the false security of constant stimulation.
Sometimes, the most revolutionary act is simply putting down the phone and picking up a pen.