Wednesday - A Special Message from the Founder of Just Myself - Using Digital to Reclaim Our Analog Selves (and Why That’s Not Irony)

For years, I’ve worked at the intersection of leadership, talent, strategy, and organizational change. And here’s something I’ve watched happen in real time—across boardrooms, classrooms, and teams:

People aren’t burned out because they don’t care.
They’re burned out because they never get to stop.

We live in a world where our phones tell us how many steps we’ve taken, how much we’ve slept, and how many hours we’ve spent staring at our phones. So when I talk about using digital platforms to promote journaling, reflection, and analog balance, I sometimes hear:
“Isn’t that… ironic?”

Honestly? I don’t think it is. I think it’s exactly what this moment needs.

The Myth of Digital vs. Human

We’ve been stuck in a false choice for too long:

• Digital = distraction, speed, overload

• Analog = depth, presence, meaning

But real life—and real leadership—doesn’t work in binaries.

Digital isn’t going anywhere. And most people aren’t looking to abandon technology. What they are looking for is a way to use it with intention instead of being used by it.

That’s the shift I see everywhere right now:
From more → to better.
From faster → to more thoughtful.
From constant input → to space to think.

And here’s the key: for many people, the journey back to focus, reflection, and clarity actually starts online.

A post about journaling.
A short video about boundaries.
A reminder that it’s okay to pause.

And then—something important happens. The screen closes. The notebook opens. The thinking gets quieter. Deeper. More honest.

That’s not irony. That’s good design for human behavior.

Why This Matters for Leaders (and for Work)

In my work with institutions and organizations, I see how much performance depends on things we rarely schedule time for:

• Clear thinking

• Emotional regulation

• Perspective

• Judgment

• Self-awareness

These aren’t “soft” skills. They’re foundational.

But they don’t develop in nonstop meetings, endless notifications, or back-to-back Zoom calls. They develop in moments of reflection. In writing. In pauses. In space.

The organizations that will thrive aren’t just the ones with better tools. They’ll be the ones with people who can think clearly, decide well, and lead themselves before leading others.

Why I Built JustMyself

This is exactly why I founded JustMyself.

JustMyself is about using digital tools to help people build healthier, more intentional, more human-centered lives—through journaling, analog practices, and simple rituals that create space in busy days.

Yes, people might discover JustMyself online.
But the outcome is beautifully offline:

• A pen in hand

• A few quiet minutes

• Better questions

• Clearer thinking

• More grounded leadership

In a world optimized for speed, choosing reflection is a leadership move. Choosing boundaries is a strategy. Choosing to think—deeply and deliberately—is a competitive advantage.

The Future Is Hybrid (and Intentional)

The future isn’t digital or analog.

It’s digital and analog—on purpose.

Digital for access, connection, and discovery.
Analog for depth, memory, meaning, and judgment.

And maybe the real work of leadership right now isn’t adding more tools, more content, or more noise—but helping ourselves and our teams create the space to think, to reset, and to lead with intention.

That’s not stepping backward.
That’s how we move forward—better.