Wasn’t the big trend in the 2010s all about minimalism? “Simplify your life.” “Declutter.” “Own less.” And then everyone marched into The Container Store and dropped $500 on perfectly matching acrylic bins.
That just popped into my head. I remember that era so clearly. The aesthetic was white walls, neutral tones, a single succulent, and a drawer so organized it looked like it had never been opened. Mari Kondo everything. I like Marie Kondo, but I just can’t keep up with being as organized as she is. I never went to The Container Store because there wasn’t one near me. I’m sure there was one down in Los Angeles, but I wasn’t about to drive all the way down there just to buy a clear bin with a lid. I probably went to Target and bought a few cloth bins instead. They slouched. They sagged. They never held their shape. Eventually, they went into the trash.
Minimalism wasn’t exactly compatible with two kids. Friends, family, Grandma, everyone loves to give toys. Stuff multiplies. It reproduces when you’re not looking. You declutter one shelf and three new plastic things appear like they tunneled in overnight.
Now I’m seeing a similar pattern with the “going analog” trend. Suddenly, everyone has an analog bag filled with notebooks, fountain pens, film cameras, maybe even a flip phone. I can resonate with the notebook and pen part. I have more than I can count. Nice ones. Unused ones. They’re sitting in a tote right now, waiting for the version of me who has enough time and clarity to fill them all.
This morning, I was scrolling through TikTok while my coffee brewed (in a French press cause we are out of coffee pods), and I saw a video about someone’s “analog bag.” I’ve talked about this trend before, but I had never actually seen it on my feed. It made me wonder how the algorithm works. I’m not searching for analog content. And scrolling TikTok is arguably the opposite of going analog. There’s something very ironic about watching high-definition digital videos on a smartphone that explain how to escape digital life.
It feels like the same cycle: a trend emerges that promises clarity, identity, and meaning. Then it becomes aesthetic. Then it becomes consumer-based. Then we buy things to support our new identity. But buying new things to “go analog” seems like a fast track to burning out on it before you’ve actually simplified anything. It becomes performance instead of practice.
I’m not really going anywhere with this. I just find it fascinating. The psychology behind trends makes sense. We want belonging. We want identity. We don’t want to miss out. There’s comfort in social proof, the idea that if other people are doing it, it must be right, or at least safe. Trends offer shorthand. They tell us who we are (or who we could be) without us having to fully figure it out ourselves.
Studying cybersecurity, diving deeper into technology, understanding systems, vulnerabilities, and digital behavior. It feels like the complete opposite of “going analog.” But not really. Cybersecurity includes physical security, human behavior, and social engineering. It’s not just about the internet; it’s about how people move through systems, digital and physical. In a strange way, understanding tech might actually give you more freedom in how you relate to it. Understanding technology can give you more power over the technology. It doesn’t mean you have to reject tech or become hyper-technical. It just means you’re not at its mercy.
Maybe the real question isn’t “Should we stay on top of trends?” but “Am I drawn to this because it genuinely fits my life, or because I want to feel aligned with something?” There’s no wrong answer. It’s just interesting to notice.
Anyway. This is what was floating around in my brain. No grand conclusion. Just an observation.
I’m going to marinade the chicken now. We are having ranch chicken tonight. I’m also going to have some leftover tacos for lunch. We have the leftover taco meat that I’m going to make into a taco. That makes more sense than just saying I’m having a leftover taco.
I was craving popcorn and found these little 100-calorie bags of butter popcorn in the pantry, which honestly feels like spotting a unicorn in our house. We almost never have snacks unless someone who isn’t Tommy buys them, and Tommy rarely buys snacks. Which makes it extra funny when he’ll ask, “Is there anything sweet in the house?” and I’m standing there thinking, Did you buy it? Because if you didn’t, chances are… no.
To be fair, sometimes the kids or Kel grab candy or snacks, but those disappear at lightning speed. So this popcorn definitely belongs to someone. I’m guessing Alexis since I saw her eating some yesterday. I decided to take one bag. It’s not nearly as good as making popcorn on the stove, the real kind with actual butter, except sometimes I will just use oil and not butter in the bottom of the pan, but I don’t really have time for that whole production today. I try to be healthy and not add extra butter to the popcorn.
I did laundry, so now I have to put the clothes away at some point. It’s not even that much, just four days’ worth, but somehow it still feels like a task. My mouse pad (the long one that fits both my keyboard and mouse) is looking pretty dirty. I keep wondering if I could toss it in the washer. I definitely wouldn’t put it in the dryer, it would have to hang dry. I really love it. It’s Hello Kitty, and it makes my desk feel a little happier.
I want some matcha tea, so I think I’m going to go make that. The office door is closed, and I have such a hard time sitting in here alone with it shut. I’m trying to push myself to do it anyway. I stepped out earlier to make coffee and actually closed the door again when I came back. I don’t even know why it makes me anxious. I just feel cut off when I can’t see what’s happening outside the room, even though logically I know nothing is happening. It’s such a strange, buzzy feeling.
I should study more and then put the clothes away. I also need to start the mashed potatoes and roast the asparagus sometime in the next few hours. Tommy said he’ll be late, so I’m trying to time everything just right. Cooking and timing are not my strengths. I either finish way too early, or everyone walks in, and dinner isn’t even close to done. There seems to be no middle ground.
Anyway, matcha first. One thing at a time.
I’m wondering if I should start the potatoes now. Tommy’s going to be late, so I probably have some time. It might be a little too early to actually cook dinner, though. Maybe I’ll just cut up the potatoes and have them ready to boil later.
For now, I’ll post my journal and then start prepping. I can trim and wash the asparagus, too.
