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Title: 2025 Summary

Published: 2025-12-29

Author: Cameron

Layout: blog

Tag: Digital Minimalism

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At the end of the year, I am thinking about what to focus on for 2026. I am not doing anything dramatic or strenuous, as I am immersed in parenting. My first kiddo is now two, and I just had our second baby in early December. So I am trying to reset my body and mind and look forward, amidst the relentless chaos that is life with small children.

<u>What is working:</u>

Digital Tools:

# Linux Mint

I have become a lazy Linux user. I use Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop. I don't do any fiddling or distro hopping these days, I just use it, and it's working brilliantly. 2026 marks 14 years or so of playing with Linux and 10 years of using Linux full time. No plans to ever go back to Windows or Mac! I don't noodle around with software like I once did, but I do enjoy the user experience and the open source philosophy.

# Kindle ebook with Calibre

I am not using the Kindle/Amazon ecosystem, but I do enjoy the old Kindle Keyboard, 3rd generation. I manage my ebook library with Calibre, and transfer books onto the Kindle by plugging it into my computer. I keep in airplane mode, and never connect to wifi or Amazon's servers. It's great.

# Supernote Tablet

I use this for writing blog posts, primarily. I use the handwriting Conversion tool to write plaintext or markdown. (when will it add native markdown support???) I have side loaded the Amaze file browser, and the SimpleMarkdown app. It uses Dropbox to sync, which is not my favorite, but it works, and I need to keep things simple right now.

Analog Tools:

# Travelers Notebook Planner

I have been using a physical book planner for years now, and only get more committed to it. Digital tools are nice, but my brain does so much better with the distraction-free, calming experience of real paper. I have gone through all the gyrations about which planner to use, and this year I am settled nicely into a Travelers Notebook with the Sterling Ink Common Planner.

I made my own notebook inserts with Tomoe River paper, and use those for daily pages, and have a small insert that is for to-do lists. I started using this sytem last year and it works well for me.

# My Thinking Book

I have a second Travelers Notebook that is my "thinking book." It was inspired by this video by Rachelle in Theory. It includes an insert for random brain dumps, and problems that I want to sort out. It helps to be able to scribble down options, theories, things to try, etc, on whatever topics I have on my mind. I don't have a structure to it, just go to the next page. If I want to be able to refer back to a certain topic easily, I'll have to copy those notes elsewhere, this is just a scribble book. I also have an insert for writing ideas, and one that is a mini journal as a place for journaled thoughts when I'm out of the house.

# Journal in a Notebook

I also keep a physical journal in a B5 notebook (currently using an Oddysey notebook, but Apica is my favorite).

# Fountain Pens

I love fountain pens. I currently use Kaweco Perkeos and Pilot Kakunos in my planners and journals. They write quite nicely and they are cheap, so if my two year old smashes the nib on one, it will be easy to replace.

# Digital Journal

I also keep a digital journal using Zim with the journal plug-in. Sometimes I prefer to type my thoughts, so I just have journals in two places, and don't worry about them being cohesive or structured.

Goals

Parenting a toddler and a newborn is non-stop, and I am up feeding a baby every 2-3 hours overnight. On the other hand, I feel so much better not being pregnant, So I have a little bit of energy to think about plans going forward. It feels good to be letting my body reset and start to feel somewhat like my normal self again. I had some preeclampsia at the birth of our daughter. I'm fine now, but it is making me want to be extra mindful of taking care of myself, eating healthy food, and gradually getting into some new exercise.