There’s nothing like flipping through your favorite magazine at the beach, tearing open a handwritten letter, or holding an old-school photo full of meaning and memories. No screen glare, no loading times – just vibes.

Let’s be real – no matter how many Pinterest boards, email chains, or cloud drives we stack up, digital just doesn’t hit the same. That’s why wedding invites still go out on fancy paper, notebooks are selling more than ever, (166 million per year, to be exact), and print is still an $85 billion dollar industry. Paper is still very much a thing.

It’s not about choosing between digital and physical. Each format contains its own unique qualities, pros, and cons. It’s about making both work for you, and designing a system that works for your life.

Your personal archive (aka all the files, memories, achievements, thoughts, and random stuff you decide to keep) is completely yours to curate. You get to decide how and how much to consume, sort, create, and collect. You get to decide what serves you in the present, what may serve you in the future, and what no longer serves you from the past.

It’s very easy to hit the save button on an Instagram post, the bookmark star on your browser, or the screenshot button on your phone. Our personal media collections tend to expand more than they contract. Saving things digitally will not affect our mobility, but can quickly get out of hand when it comes to physical paper. With paper we have to be more intentional and digitize when appropriate.

So, instead of mindlessly hoarding screenshots and stacks of paper, let’s talk about how to actually organize your life in a way that makes sense, provides value, and doesn’t limit your mobility and freedom.

That’s where a system comes in.

Designing a System for Archiving Your Life

Step one? Ask yourself why you’re keeping something. What is its purpose? Will it add value to your life? If the answer is yes, then keep it but make it accessible for how and when you will use it.

The best solution is a hybrid system that helps you stay organized without the chaos of clutter. Because let’s be real – adulting is hard enough without drowning in paper clutter and being physically burdened by stuff that doesn’t add value to your life.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the different storage formats:

Physical Storage Pros: Tangible, emotional, easy to read (no blue light headaches), no tech issues, and won’t get randomly deleted.

Physical Storage Cons: Bulky, takes up space, can get damaged, takes effort to move, and can become a lot to manage, especially if you move a lot.

Digital Storage Pros: Unlimited space, searchable, easy to back up, easy to share, and accessible from anywhere (assuming Wi-Fi cooperates).

Digital Storage Cons: Hard drives fail, cloud storage isn’t actually yours, and security risks.

Getting Your Life Together: Storage Solutions for Nomads

Digital Organization Solutions for Nomads

Digital storage is inherently nomadic, and there are many apps like Notion, Evernote, and Apple Notes to help you organize. What I’ve found most effective personally are old-school spreadsheets and file folders. I like that they are consistent, multi-functional, and reliable.

Scanning apps and tools can help with digitizing printed items, sketches, and notes, but there is a cost/benefit decision when you factor in the time it takes to use them. Sometimes, keeping things in paper format is more efficient time-wise.

Physical Organization Solutions for Nomads

Most storage and organization products are a mess – random sizes, flimsy materials, and lids that disapper into the void. That’s why I created Better Boxes – a system that has the same qualities as the best digital tools: consistency, multi-functionality, and reliability.

✔ Compatibility – All the parts work together cohesively. No weird mismatched lids and containers and playing tetris to make things fit. ✔ Consistency – No “discontinued product” disasters. What you buy now will match what you buy later. ✔ Quality – No more cracked plastic bins or flimsy cardboard and chipboard boxes prone to warping and delamination. They may look nice new, but it’s only a matter of time until they break or fall apart, usually at the worst possible time in the middle of a move. You can rely on the performance and durability of Better Boxes. They are built to last decades.

Whether you’re keeping tax documents, old journals, or sentimental stuff like concert tickets and birthday cards, Better Boxes help you stay organized, use your time efficiently, and make moves without the chaos. Because an organized life = a stress-free life. Let’s get it together. 🚀