Anyone else struggle with this?

I think a lot of people are not as paper free as we are led to believe!

I’ve always used computers and have zero issues. However, I totally understand why others still refer paper.

I receive no paper bills, having opted for digital services as soon as they were available.

We are paper people.
So are a lot of my friends I found out.

We are too scared of internet interference/cables in the sea being cut.

I’m pretty tech savvy but give me paper every time. I don’t know if adjusting the accessibility settings would make it easier for you to read items on your laptop.

We got our first PC in 1996 and I took to it like a duck to water! I just loved doing things on a screen and preferred it to paper. I never had any trouble creating computer files and folders and worked in admin for the next 15 years.

However, fast forward another 15 years after retirement, and although I still use the computer regularly I'm beginning to struggle slightly. I think I just have too many files and folders, the result of 30 years of storing things on the computer! I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to files and photos and I'm beginning to drown in my own work. So I sort of see where you're coming from.

But don't forget our brains all work in different ways. I know someone who is highly intelligent (Cambridge educated) but can't cope with a computer at all. So just do what you can to get by!

I had to print out the forms & notes for dealing with my late husband’s estate. It was thirty six pages long. I can’t deal with all that on one screen, especially as it had to be completed in one session. You can’t start filling it in then go back to it tomorrow, because it doesn’t save any input.

Most things I do receive online, though.

I use my laptop to pay bills but still have paper copies of bank statements. Like you I find keeping paper copies easy to refer to and make notes on.

Oh I so much agree! I was only thinking today (after a computer "crash" and despite my belief that I had copied all the files to an external hardrive, could not find a single thing! People told me the files would be "in the cloud" but the ones I want don't seem to be there. How I wish I'd had paper copies as backup.

I have 30 years of paper in the cellar. I still insist on bills and admin on paper, the law is on my side here in France but I dread to think when it won’t. What will happen if a few building keeping precious data gets destroyed, or cables under the sea get cut and signals from satellites get blocked.

I always print off copies of theatre tickets, boarding passes etc. I have no confidence that I would be able to find them on my phone when needed. Especially theatre tickets bought months in advance.

Me too. I always print off boarding passes and tickets.

Unfortunately I have had to get a new laptop. I am finding it difficult to type of the smaller keyboard and not all the control keys seem to work. For example ctrl home and ctrl end. Is this normal?

I am very happy to do things online and I have files for everything.

However, I still print important documents out (to the hilarity of my DD) and when editing the village magazine with the Other Half I check articles off on a paper list and keep track of things on A4. The Other Half thought this was a bit antediluvian but he came a cropper not doing so and often relies on my old school solutions.

I also write my daily ‘to do’ list by hand and hand write a diary.

Horses for courses.

Personally, I think it also has to do with age.

If someone has been using paper for decades, it could be challenging to adopt to digital or computerised formats.

One should enquire in a neighbourhood course perhaps at one of the colleges, universities or high schools in their neighbourhood or close by for a course.

Lilyflower

I am very happy to do things online and I have files for everything.

However, I still print important documents out (to the hilarity of my DD) and when editing the village magazine with the Other Half I check articles off on a paper list and keep track of things on A4. The Other Half thought this was a bit antediluvian but he came a cropper not doing so and often relies on my old school solutions.

I also write my daily ‘to do’ list by hand and hand write a diary.

Horses for courses.

I also keep a paper written diary and write a to do list.

It is very handy as I have a magazine and therefore so many things to do in one day in addition to home necessities ..

Wise advice.

I use a bit of both ie laptop and paper. I do like a written ‘to do ‘list.

I remember back at work in the 80’s dealing with phone enquiries from Local Authorities who had gone ‘paper free’. That was fine but they constantly asked me to repeat identity information because they couldn’t make a note of it.
Infuriating 😡

Nannabananasplitz I worked in IT for over 30 years and I still print out documents that I need to read. I like to highlight in colour as I read so I can go back quickly and check things. If it's just proofreading it's a bit different but where I need to check facts I find it much easier to do on paper. I always print off forms, fill them in and check them, then fill them in online.

Even my Kindle nearly drove me mad recently when I wanted to go back and reread a section that seemed at odds with the rest of the story. It took me over half an hour to find it, reread it and go forward again.

FindingNemo15

Unfortunately I have had to get a new laptop. I am finding it difficult to type of the smaller keyboard and not all the control keys seem to work. For example ctrl home and ctrl end. Is this normal?

Do you still have dedicated Home and End keys?

If not it will be on your arrow keys.
You have to use 3 keys now in lots of laptops.

I will try to remember which ones!
🤔

I grew up in the age of paper. We got our first pc in 1988 - my husband loved it. Throughout my working life we had secretaries and they were the first ones to get pc’s. I could us one but have always felt much happier with paper and files. And now in my older years I hanker after the old ways. My brain has those methods embedded but not so tech stuff. Actually I am turning into more of a technophobe because the older I get, the less I use tech and the more sophisticated tech is becoming. Luddite? No, but I do get angry when I have to sign up to a company to organise a return and then there’s passwords - a multitude of them - and they really get to me too! Maybe I’m just getting short tempered but I think it’s just that I’m getting older and less in touch. When I bought my house recently I had to pay a tidy sum for an insurance regarding one aspect of the house and I had to print it out because I’d never find it floating somewhere in the cloud or on some branch of another branch of a folder I’d set up sometime in the past. So basically, you are definitely not alone!😊

I am fine with digital work. For contracts though I do print them out and place in household filing cabinet in case I or family need access and can't get into the computer system.

Not Spaghetti. For some unknown reason. The end and home keys are now working. Thank you for sending good vibes my way!!

I print out lots of things which to many people wouldn't be necessary but I find that if it's something I need to read and absorb then I need the paper version. Reading something online just does not seem to sink in as well. I then highlight things I might need to refer back to or that might need investigation.

Domestic admin can be annoyingly time-consumptive and stressful. I used to print out bank statements and utility bills but nowadays only if I change provider. The only thing I really need to have in front of me are documents for submission of tax. Some people find that one a breeze but I don't.

You can save it as a file though?