Coffee Shop Thoughts and My New Spreadsheet Obsession

Okay, so I’m sitting in my usual corner at the coffee shop—the one by the window where the light hits just right at 3 PM—and I’m supposed to be writing a newsletter draft. Instead, I’m staring at my screen, thinking about how my brain feels like a browser with too many tabs open. You know that feeling? Anyway, I ended up opening this orientdig spreadsheet I’ve been tinkering with, and suddenly, everything clicked. Not in a dramatic, life-changing way, but in that quiet ‘oh, this actually makes sense’ kind of moment.

Let me backtrack. This morning, I was trying to plan my week—outfits, errands, that blog post I keep postponing—and I was using my usual notes app. It was a mess. Colors everywhere, random lists, zero structure. Then I remembered this spreadsheet template a friend mentioned last month. She called it her ‘style brain dump,’ which sounded both chaotic and genius. So I downloaded it, and honestly, I didn’t expect much. But here I am, hours later, weirdly invested.

The thing is, I’ve always been a bit allergic to organization. Like, my closet is organized by mood, not season, and my phone photos are a graveyard of screenshots I’ll never find again. But this orientdig system—it’s not about rigid boxes. It’s more like a visual map for my scattered thoughts. I started by logging what I wore this week (spoiler: a lot of linen and that one pair of vintage Levi’s I can’t quit), and then I added a column for ‘how it felt.’ Not just ‘cute’ or ‘comfy,’ but stuff like ‘made me want to walk slower’ or ‘got three compliments from strangers.’ It sounds silly, but typing that out made me realize why I reach for certain pieces on certain days.

Which brings me to today’s outfit. I threw on this oversized blazer from Zara (old season, sorry, no link—I thrifted it ages ago) over a simple tank and wide-leg trousers. Normally, I’d just call it ‘minimalist’ and move on. But thanks to my little spreadsheet experiment, I paused. Why this blazer? Because it feels like armor without the weight. Because the shoulder pads make me stand taller. Because it’s neutral enough to not distract from my messy bun. It’s those tiny insights that the orientdig format nudges you to notice—like a slow, deliberate version of those ‘get ready with me’ videos.

I’m not saying it’s magic. It’s just a spreadsheet, after all. But there’s something about seeing your style habits laid out in grids and colors that feels… honest. Like, I can now spot that I wear black on days I need confidence, or that I always pair my favorite earrings (those tiny gold hoops from & Other Stories) with anything flowy. It’s not data for data’s sake—it’s a mirror, but a kinder one.

Oh, and I almost forgot—I added a tab for wishlist items. Not a shopping list, more like a mood board in cells. I dropped in a link to that Bottega Veneta pouch everyone’s obsessed with (here, if you’re curious: example.com/bottega-pouch), not because I’m buying it (my bank account says no), but because its shape keeps popping up in my saves. The orientdig tracker helped me see that pattern: I’m drawn to rounded, tactile things right now. Maybe it’s a reaction to all the sharp edges in life lately.

Anyway, the sun’s shifting, and my coffee’s gone cold. I should probably tackle that newsletter. But first, I’m going to jot down today’s reflection in my spreadsheet—something about blazers and light and the quiet joy of figuring things out, one cell at a time. No big lessons, just a snapshot. Thanks for listening to my ramble. If you ever feel like your style’s in a fog, maybe give this orientdig thing a try. Or don’t. Either way, wear what makes you feel like you.

Talk soon, maybe over more caffeine.