About RUZI

RUZI exists for people who think deeply, work independently, and know their best work starts on paper.

It’s for those who love what technology can do for them, but don’t want to be ruled by it.
For people who value quality over speed, clarity over chaos, and intention over automation.
For anyone who prioritizes building genuine skills rather than outsourcing their abilities to tech.

RUZI analog tools are designed to help you think clearly, work deliberately, and live with greater intention. And it all starts with something deceptively simple: a piece of paper.

The Story Behind RUZI

Howdy, I’m Jake Ruzi.

I design analog tools and teach people how to think better with them.

For over a decade, I worked in public education. I helped students and adults learn and navigate complex systems, manage overwhelming workloads, and make sense of too much information with too little time. But somewhere along the way, I noticed a problem that extended far beyond schools.

Most of us were never taught how to actually use our minds in the digital age.

We are handed incredibly powerful tools, endless apps, infinite storage, and instant answers.
And yet, many of us feel more distracted, scattered, and mentally exhausted than ever.

That’s why I set out to teach the world to think better on paper first. That way, technology can enhance our abilities rather than replace them.

I’ve always loved technology.

I used to hang out in electronics stores just to talk about new gadgets. I treated tech product launches like holidays. I downloaded every new app, played video games for hours, and could disappear down an internet rabbit hole without noticing time pass.

Technology isn’t the enemy.
But my relationship with it was quietly shaping how I thought, focused, and lived.

Better Tools Doesn’t Mean Better Work

Over time, something felt off.

I had all the tools that promised productivity, creativity, and efficiency. But instead of clarity, I felt overloaded. Instead of momentum, I felt stuck. My mind was constantly buzzing, but rarely calm or clear.

I’d come home with good intentions.
Read a book. Play guitar. Call my mom.

Instead, I’d stare at a screen until it was time to sleep. Sorry, mom.

Something needed to change. So I started returning to notebooks, not as fun stationary, but as training tools.

I’ve carried a pocket notebook for most of my life. At first, it felt like a weird quirk in the digital age. But when I began using it intentionally, something clicked.

I wasn’t just capturing thoughts.
I was training my brain.

Thinking on Paper Changed Everything

While others opened new tabs and digital documents, I was the one scribbling in a notebook.

And slowly, I noticed a shift.

I could think more clearly.
It was easier to remember important information.
I followed through better.

Then, when I did use digital tools, I was faster and more effective because I had already organized my thoughts on the page.

Most people open a doc and ten minutes later have twelve unrelated tabs open and no progress.

I start with paper.

I sketch ideas.
Draft rough plans.
Clarify priorities.
Make decisions before execution begins.

By the time I open my laptop, I’m not starting from scratch.
I’m executing a plan.

This practice didn’t just change how I worked.
It changed how I lived.

Instead of doom-scrolling, I journal.
Instead of feeling scattered, I stay grounded.
Instead of being guided by algorithms, I write my own plans.
Instead of being defined by devices, I use them to enhance my abilities.

Of course, I’m not perfect. I still find myself getting sucked into doom-scrolling and being a couch potato. Some days it's by choice, and others I find I can't help myself. It’s a daily practice, not a destination.

Why RUZI Exists

RUZI was created from this realization:

Your tools should make you better, not replace your abilities.

Every product I make is designed with intention. Not to do the thinking for you, but to strengthen your ability to think clearly, deeply, and independently.

RUZI tools are:

  • Analog by design
  • Purposefully constrained
  • Crafted to slow you down just enough to regain control

They’re not about doing more.
They’re about doing what matters.

They are Tools For The Mind.

This Is for You If…

You feel pulled in a thousand directions.
You have big ideas but struggle to follow through.
You want to build a life and body of work you’re proud of, not just stay busy.
You value craftsmanship, depth, and intentional living.
You believe thinking is a skill worth practicing.

If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

An Invitation

This shift didn’t happen overnight for me. It still isn’t perfect.

I still feel the pull of technology and algorithms.
I still catch myself drifting.
I still have days where focus feels slippery.

But every time I return to paper, I’m reminded of something simple and powerful:

My mind works better when it slows down and cuts out the noise.

RUZI exists to help you connect with that truth for yourself.

If you’re ready to reclaim your attention, sharpen your thinking, and design a more intentional way of working and living, I’d love to show you how.

Welcome to RUZI.