I'm not a technology expert, but I've definitely embraced it. I like gadgets and software that make our lives easier, from apps on our phone to smart TVs to digital assistants (in my case, Alexa). My phone has lists and calendars that I use daily, and I can't get anywhere without a map app anymore.

And for all that enthusiasm, the things I absolutely must have on draft day are pens, blank paper and a physical cheat sheet. I truly believe it's the best way to go into a draft, whether it's in person with friends or completely online.

Realistically, I don't need any of that stuff. The website will keep track of everyone's selections, players available, who I've taken and what positions I need to fill. I can even put players into a queue and see the site's predictions for each guy. There's nothing on physical paper that I don't have access to in digital format.

So why bother? Mostly time, as in saving a bunch of it. You usually have 60 or 90 seconds to make your selection. That isn't much time, and you can waste a lot of it trying to navigate a draft room's tabs to get the information you want, glancing at your roster, making sure you're happy with bye weeks and checking the web for an updated injury status or depth chart. Can you do all of that on a tablet or phone? Sure. But what if you hit the back button accidentally, or close a tab and need to sign back in? What if you have fat thumbs?

Now, you can do some of that while you're waiting for your next turn. But you'll also end up scouting guys who will get taken before you, which wastes your time. Or maybe you want to evaluate someone you didn't expect to be there, which also takes more time. And there's a good chance that people won't use all their allotted time. You might find that four fantasy managers in a row made their picks immediately, leaving you on the clock before you expected. With all the draft day variables that you simply cannot predict, you'll want to preserve as much time as possible. Having some things on actual paper can help you do that.

You don't have to do things my way, but I'll tell you what my draft setup usually looks like. I have a couple of pens. I have blank printer paper for notes. I have a copy of each team's schedule and each week's schedules with byes (I just use the ones from the Fantasy Index magazine). I also have the most recent cheat sheet, not for frequent use, but mostly to see how far down we're dipping at each position. On a sheet of blank paper, I write out lines for each position that particular league uses in a starting lineup, and then I make a line for each bench spot. As I select players, I allocate them to each line so I can see how much of my starters are filled and how much of my bench I've used. And in the top right corner of my roster page, I write down names I don't want to forget late in the draft, just in case they're still around. These might be lottery tickets, unappreciated veterans, or guys who might find themselves in a high-volume position at some point.

With a tilt of my head, I can see that I'm thin at wide receiver, have a few bench spots left, still haven't taken a backup quarterback and have decent running back depth, all in just a few seconds. No playing with a phone or computer, and no hitting the wrong button, so that convenience saves time. I have one web page open for the draft, and another for surfing the web for last-minute info. More information, more time, less stress. That's a recipe for a successful draft.

Now, some folks love to do everything electronically, and that's fine. But just because you can do it doesn't mean you should do it. I think you can save yourself a lot of headaches by going old school with a bit of your draft day setup. If you've gone away from that format over the years, maybe it's time to give it another try. You might find that it gives you a boost when you need it the most. I've done drafts with and without these tools, and things go a lot smoother for me when I have them.

Oh, one more thing: I have the commissioner's cell phone number written down as well. Even if we never talk during the year, I want that number. If I lose my wifi, or the computer has a glitch, or I lose power, I want to be able to call and let them know what happened. Maybe they can pause the draft or help me get the player I want. Yelling at the computer while it restarts won't help. Believe me, I've tried. Good luck on draft day.

What does your draft day setup look like? Is it all on a device, or do you use some old-school tools? How has it changed over the years? Share your thoughts below.