I spend a copious amount of time commuting to and from work via public transit. If it were up to me, I'd spend it scrolling through Pinterest, or TikTok, or doing literally anything on my phone just to stay busy. However, thanks to a diabolical case of motion sickness, all I can do is throw on some music and stare straight ahead. In doing so, I’ve realized that everyone around me has assumed virtually the same posture: head down, arms up, phone screen lighting up their faces. It’s startlingly similar to the screen-obsessed humans in Wall-E, which was nothing more than a grim hypothetical when the film was released in 2008.
We're all unhealthily addicted to our devices, and I’m not the only one who's been hit with that rude awakening. My TikTok feed is filled with people who are looking for a bit of screen relief by way of analog pastimes, like journaling or scrapbooking. And I've been taking notes. Because when I recently confronted my own screentime, it was much worse than I feared: somehow, I racked up an average of 11 hours a day. Almost half my life is spent looking at my phone. I was reminded of Annie Dillard’s quote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” And I’ve been spending mine completely sucked into my phone.
It's mighty time that we all embrace some analog alternatives to our smartphones, so that we can reclaim our attention spans and rely less on our devices. Sound enticing? Below, I’ve compiled a starter guide to analog living! Get ready to see that screentime average go down.
Invest in a digital point-and-shoot camera
This one’s easy since it’s already so trendy! Buy a cute little camera to keep with you on the go. When a moment you want to remember strikes, you can capture it on this instead of reaching for your phone.
I actually find that these cameras take cooler-looking photos anyway. Everyone you know will be clamoring to have their digital photo moment, and thus, you’ll be the life of every hang. If you’re feeling extra inspired, you can get your photos printed and put them into a scrapbook or photo album that can be used as a coffee table book!
Get an alarm clock
As much as we all love waking up to the Marimba ringtone every morning, there are other options. Before you sleep, plug your phone in as far away from your bed as possible (or, even better, in a different room altogether) and invest in an alarm clock for your nightstand instead. Whether it’s the much-loved Hatch, which plays sleep sounds and has a sunrise wake-up option, or a thrifted CD-player clock, one thing’s for sure: the distance between you and your device will ensure you won’t be scrolling on your phone until 3 am.
The “Home Computer” rule
Remember when it was typical to have a designated "computer room" in the house? Back then, internet access was confined to one corner of the house, and that's where the digital universe stayed. That distance helped us maintain a much healthier relationship with the information highway; everything wasn’t being beamed right into our pockets. Let’s take a lesson from the past and designate a corner of our home where the internet "lives." This is the only place where you allow yourself to use your laptop or scroll aimlessly on your phone. Set a timer and hold yourself to it, and step away once the time is up.
Get crafty!
It really is so much fun to start a new hobby and be completely terrible at it at first! You get to watch yourself gradually improve, until eventually, you have an impressive new skill to add to your repertoire. Plus, if your acquired skill is something like beaded jewelry, crocheting, or quilting, then you can gift your creations to the people in your life or sell them for extra cash. Either way, we all need creative outlets to express ourselves (so if you only feel up to buying some coloring books and markers, then that totally works, too).
Write letters
An excuse to splurge on cute stationery! Send a note to a friend, sibling, grandparent, you name it. It can be as deep or as frivolous as you want. If you genuinely can’t think of anyone you’d want to write to, then head on over to Reddit and join r/penpals. There, you'll find people looking to exchange letters with strangers. Who knows? It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
"Brick" your phone
If you're endlessly scrolling on your phone and struggle to find self-control, then maybe it’s time to consider getting a Brick. You can set it to different modes, like “work” or “sleep,” and by tapping your phone on the Brick, you won't be able to open designated apps until tapping your phone again.
This funky little device is magnetic, and you can keep it anywhere in your house; many users find that their fridge is the best spot. The physical act of having to tap the phone in a specific location is more productive than disabling specific settings or uninstalling apps altogether. This is also a better alternative to phone jails, which can create major issues if you need your phone in an emergency.
Do nothing
I am, unfortunately, so serious. Put your phone down and stare at the wall. Close your eyes and meditate if you have to. The point is to be bored. Spend some one-on-one time with your thoughts (a terrifying concept) and take the time to connect with your feelings, what you have going on in your day, and maybe what sounds good for dinner! The specifics don’t matter; what matters is regaining the ability to do absolutely nothing.
Journal
Journaling is super popular for a good reason. Not every entry has to be a literary masterpiece! Here’s a mini list of entry ideas to get you started:
- Write book, movie, or song reviews
- Letters to your future self
- Wishlists
- Favorite quotes/lyrics/poems
- Goals & manifestations
- Recipes
- Outfit ideas
Wear a watch
...And you know I don’t mean an Apple Watch. Get yourself a dumb, old-fashioned watch to check the time on, rather than turning to your phone screen, which will inevitably suck you in with notifications. The bonus here is that it can be a chic accessory for any outfit! I picked up a watch at a flea market that I wear almost daily, and I receive nearly endless compliments whenever it’s on my wrist.
Touch grass
There’s a big, beautiful world out there, and quality time outside is important. If I’m not careful, I can spend most work days going from apartment to bus, to office, back to bus, back to apartment, with my only time spent outdoors being the walk to the bus stop. When you intentionally take unstructured time to experience nature, you’ll be surprised by how much peace it'll bring you.
Be more social
Ask a friend to go to the farmer’s market with you! Host a dinner party/board game/movie night! Get someone to join you on a quick CVS run! Anything can be used as an opportunity to hang with your people. Or, if you’re not a great planner, then practice saying yes when friends ask you to join their plans. It’s so much easier to say no and have a quiet night alone at home, but I promise, you’ll never regret that time together, and quiet time at home will always be there!
Create a “hobby bag”
We have to credit TikTok user Siece Campbell for this fun idea. Basically, you fill a bag with all kinds of fun crafts and activities you can take on the go. Many of our aforementioned ideas can live in this bag, like a journal, book, crossword puzzles, sudoku, camera, coloring book, and markers etc. The next time you find yourself hanging out at a coffee shop or waiting at the doctor’s office, pull something out of the bag and voila! Phone-free fun!
And if you simply MUST look at a screen…
Then try to engage with longer-form content! Watch a movie without picking up your phone. Read a Substack article. Finally sit through that YouTube essay you’ve had saved in your watchlist. Make a new Spotify playlist. If you don’t feel like carrying around books, invest in a Kindle instead. The goal here is to strengthen your attention span and reduce reliance on the immediacy of algorithmic micro-thrills.
