11 EASY WAYS to Go Analog in a Digital World

You know what really bugs me? That moment on Sunday morning when my iPhone tells me that my average screen time each day in the past week was 3 hours and 41 minutes. 

That’s embarrassing right? I mean, every single week I look at that stupid number and think “You’ve got to be kidding me!’ 

And the next thing I do is try to justify it. Well at least 45 minutes of that is Duolingo, and then there’s the grocery shopping, reading, studying, and how does it count listening to Audiobooks? I can’t possibly be wasting that much time scrolling every day… 

“I’m going to do better next week.” 

But it’s harder than it seems to go analog in a digital world. It’s hard to break up with your phone and it’s hard to remember the good old fashioned ways you entertained yourself before it came along.

Why Would You Want to Go Analog In a Digital World? 

First of all, why would you even want to analog in a digital world? What does that even mean? Isn’t it just going backwards? Let’s find out. 

I think you can agree with me that most of use our phones and stare at screens of all sorts a little more than is good for us. We worry about screentime for kids but we have to acknowledge it can be detrimental to us grown ups too. 

Studies have shown how watching short reels shortens our attention span and shrinks our brain. Others show that social media can lead to increased anxiety and depression because of how we unfairly compare our everyday life to the idealized version portrayed by influencers or even the vacations of our friends as well as all toxic feedback. And last but not least we all know that exposure to blue light before bed messes with our sleep patterns, not to mention late night or middle of the night scrolling. 

Aside from what the studies say, have you noticed the digital world encroaching on your productivity? Your relationships with others? Family dinners? Or your ability to find time for creative or active pursuits? Surely you have. 

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Ways to Go Analog In a Digital World 

Now I’m not saying we should leave the digital world behind. Not at all. I love technology and all the cool things we can do with it. But just like alcohol or ice cream or anything else we need to find balance. 

Every activity in the list below can be done in an analog way and in a digital way or with a bit of both. It’s up to you how you want to mix and match but keep in mind that you want to experience life in a real and authentic way. That means you have to be present. You also want to improve your attention span and creativity. Ask yourself whether the digital or analog option is better for your brain when choosing. 

1: Read a Book

The first analog activity you might enjoy is reading. When you read a book you benefit yourself in many ways. Studies show that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress by 68%. Reading also increases empathy, attention span, and problem solving. 

Now, here’s the catch. Do you have to read a physical paper book to enjoy those benefits? No. Not necessarily. I listen to a lot of books while I work. I also read digital books before bed. I rarely have a paper copy anymore but a paper book has one advantage. No blue light to disturb your sleep. Maybe using a Kindle Paperwhite is the middle ground. It’s up to you to decide how analog you want to go when reading but it’s definately an activity that can be completely analog.  

2: Do Something Artistic 

The next way you might try to go analog in a digital world is by doing something artistic. I find that a lot of adults don’t think they have time for creative hobbies but that’s so sad. We should always make time for things that make us happy. Think back to the things that you loved as a child. There’s a good chance they were all analog and probably creative. 

Analog creative hobbies might include drawing, painting, writing, woodworking, pottery, sewing, knitting or crocheting, and playing musical instruments. Have you ever done one of those things before? Have you always wanted to try one of them?

Of course you may augment these analog hobbies with digital tools. For example you might take an online course or type on the computer but make sure you do at least some of the hobby without constant input from a screen. Your brain will notice the difference. It will feel calmer and more focused. Being creative without electronics has a very grounding quality.

3: Move Your Body

What else can you do if you want to go analog in a digital world? That’s simple! You can move your body! Exercising, doing chores, cleaning, working in the yard, dancing, and more are all options that take you away from your screen. In fact a good reason to go analog in a digital world is to be healthier! 

Yes, it’s easier to scroll Instagram or veg out in front of your favorite show but moving your body in a way that feels good to you is so much more rewarding. And it doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t have to get your heart up to a target zone and you don’t have to get all sweaty. Something as simple as a walk around the block or through a nice park can clear your mind and make you feel better!

4: Go Outside

Speaking of exercise, a lot of things you can do to go analog in a digital world can be found outside! I love kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, and playing frisbee golf. It’s so nice when I get to help mom in the garden and I love sitting on the porch looking out into the desert or reading a book.

The funny thing about being outside is it makes you forget your screens entirely. It’s so good for your mental health that you aren’t even tempted to numb your feelings with the doom scroll. Try it! Get outside more!

5: Cook Something 

You know what else is fun and almost completely analog? Cooking! Stop looking at recipe videos on Instagram and actually make something. Sure, you can refer back to the recipe but enjoy the experience of stirring, chopping, sizzling, smelling, and tasting your food. 

Take it up a notch and learn something at the artisan level! My mom is a great sourdough bread maker. I enjoy making some basic cheese, kombucha, and Belgian waffles. We are basically in a never ending contest to master Italian cooking and I love to try foods from other cultures too! 

I used to think of cooking as work but when I started viewing it as an enjoyable craft and a way to present my love to family and friends I started to enjoy it more. If you are looking for easy ways to analog in a digital world cooking is a great step because you can make it part of your everyday life!  

6: Let Your Mind Rest

One thing we don’t get a lot of in our digital world is quiet. Have you noticed that we are always trying to consume something? I have noticed that if I’m not listening to a book or music then I’m trying to watch something, read something, or scroll something. Why? Am I that afraid of my own thoughts? Is it an addiction? 

I try to stop myself now and then and just sit and think, just walk and think, just eat and enjoy my food, just let it be quiet. I have to admit it feels weird at first but after the initial discomfort I find that it’s very helpful. It gives me time to problem solve, organize things in my mind, calm myself down. There is no simpler way to go analog in a digital world and this may sound crazy but I challenge you to just do nothing…at least once in a while. 

7: Talk to a Friend

What about your friends? When was the last time you hung out and just talked? Could you go to coffee or take a walk with a friend? Can you put down your phones and actually listen to each other? 

I have noticed that the art of conversation is dying, especially with the younger generations. We just don’t take the time to engage with one another and we don’t even try. Our phones give us very convenient ways to ignore people standing right in front of us. Isn’t that sad?

If you are trying to go analog in a digital world this may be one of the biggest challenges you will face. Try to talk to your friends and family. Try to listen! 

8: Use Paper Planners and Journals 

The next way to go analog in a digital world may sound counter productive to you but I swear by it. Try using paper again! Yes! You won’t believe it till you try it but some things are just easier written down than digitized. 

First of all, try a paper planner instead of plugging everything into your phone. I started using the Blue Sky Day Designer paper planner instead of my phone years ago because I found my constantly shifting schedule hard to shuffle digitally and wanted to see everything just laid out before me, easy to scratch out, easy to change. I use my planner not only for work and appointment scheduling but also for simple journaling, study tracking, and habit tracking. Every morning with coffee I review my plans for the day and it keeps everything moving smoothly. 

Second, you may try using paper for journaling. If you have never tried journaling or haven’t found it successful in the past you might try approaching it from a different angle. Maybe you don’t always want to write about your life. I know I find that rather boring. Instead you can journal about the things you read, the things that you’re grateful for, the things you want to pray about or the goals you have and how you want to achieve them. Writing can be therapeutic and it’s important to remember not every journal entry has to be long or meaningful.  Just write. 

If you want to dive into writing creatively I love my 300 Writing Prompts Journal! 

9: Find a Club or Class

What if you are bored? What if you miss learning lots of random tidbits from reels? Well, I’m not saying you have to stop doing that entirely but there are better ways to learn and engage with your interests. If you want to learn something maybe you should look for real life people in your area who are doing it! 

You would be surprised how many classes and clubs you can find for various hobbies, crafts, and skills. They may be at your community college, coffee shops, and even stores selling supplies. You might join a bowling league or find yourself volunteering for an important cause on the weekend. Whatever you do it will undoubtedly be more fulfilling than watching reels nonstop. Go analog in a digital world! Find real life learning opportunities!

10: Play a Game 

Speaking of ways to go analog in a digital world, my husband and I constantly battle on this one. I love playing the hardcopy board games we have a great collection of but sometimes my husband says we should just play them online instead. I know it’s more work to set up and tear down but I just don’t like sitting at my computer as much as sitting at the table playing the real thing. 

Do you have board games? If you don’t, there’s a whole world to explore! And I promise the analog versions are beautiful, cathartic and overall more fun than staring at tiny pieces on a screen. Some of our top favorites include Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Carcasonne, Viticulture, Sushi Go, and King of Tokyo. 

11: Enjoy Your Pets 

One last thing you can do to go analog in a digital world is to pay attention to, play with, and give love to your pets! How many hours has your little dog or cat sat by you while you watched reels? Maybe they need a walk. You could throw a toy for them or snuggle and talk to them. It seems really basic but it can bring so much joy. 

Think about it. Animals are completely analog. They don’t play on computers, scroll reels, or watch movies. Maybe they are bored and maybe you can stop being bored together! 

Go Analog in A Digital World & Then Find Balance

I’m sure that there are a million more analog activities you can think of. If you’re having a hard time coming up with them, imagine you are living in the past. That’s actually what made me think of this topic in the first place. 

I was walking through Versailles, yes in France, and I was looking at all the amazing paintings and sculptures and architecture and I was wondering why we don’t make things like that now. I decided it’s because we don’t entertain ourselves with creativity and craftsmanship anymore. We just sit and watch other people do stuff instead. What would happen if we whiled away the hours thinking of beautiful things to make and honing our skills?

What would you have enjoyed if you had lived before the digital revolution? What do you “never have time” to learn or practice? Would you like to start including those things in your happy simple life? Can you go analog in a digital world and then add digital tools back in to make it even better?

Let me know what you would like to try doing in the comments below!