Taking it Analog
- Lisa Wright Burbach
- 58 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Taking it Analog:
Many days my day might look like this: I sit down with a cup of coffee and think "Oh, I'll just scroll a little", but that few minutes turns into cold coffee and an hour or more! Than I'm frustrated that I wasted that time. What's worse is that that is likely to happen several more times in my day!! I wasted time, feel chaotic, and behind! UGHHH! Just me?? It’s the worst!
Recently I've been hearing talk about going "analog". They mean getting unplugged, slowing down, and enjoying life without digital distractions and time sucks! Well, except crafting, it's a serious time suck that I have no intention of giving up!! Shhh, I didn't say that! But its a good time suck! But seriously, It's a longing for slower life with connection.
Not slower in a dramatic, everything-changes kind of way. Just simpler. More grounded. More in my actual day instead of constantly being pulled out of it and fortunately I’m old enough to remember the “before” time. Time with neighbors, outside, get togethers, game nights etc.!
So let’s talk about analog living.
What “Analog Living” Actually Means
Analog living is a popular term right now, isn’t about throwing your phone in a drawer and moving off-grid. It's about embracing life around us and being the one who chooses what we see, do, and absorb.
To me, analog living is choosing real-world, tactile, present-moment ways of moving through your day instead of defaulting to digital noise every time there’s a pause.
It’s:
writing things down instead of always typing them – this has always been my go to!
reading something physical instead of endlessly scrolling
doing one thing at a time instead of five half-things
letting your attention land where you actually are
It’s not perfection. It’s awareness.
And honestly? It’s been a really gentle way to feel more here again.
Why We’re Craving a Slower, More Analog Life
There’s a reason this idea keeps showing up everywhere right now.
So many of us are living in constant input: notifications, messages, news, noise, comparison, content, repeat.
Even when life is “fine,” it can feel oddly loud in your head and there are constant messages that life is not fine! No one is meant to have this constant stress and overload of information.
And I think a lot of us are starting to notice that we don’t actually need more information—we need more space. My little granddaughter knows this! She is 2 and will yell “I NEED SPACE”! Yes ma’am! We do need space!!
Space to think. Space to breathe. Space to just do one thing without being pulled into ten others.
That’s where analog living starts to feel less like a trend and more like a deep exhale.
Simple Analog Swaps in Everyday Life
These swaps are really just natural changes, for many of us the are the way it "used to be".
Here are a few small analog swaps that have made a difference for me:
Writing it down
I am all about a paper list and paper planner. There’s something about physically writing things that slows my brain down just enough to feel less scattered. Did you know that studies show we retain the information far better when we write it down?!!!
Reading instead of scrolling
Try starting by reading 10 pages before going to bed. Stop your devices and hour before bedtime to give you the space for this. It’s a different kind of quiet. There is also a connection between reading and our overall performance. It’s good for our brain!
Cooking without background noise
Often I’ll cook while listening to a podcast, but have decided to just cook and let my mind go! Just letting it be a small, normal moment instead of filling it with input.
Walking without constant input
I find that taking a walk and just listening to nature and allowing myself to daydream is extremely powerful and a huge mood lifter.
One thing at a time
Not glamorous, but surprisingly grounding. Folding laundry while actually just… folding laundry. Whaaatt!!! But how will I binge that show!!!?? But it is healthy. I’m not saying always, but trying doing some menial chores with just your imagination.
These aren’t rules. They’re options. Little ways to bring your attention back into your day.
Bringing Analog Living Into Your Home
Home is really where this idea comes alive.
Because so much of modern life pulls us away from the actual spaces we live in.
Analog living at home can look like:
slower mornings without immediately reaching for a screen. Studies show that waiting at least an hour before pickup up the phone can positively impact our entire day and our mood. And stay away from negative new. There is another study that showed that just a few minutes, up to 5, of negative news in the morning negatively impacts our mood until afternoon!
making coffee or tea as an actual moment, not a background task
doing small home resets instead of letting everything pile up. I like to us systems. My favorite right now is The Organized Mum. It breaks my home up into manageable pieces.
choosing hands-on things like crafting, organizing, or cooking. OK, Y’all know I had to include this one!! Crafting for the win!!!
To me, these are prescious moments. quiet, calm, and reflective and give the opportunity to look around and enjoy what I see!
Analog Wellness: Small Grounding Habits
This part might sound simple, but it matters more than we give it credit for.
When I think about wellness, I don’t just think about products or routines—I think about rhythm.
A few analog-style wellness habits might be:
drinking water in the morning before scrolling
taking supplements or tea as a mindful pause instead of a rush
eating a meal without multitasking when possible
stepping outside for a few minutes just to reset
Our goal here isn't doing more it's being in charge of our time and mind and allowing our souls to quiet down. And that shift alone changes a lot.
What Changes When Life Feels More Analog
When I pull back from constant digital input even just a little, what I notice isn’t dramatic.
It’s quieter than that. My thoughts feel less fragmented. I feel less fragmented. My days feel less rushed and a deeper sense of accomplishment. My attention feels more mine again.
And maybe the biggest thing is this:
Life starts to feel like something I’m actually in again, not something I’m constantly observing from the outside.
A Gentle Way to Start
If this idea resonates, you don’t need to overhaul anything.
Start small.
One analog habit. One moment of choosing presence over autopilot. One tiny shift in how you move through your day.
Then notice what changes—not just around you, but in you.
Because analog living isn’t really about going backward. It’s about coming back to your life.
Looking for some unplugged ideas? Check out my Family Calendar (A family can be just you, you and your dog, or a whole clan.)
If you would like help developing a plan let’s schedule a coaching session and calm life down.
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