The Analog Life: Less Scrolling, More Living!
The Analog Life: Less Scrolling, More Living!
There is a big push for going "Analog"! What it really means is getting unplugged and stepping back from scrolling, social media, etc. and taking time to do things "old school", manually.
People are feeling smothered, overwhelmed, and lonely while being surrounded by information and "people". Virtual people. This is leading to feelings of sadness, lonliness, depression, and anxiety and one way people have decided to help themselves is to step back from the scroll. I think they are right! Maybe it's time to unplug!
Here are my favorite "Analog" activities:
Use an address book or card system (Rolodex) to keep track of your contacts. You can still have them on your phone for quick dial, but try writing their names and numbers down and using your system to look people up. I was hacked recently and lost a lot of my contacts, that paper back up is a life saver! Bonus! Back in the day as they say, we kept everyone's numbers in our heads!! At least the most frequently used ones. It was easy to memorize the numbers because we wrote them down and then dialed the number instead of having the phone do it. After a few times of doing it, we knew the numbers. The other numbers were easily looked up in our address book or card system.
Use a VOIP phone. I'd say use a Landline, but most cities are doing away with them, but the VOIP system or internet phone, is an great option. It's still connected to the internet, but you can only use it to talk on! No scrolling and talking. The disconnect helps us feel the impact of not always being attached to our phones.
Break out a real cookbook! I love using real cookbooks and I never have to worry about refreshing the page! It's just their!! I use an app called "cookshelf" that indexes the recipes in all of my books so that I can easily find recipes. I also enjoy just pouring over a cookbook.
Try using a map. While it's easy to use GPS it prevents us from getting a full picture of the area we're in. The big picture. Even if you don't try using a map while you drive I recommend buying a map of your area and studying it. Get a feel for how things connect to each other. If you have a passenger, give them the map and let them navigate! You'll learn how to get around better this way.
Read a newspaper and magazines. Instead of doomscrolling try a paper newspaper. Make a cup of coffee, relax and read through the whole thing! If' you've never done it I think you'll be surprised and how much information is in there and why you always see people reading reading the paper in the movies! While your at it, try reading a paper magazine. It is so nice to sit down with a nice cup of tea or coffee and read the entire magazine.
Make a paper To-Do list. I'm not gonna lie, I do love Trello, but I stay on top of things better if I write it down. Plus you get the joy of crossing things off!
Keep a paper calendar. I recommend having a monthly calendar where you can see the entire month anytime you look. Just like the map, it gives you a bigger sense of what's going on.
Studies show that writing things down and reading from hard copy items help us have better retention, better vocabulary and even help our brains as we age. People who participate in unplugged hobbies tend to Fewer depressive symptoms, greater happiness, higher life satisfaction, better self-reported health. That all sounds good to me!
Small changes can make a big change in the way you feel and how you walk through your day.
Here is a BIG list to help you move more slowly and to help life feel less chaotic
A Rolodex for contacts - this is an index card system of saving your contacts
A handwritten address book
A paper calendar on the wall or desk - A monthly view is the biggest help
A daily or weekly planner
Index cards for notes, lists, and ideas
A little notebook for keeping running lists
A paper birthday and anniversary book - Your address book is also a good place for this
A physical to-do list! YAASSSS! This is my life saver!
A filing cabinet for important papers. Don't go crazy, but it helps to keep some items. You know, like when your phone company wants your customer number, but you don't know it??
A household binder for manuals, warranties, and information. While these are online it is handy to have them no matter the circumstances. BUT, if you no longer have the thing!!! Throw it away!
A paper map in the car and an Atlas! We hike a log and an Atlas has rescued us many times when there was no cell service.
A printed phone number list for emergencies. This is good to keep in your wallet or purse. If someone is your emergency contact person write ICE (in case of emergency) beside their name.
For reading and learning
The daily or Sunday newspaper
Magazine subscriptions. This is such a treat for me. I sit down with a cup of hot tea and flip through enjoying my moment. Less fun for my husband, because it's basically like having pages of Pinterest ideas that I now want to try!!
Encyclopedias - visit the library
Dictionaries and thesauruses, we keep a giant dictionary and one of the fun parts is the words you discover on your way to the word you were looking for.
Atlases and road maps; As we discussed, this helps you see your area in a bigger, more connected way.
Field guides for birds, flowers, trees, and gardening
Coffee table books
Bookmarks instead of reading progress apps
Library cards and library visits
Books of quotations
Crossword and puzzle books
Printed travel guides
Reading a book of poetry. Shameless plug! My husband writes great poetry. Find him on Substack
A physical cookbook collection. Totally invest in Cookshelf though! It indexes your books and recipes.
For the kitchen and home
A recipe box filled with handwritten recipe cards. Not only do I have mine from friends and family, but I just received my Great Aunt Lacy's! That is a treasure!!
A handwritten grocery list
A magnetic notepad on the refrigerator
A kitchen timer instead of a phone timer. Health Coach Tip. A time can be very helpful when we are struggling with motivation. Set a timer for 15-30 minuts for a task and you'll be surprised how much is done by the time it goes off! Hmmm Maybe that's a future blog post!!
A wall clock instead of checking the phone
A paper meal planner
A handwritten household budget
A physical cookbook stand
A paper notebook for favorite meals
A sewing kit and mending basket
A physical household repair manual
A paper notebook for garden notes
For communication and connection
Handwritten letters
Thank-you notes
Birthday cards sent by mail
Postcards when traveling
A fountain pen and good stationery. Oh how I love a good fountain pen and stationary and oh how I miss old fashioned stationary shops!!
Calling someone on a landline
Printed family photo albums
A guest book for visitors
A handwritten Christmas card list
A pen-pal correspondence
A physical scrapbook of family memories
For entertainment and leisure
Vinyl records and a record player
CDs and a dedicated CD player
A radio
Board games
Playing cards
Jigsaw puzzles
Crossword puzzles
A deck of conversation cards
Film photography
A disposable camera on vacation
A physical photo album
Coloring books
A magazine to read instead of scrolling
A hobby that doesn't require an app
For navigating and getting around
A paper road atlas
A printed MapQuest-style set of directions
A physical globe
A wristwatch instead of checking the phone
A compass
A paper travel journal
A printed boarding pass
A physical train or concert ticket
A guidebook for exploring a new city
A paper calendar of local events
For hobbies and creativity
A sketchbook
A watercolor set
A journal or diary
A commonplace book (a notebook for collecting interesting thoughts, quotes, and ideas)
A scrapbook
A sewing machine
A knitting basket
Embroidery hoops
A physical photo album
A pressed flower collection
A stamp collection
A birdwatching notebook
A garden journal
A physical recipe journal
A set of colored pencils and a coloring book
For everyday practical things
These are some of my favorites because they are such ordinary things that we gradually replaced with our phones.
An alarm clock on the nightstand. It can be very helpful to our sleep and minds to keep the phone out of the bedroom.
A wristwatch. I have a smart watch, but i'm enjoying using a plain old analog watch!
A calculator, not your phone. Yes, I know your teacher said you wouldn't always have a calculator, but let's pretend she was right.
A flashlight instead of the phone flashlight
A kitchen thermometer
A weather thermometer outside
A tape measure
A paper coupon organizer
A checkbook register
A cash envelope budgeting system
A physical timer
A wall calendar
A paper notebook for passwords kept securely at home
A physical dictionary
A physical thesaurus
A paper notebook for keeping track of books read
A printed list of favorite websites, rather than relying on bookmarks
For making memories and enjoying the little things
memory box
A vacation scrapbook
A physical collection of ticket stubs
Printed photographs
A handwritten family history
A journal of children's funny sayings
A guest book
A collection of postcards
A birthday interview book for children
A handwritten journal of favorite memories
A physical keepsake box for each year
For small everyday rituals
I think this category is especially important because the analog life isn't just about what we own. It's about how we spend our time which deeply impacts how we feel.
Sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and no phone - fav!
Watching the sunset without photographing it
Visiting a concert, parade, or event without photographing it
Listening to the radio rather than choosing something to stream
Looking through a physical cookbook for dinner inspiration
Browsing a bookstore without a shopping list
Going to the library just to wander
Visiting a newsstand
Keeping a journal of the weather
Having a designated place for keys, mail, and incoming correspondence
Looking through old family photographs
Taking an afternoon walk with no earbuds
Having a landline telephone in the kitchen
Reading before bed with a bedside lamp rather than a screen
Shew!! That was a lot!!
Wishing you happy unplugged days!
Comment your favorite ways to step back from the phones.
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