Why Not . . . Embrace More Analog Living in Your Daily Life? 28 Ideas to Try

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“[The] love of the analog does not replace digital. Rather, they complement each other. It is not about choosing one or the other but rather using both intentionally. The analog renaissance is less about a longing for the past but more about redefining the present. In the blur of a digital life, slowing down to flip a record is not about regression but slowing down to create meaning in the present.” —Sarah Wasielewski, The Oakland Post

The good news in headlines these past few months, to my eye, has been the repeated observation around the world of Gen Z embracing analog living with intention. A movement that began well before this year, the rest of the world is beginning to take this movement seriously, as it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. And thank goodness for that.

From the @theoffline_club on Instagram that shares events and meet-ups around the world in various cities dedicated to engaging in-person and partaking in tech-free activities (check out Paris’ here) to endless articles in a variety of arenas of interest – music, everyday life, tech, this is a trend that began well before the pandemic – read this article from 2016. Whether the pandemic accelerated the need for less dependence on tech due to the absence of the ability to enjoy in-person connection or not, the choice to use our tech with more intention spotlights the depth of connection we need, and lack when relying so heavily on the advances of technology.

Sarah Wasielewski speaks with an awareness that so many people in generations that have come before have been unconscious of when it comes to how to live well with tech. Her quote above speaks to what analog living, as we understand it in the twenty-first century, embraces while letting go of what isn’t necessary.

Upon reading her article, I couldn’t help but smile. To live consciously, to slow down and savor, is to live with intention to appreciate the now. Each of these concepts rests at the heart of living simply luxuriously.

Part of consciously choosing analog living and doing so with regularity is to strengthen our attention span. Much of technology has both increased the speed at which we ‘find’ or ‘receive’ what we want. While sometimes this can be helpful – needing replacement parts for a dishwasher or making reservations in a new city while traveling when famished, it can also normalize brevity, which starts to erode our ability to focus our attention for long periods of time.

So what are ways we can welcome analog approaches into our daily lives while acknowledging the technology that indeed enhances our ability to live well? Let’s take a look.

1. Choose and dive fully into an analog hobby

For me, as TSLL readers know, it’s gardening. Year-round, I am either pottering in my garden, or during the winter months, thinking, planning, and dreaming about my garden for the coming growing season. Choose something you become so excited about being able to partake in that no matter how beautiful the images/videos shared on social media in your favorite-to-follow feed, they cannot pry your attention away from the hobby you have chosen.

Here are some other examples, but know that anything that does not involve technology in the modern sense that is regularly updated, invites you to linger or scroll, would be an analog hobby.

playing an instrument
decorating your home
riding a bike
woodwork
knitting, sewing or crocheting
painting, sculpting, ceramics
wine or beer making
making honey, caring for bees
dancing a specific style
board games (Scrabble anyone? 😉)
puzzles
photography (with an actually analog camera unattached to a phone)

2. Read more long-form reading material

Reading this blog post would be considered long-form as it is more than a short, catchy headline or excerpt. But we’re also talking about a full news article or magazine article of substance that includes multiple synthesized sources to support its assertion. Read more than the headline, and discover how good writing engages the critically thinking mind.

3. Journal with pen and paper

The act of physically writing something on paper has been shown in studies to improve our memory of what we are trying to learn (when taking notes), as well as to clarify our thinking, as if to hold our thoughts in place so we can review them and gain clarity. Of course, yes, we can type out our ideas and thoughts, but when we journal, we slow down, and that is a fundamental component of analog living with intention.

4. Keep a Commonplace book to jot down ideas

Speaking of writing down ideas, the best way I have found to keep my mind fully in the present moment is to capture the thoughts I have when I have them so that I can forget about them! A Commonplace book (aka a journal that isn’t a diary or a log of dates and events) is perfect for this, and, being analog, it can travel with us wherever we go. (shop here in the UK and here in the US)

5. Read books

Sounds simple enough, but the more we actually read a book, whether hold-in-our-hand paperback/hardback or on an e-reader, we strengthen our attention span, we focus on one subject without distraction, and we stretch our mind, our imagination, and our understanding of others, and all that is part of our vast world.

6. Make lists on paper or notepads

I live by my paper lists and notepads, and I have three different ones I use at all times throughout the year: my weekly intentions list, my grocery list, my daily schedule, and a random notepad for capturing anything I need to see written down. While I do use the Notes app, I still don’t rely on it for everything, and perhaps that is the balance we each must strike: using both, not just one for everything. Then we will be able to see side by side how each supports us in keeping our ideas in one place.

Another tool I recently learned about is the reMarkable Paper Pro, which eliminates distractions and keeps all your notes in one place, making them easy to find. Sounds fascinating, but I must admit, the more devices I need to charge, the less interested I become. Yet again, it is a balance between nourishing the life you love living and not drowning in a virtual world that diminishes our connection to the world.

7. Read a physical newspaper

Come the weekend, I have three weekend editions I look forward to reading. I don’t need them everyday, I have my tablet to provide access (should I want it) to the daily news and updates, but the weekend editions are full of all that I love and also need to know about. Again, finding the balance, holding the newspaper in my hand, taking it to the café with me when I don’t want to bring my phone with me, but still want to read about what’s going on. And sitting behind an open newspaper is the height of semi-privacy in a public space, non? 😉

8. Talk instead of text with friends and family

Texting is helpful for logistics, saving time, sharing important details you don’t want to lose – an address or a ‘pin’ of an address, for example, but for chats, opt for hearing their voice, the tone, in real time when you cannot be with them in person.

Calling instead of texting also helps us refrain from reactive behavior. We have to call, wait for them to pick up, and then begin talking, instead of sending a rapid-fire text to whatever they might have sent us. In cultivating contentment, choosing to communicate benefits our peace of mind far more than texting. It also prompts us to ask: Is a phone call necessary? Texting is surface, talking provides the opportunity for more depth. Choose what type of relationship you want to nourish – a business acquaintance – texting might be perfectly suitable; with a parent you want to stay in connection with, picking up the phone is likely a better investment of our time.

9. Pull cookbooks off the shelves and scour them for recipes

Being able to dog-ear the pages, write on the top of the page – “This is delicious!” including the date you tried it, there is just something so tactile about an actual book full of recipes that you flip through to find the one that tickles your taste buds simply by looking at the recipe and/or photograph.

Of course, I will admit, I cook straight from a recipe online from time to time, but as soon as that recipe becomes one I love, I print it and make sure it is in my recipe box full of loose pages of recipes gathered over the past 20+ years. Going back through these is a treasure trove in and of itself!

10. Set certain days of the week to refrain from checking email

I recently finished reading a new book titled The Joy of Solitude, a topic I will explore in depth in a podcast episode in the coming weeks. Before I do, I wanted to share a crossover the author pointed out that speaks to what we are talking about when it comes to finding the right balance.

Because each of us is unique in our needs and lifestyle, as well as in our temperament, how and how much we beneficially use our phones and technology must be tailored to our lives and ourselves. For example, even extroverts benefit from solitude, but not as much as someone who is an introvert who craves solitude. One recommendation in the book is for those who find great nourishment in solitude and prefer it: going sans-phone for an entire day is a great idea, but for someone else, simply silencing it might be better to prevent anxiety. Self-knowledge comes into play.

So when it comes to how often you check your email, your work responsibilities will determine this. If you can go an entire weekend, two days, without checking it, go forth and do so! But if one evening a week is all that is possible, that too will be beneficial.

11. Use a record player to play favorite albums

Having a record player in my life has been a joy, admittedly for both decorative and functional purposes, but having one has deepened my appreciation for the music I choose to purchase and prompted me to ask, Do I want to add this record to my collection? As someone who doesn’t have an extensive music collection, just being aware of how music availability has advanced makes me appreciate the music I do have the opportunity to listen to, whether on a record or via my favorite classical music app.

12. Choose kitchen appliances without tech advancements

One of my favorite and more appreciated things about my stove is that it is entirely analog. No neon lights, no beeping, no buttons to push to find the right setting – the basic functions, all I need, are found with ease, and because it is made well, that is all I need.

Now, my fridge does have some handy tech advancements, and I welcome them. Again, finding the balance. Where do you want the assistance, and where would it be an annoyance?

13. Wear a wristwatch that just tells time (and maybe the date too)

Perhaps I am one of the more analog people I know, or maybe I just don’t want to be pinged and dinged while I am in yoga class or walking outside, but having an analog watch to wear is a treat. It gives me the time – that’s all I need – job done, and I can step away from the computer without my email inbox following me (so long as I don’t check my phone ☺️).

Besides, there are some beautiful watches out there. Of course, watches have been status symbols for generations, but we don’t have to spend much to have a beautiful timepiece. I have had my Larsson & Jennings for quite a few years now, and it does the job well.

14. Keep a paper calendar/planner

This one is just fun and can be personalized to both inspire us and keep us on track. A couple of years ago, I shared how I use my planner as I continue to buy paper planners. I want to be able to peek at it at any time without needing electricity or a charge, and I also want to take some responsibility for knowing what I am doing without relying on ‘reminders’ too much.

15. Care for the floral and fauna right outside your front door

Take notice of what is on your property or just outside your window, and care for it. From hanging a bird café to watering and pruning when needed, the plants, when we start to pay attention to something beyond ourselves, exercise our open-mindedness, giving what is needed, savoring what is given, and appreciating it without asking for more.

16. Join a club that has in-person meet-ups

From a book club, to a volunteer/community service group, a board games or hobby group, find a rendezvous that meets regularly with those who share your interest. A place where tech isn’t needed (or wanted), but instead our physical presence and engagement are.

17. Attend live events of interest

Whether a concert where the beat of the music shakes the ground, or a quiet event of conversation with experts in a particular field, take yourself (yep, you are great company all on your own!) and surround yourself with fellow curious folks about the subject or event you are attending.

18. Host a dinner party

It doesn’t need to be many people, but one way to step out of our virtual worlds is to bring people together around food. I have written quite a few posts about hosting a dinner party, something I so enjoy, and it can be tailored to what you want to serve, how much you want to cook, and who you want to invite.

19. Leave your travel itinerary open for opportunities unexpected

While making sure we have our accommodations and transportation in place before we say bon voyage is a wise idea, leaving pockets of ‘blank space’ in our itinerary is a practice of presence and trust that we will find something well-suited to that window. Life comes alive when we give it oxygen, showing us what it can be. We can put a structure in place that provides us with a peace of mind, but then we invite a reason to enliven our experience by letting go and seeing what will be.

20. Write and send thank you cards, thinking of you cards, holiday cards

The practice of gratitude, thinking of others, and supporting those you care about with the gesture of selecting a card that you chose to send their way, is a special gift of connection.

Recently, I received a card from someone who said they had seen this quote on it and thought of me. The words, the quote, mean more to me than the person who sent it may ever realize. A seemingly simple gesture, a kind word —we never know what is happening in their life, specifically when it arrives —and that is why it is all the more special to give—a way to connect with others without asking for anything in return.

21. Step away from logging everything – heartrate, steps, etc.

As we all likely know, if we want to log something or track something about our health, our routine, etc., there is an app for that. However, sometimes we just heighten the anxiety by tying ourselves to these devices. Of course, again, balance is key, knowing our needs for health information will depend on each of our individual scenarios, so if you don’t need to be checking your sleep time or tech time, you give yourself back more self-awareness to simply pay attention to how you are feeling, and honor what is needed without a tech device telling you. When we get to know ourselves, paying close attention to our moods, our energy levels, etc., we begin to strengthen our self-trust, and when we don’t have the answers, we can then reach out to the experts who hopefully will.

22. Use an actual alarm clock or radio alarm

As someone who used to use my phone as an alarm clock while teaching, I have since transitioned to using the alarm on my Roberts radio. I am fortunate not to have to use it often, but when I do, it simply turns on the radio I have set it to to wake me up gently. I am sure there is a snooze button in there somewhere, but I don’t hear any beeping, and I don’t have my phone in my room. A win-win, yet still very basic, that still functions as I need.

23. Prioritize antiquing, vintage shopping and consignment shopping

For décor and clothing, when you can, take the time to find and repurpose something that is still in excellent condition, but simply needs a new home. Gen Z continues to remind us how to be smarter shoppers who work with the planet while also staying in style. And besides, it’s a blast to seek out the treasures available.

24. Set boundaries for yourself for when you put away your phone and when you can use it

When in the presence of another person, make this a moment when you never reach for your phone, even if it vibrates. Whenever you sit down for a meal, the phone is flipped over or tucked away in your handbag, not to be reached for. Each of us will have everyday instances when we know we honestly do not need to check our phones. Once you set your boundaries, just knowing you are sticking to what nourishes you will boost your confidence and enhance your experience in the present moment.

25. Always have a book with you wherever you go

Especially if we know we may have to wait, or stand in a queue/line, having a book to pull out and read instead of pulling out our phone and scrolling demonstrates intention and a choice to control where our mind goes, as we never know what will pop up in our feed or in our inbox.

26. Work with artisans on home projects

Something that may not be as frequently done, as it isn’t everyday that we customize our sanctuary, but is arguably worth doing when we do embark on a home or garden project, is to choose to work with artisans in their craft. It may take longer, it will likely cost a bit more, but in the end and forever onward, you have something in your home that holds far more value to appreciate than something that was made in mass.

27. Make being in proximity of a green space as often as possible a priority

As we are repeatedly reminded, but helpfully so, both proximity to and time surrounded by Mother Nature are essentially free medicine. Not so much ‘free’ in the where we live part, but free because she doesn’t ask for much in return. In fact, we owe quite a debt to this generous Mother of flora and fauna. Choosing to step outside, to simply be able to gaze outside and rest our eyes on green spaces, gardens, where wildlife and birds wander and congregate, takes us away from technology and our screens and reminds us that life is happening right now. We must not remain bystanders watching others go about their daily lives; instead, we must drink in the beauty available to us to savor.

Why Not . . . Spend Time with Nature? 7 Benefits

28. Cultivate rituals void of technology

Rituals of all types – daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and annually, as well as special occasion rituals, are sprinkled about a simply luxurious life (read all of the many posts here). And it is what a ritual needs from us to, in fact, qualify as a ritual: our full attention, emotional engagement, and savoring the moment.

From the hot cuppa tea made with a favorite varietal of loose leaf tea, poured through a silver strainer next to the cozy armchair where you snuggle in with your pup or your cat and begin to read a book, a magazine, a newspaper or write in your journal, or maybe simply sit and gaze out at the exterior landscape through the neighboring window. Being present, calming the mind and body, rituals serve to nourish us. We just have to remember to include them regularly in our daily lives.

Choose a couple of the ideas shared on this list. No, not every single one will be beneficial or of interest to try, but do select a couple. Finding a way to anchor ourselves in the analog by doing something that nourishes us is how we maintain a healthy balance between the digital and the analog worlds. I would be the last person to suggest we do away with all technology. It gives us so many benefits and opportunities for learning and connection. After all, TSLL community rests its existence on technology in order for all of us to connect from around the world! Rather, we are challenged to act with awareness of which ways help us live a fulfilling life and which are a hindrance. With clarity about what we value, the decisions about where that balance lies for each of us become easier, as each of us will find a unique balance.

I don’t know if you noticed this or not (but I have a feeling you did if you are a long-time reader of TSLL), so much of what was shared today are activities and ideas we’ve talked about for one reason or another as suggestions for living a life of contentment. Living consciously, paying attention to what is nourishing, and bravely making the choices to cultivate the life that brings us peace. Perhaps we have been living more analog all along? Bringing our awareness to the healthy balance between offline decisions and the benefits of tech as they pertain to our lifestyle is the key to an elevated everyday experience. Enjoy the tailoring process and rest easy knowing that finding your just-right analog anchor is necessary to your well-being, and it will be a bespoke creation worth taking the time to cultivate.