Short answer: "going analog" means choosing offline, hands-on versions of things you'd normally do on a screen. Think paper books instead of feeds, a notebook instead of a notes app, a record or radio instead of endless autoplay, and hobbies like cooking, knitting, puzzles, and drawing. It became one of the biggest lifestyle trends of 2026, especially with Gen Z, as people try to cut screen time and feel less burned out.
The best part is that you don't need to buy anything to do it. Here's what the trend is, why it's taking off, and how to go analog in a way that actually sticks.
What does "going analog" mean?
"Analog" originally described technology that isn't digital, like vinyl records, film cameras, wall clocks, and cassette tapes. Today, "going analog" is broader. It means deliberately doing more of your life off a screen.
People going analog usually do some mix of:
- Analog hobbies: reading physical books, knitting, sewing, baking, gardening, puzzles, drawing, painting, and journaling.
- Analog swaps: a paper planner instead of a calendar app, an alarm clock instead of a phone alarm, a film or digital camera instead of a phone camera, or music on a record player or radio.
- Analog time: set hours, evenings, or whole weekends without a phone.
It's less about rejecting technology and more about putting it back in its place.
Why is everyone going analog in 2026?
The "analog" trend started picking up in late 2025 and became a popular New Year's resolution for 2026. Outlets like CNBC, Forbes, and youth research firm YPulse have all covered it this year. YPulse reported that more than half of teens it surveyed are scaling back screen time in favor of offline activities, and small businesses that sell yarn, books, records, and craft kits say more young customers are coming in.
A few reasons it's catching on:
- Digital burnout. People are tired of feeds that never end, notifications that never stop, and the foggy feeling we call brain rot.
- A need for something real. Making something with your hands, like bread, a scarf, or a drawing, gives you something you can see and keep. A scroll session doesn't.
- It actually helps. In a 2025 study in PNAS Nexus, people who blocked mobile internet on their phones for two weeks spent more time offline and slept more. 91% improved in mental health, well-being, or attention.
- It's social. Book clubs, run clubs, craft nights, and phone-free events give people a reason to show up in person.
The catch: going analog can become another trend to buy
The trend has an ironic side. A lot of "going analog" content online is about buying things: aesthetic "analog bags" packed with notebooks, colored pencils, crossword books, and craft supplies, plus vintage-style gadgets. Then people film it and post it.
There's nothing wrong with a nice notebook. But if going analog turns into shopping and making content, you end up right back on your phone. The point isn't to have the right stuff. It's to spend more of your time in the real world.
A good rule of thumb: use what you already have first. Most people already own a book they haven't finished, a pen, some paper, and a kitchen.
How to go analog: 7 simple steps
1. Start with one analog hour a day
Don't try to quit screens overnight. Pick one hour a day, like after dinner, first thing in the morning, or right before bed, and make it phone-free. Put your phone in another room and do something with your hands.
2. Pick one analog hobby, not five
Choose one thing you're curious about and give it two weeks. Reading is the easiest place to start because you only need a book. Cooking or baking is great because you need to eat anyway. Puzzles, drawing, and journaling are cheap and easy to pick up and put down.
If you can't decide, here are 15 things to do instead of scrolling, organized by how much time you have.
3. Make one easy analog swap
Pick a swap that takes your phone out of a daily routine:
- Alarm clock so your phone can charge outside the bedroom. (More on that in how to stop scrolling in bed.)
- Paper to-do list or planner so you're not opening your phone to check your day, then getting pulled into an app.
- A wristwatch so checking the time doesn't turn into checking everything.
4. Keep your analog stuff where your phone used to be
Habits follow what's easy to reach. Put your book on your nightstand, your sketchbook on the coffee table, and your puzzle on the dining table. When your hand reaches for something out of boredom, it will find that instead.
5. Make your phone a little more boring
You don't need to get rid of your smartphone to go analog. Turn off most notifications, switch your screen to grayscale, and move social apps off your home screen. Our guide on how to turn your iPhone into a dumb phone walks through every step.
6. Do it with other people
Analog hobbies are easier to stick with when they're social. Start a book club, invite friends over to cook, go to a local craft night or run club, or have a phone-free dinner where everyone stacks their phones in the middle of the table.
7. Don't post it (at least not right away)
Try doing your new hobby for a week without photographing it. It sounds small, but it changes how the activity feels. You're doing it for you, not for an audience.
Best analog hobbies to try
| Hobby | Why it's a good start | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | The easiest attention workout there is | A book or a library card |
| Cooking or baking | Useful, social, and you get to eat the results | Your kitchen |
| Journaling | Helps you wind down and clear your head | Any notebook |
| Puzzles | Relaxing and great to do with others | A jigsaw or crossword book |
| Drawing or painting | No skill needed to enjoy it | Paper and a pencil |
| Knitting or crochet | Keeps your hands busy (and away from your phone) | Yarn and a hook or needles |
| Gardening | Gets you outside and gives you something to care for | A pot, soil, and seeds |
| Walking or running | Clears your head and helps you sleep | Shoes |
Going analog with a smartphone
Most people can't go fully analog. You still need maps, messages, banking, and two-factor codes. And that's fine. The goal is a phone that works for you, not one that runs your evenings.
That's why we built Brainripe. You choose the apps you want to spend less time on, and your buddy ripens while you stay under your limits and rots when you don't. The analog part counts too: reading, cooking, walks, journaling, and focus sessions are all habits you can log to earn fruit and build your buddy's island. It's a small way to make your offline life more rewarding than your feed.
Going analog FAQ
What does going analog mean? Going analog means choosing more offline, hands-on activities and tools in place of screens, like reading physical books, keeping a paper planner, cooking, crafting, and spending phone-free time. It's about using technology more intentionally, not giving it up completely.
Why is Gen Z going analog? Many people in Gen Z say they're burned out on social media and endless feeds. Going analog gives them more real-life connection, hobbies that produce something tangible, and a break from constant notifications.
What is an analog bag? An analog bag is a bag packed with offline activities, like a book, a notebook, colored pencils, a crossword, or a craft project, so you have something to do instead of reaching for your phone. You can make one with things you already own.
What are the best analog hobbies? Reading, cooking or baking, journaling, puzzles, drawing, knitting or crochet, gardening, and walking are all easy to start and don't cost much.
Do I need a dumbphone to go analog? No. Most people go analog by keeping their smartphone but turning off notifications, removing distracting apps, setting app limits, and building phone-free time into each day.
Give your screen time a buddy.
Brainripe ripens when you stay under your app limits and rots when you doomscroll. Build real habits, earn fruit, and grow your island.
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