Have you heard of the new Gen Z trend called an Analog Bag? It’s adorable, though honestly a little extra. When I was a kid, it was just called a busy bag, and it was something parents made for their kids.
Which doesn’t mean I’m knocking it! I think this is actually a cute idea. I will say that you probably don’t need to buy anything new for your analog bag. I’m ninety percent sure you have an empty bag somewhere in your house.
I as well am trying to limit my screen time. If for no other reason than to preserve my poor eyes. My day job requires me to stare at a screen all day. Then my life’s purpose, writing, also needs lots of screen time. Toss in some recreational Instagram and Webkinz time, and I spend way more time than I should looking at little glowing boxes.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, you might be looking for new ways to get offline and away from screens for at least some of your day. You might, in short, be looking for things to put in your analog bag (that you already have, please don’t buy another bag!). So today, I’m sharing some of my favorite screen-free activities.
Junk journaling
I love junk journaling. My aunt taught me how to make a junk journal as a kid, and I’ve been experimenting with them off and on ever since. My favorite way to build one is to get a big second-hand book with a solid cover and just get crafty with it from there. My current junk journal is an old history book from a library book sale, covered in brown paper on which I doodle with gel pens.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I’d actually suggest against going the fancy route. It’s just something fun and creative for you to do with all the little bits of things you come across that are too pretty or too sentimental to get rid of.
Puzzle books and papers
This isn’t sponsored by Sunday Club or anyone else. But I have been subscribed to Sunday Club for a few months now, and I’m really enjoying it. Simply put, it’s a collection of newspaper-like puzzles, printed on newsprint. Think sudoku or crosswords.
It’s just a fun little thing to do. I’ve even taken them to the bar and made it a group activity with my friends.
Crocheting and other string crafts
I’ve crocheted since I was a child. I still do. There’s literally a sweater I’m in the middle of crocheting on my desk right now. I also knit and cross-stitch. I kind of want to get into felting, though that seems like it’s going to take up a lot of money and space. But everything everyone makes online looks so cute, and I think stabbing something over and over until I like it would be really therapeutic.
Of course, this should be no surprise to anyone who has read my fantasy series, Woven. The whole series is about thread-based magic.
Witch crafts
I am a witch, and I absolutely put the ‘craft’ in witchcraft. I love making candles, tea blends, charms, spell jars, and even my own oracle deck. I’ve made rune ‘stones’ out of air-dry clay. I’ve made spell paper dolls. Really, anything that allows me to dig my hands in and create something feels like magic to me.
Gardening
The darling husband and I moved last year, and for the first time in a long while, we have a yard. I have been loving planting things. I put garlic in the Fall. And just last weekend, I put in four different kinds of tomatoes. There’s just something so pure about digging into the soil, weeding, and carefully caring for these delicate little plants as they grow stronger, all while blaring Delilah Bon.
I have this lovely idea of making my own capresi salad with homegrown tomatoes, basil, and handmade mozzarella cheese by the end of the summer. I’ll keep you updated on Instagram.
Reading, duh
I almost didn’t include this one, because it seemed so obvious. But yes, I love reading more than just about anything else in the world. I’ve shaped my entire life around reading and writing good stories, after all. And while I do read e-books, I just prefer a good physical book. I don’t have to worry about glare, won’t have my reading flow interrupted by a notification, and don’t have to watch my battery life. Plus, we just got a good-sized blow-up pool, and reading an ebook anywhere near that feels like just asking for trouble.
So now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite screen-free activity, aside from reading?
Also, I have a quick scheduling note. I won’t be posting next week, as I’ll be on vacation for the SFWA Nebula conference and my 40th birthday. See you back here on June 12th.
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