It’s almost comical to be drafting this post. I’m a millennial. We grew up in the eras of no internet, some internet, dial-up internet, then ethernet, wifi, and now, internet everywhere. Our childhood was living in the wild (a normal “until the streetlights come on” or if you’re country like me, “until it gets dark“). Additionally, we also grew up learning how to connect with people all over the world. Hello, ICQ, AIM, and chat rooms. In this post and more to come like it, we’ll explore the much-needed slow down. Intentional living. Slow living. Analog living.
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Analog, by definition
Listen, I came into this topic a little confident and then I looked up the definition for “analog” and now I’m more confused than ever. You try it. Merriam AND Webster got me messed up.
But here is my interpretation of analog vs. digital:
Analog is fluid and continuous, more grey. Digital is concrete, black and white.
Take the hands on an analog clock, for instance.
Most have two hands: hour and minute. But some clocks have the seconds hands too. These clocks with all three hands display the analog definition better. Time is continuous. It never stops. The second hand is always moving. All of the hands are, really.
A digital clock simply shows the numbers for the current time.
Digital life is sucking the life out of us
As a millennial raised up in a life with little technology then a lot of technology and learning it all along the way was exciting. New technology was a wonder to my growing brain. I like computers. Most people do.
But I think a meme I saw recently summed it up perfectly: “hot take: I actually don’t care to see technology advance any further.” Or something along those lines.
Absolutely. Technology is great until it isn’t. It’s fun until it’s used in nefarious ways. It’s helpful until the server is hacked and your favorite social medias are down for the day.
So what do we do in the waiting? Keep reading. I’ve got some ideas for us!
Digital life is sucking the life out of us. It’s stealing our creativity. We’d rather run to our phones or devices for a source of entertainment than to read a book, solve a puzzle, go outside and touch grass!
I say “We” because I, too, am guilty. But I want to make a change in 2026. I want to go analog. Here’s how we can do it:
How to start analog living:
First of all, living an analog life in 2026 does not mean we are throwing away our iPhones and getting a landline again (though that is NOT off the table if you want it!).
It simply means to live LESS DIGITALLY.
- It means more pen and paper.
- An old school watch over using your phone for the time or an alarm.
- It’s time strolling instead of scrolling.
- It’s homemade meals instead of Door Dash again.
- Getting a library card instead of a Kindle.
- It’s a paper planner instead of a Google calendar.
- A paperback in your purse instead of looking at your phone in the waiting room.
- It’s puzzles in the evening instead of Netflix.
- It’s music while cooking dinner instead of TV background noise.
- Coloring books and fresh Crayons instead of iPads.
Analog Living Inspo
My personal goal this year is to do more analog living. Yes, I know you’re reading this on a technological device, using screen time, because the author did the same.
Again, we aren’t ZERO screen time in 2026. We are LESS screen time. Significantly less.
Don’t worry– it’ll be a gentle digital detox.
An approach to analog living that is sustainable and manageable. Let’s be real honest with ourselves: we are all addicted to technology. That is exactly how it was crafted!
Gentle Digital Detox
On this blog, I plan to share ways I’m currently living analog and inspirational things I want to try. Maybe it’ll inspire you too…
To start a gentle digital detox, first take a look at your phone’s screen time each week. iPhone or Android has an app or setting for this. You may be surprised!
When I was working in direct sales and used my phone all day long to lead a team and run my personal sales business, my screen time was upwards of 7-8 hours a day! And I defended it saying I was working.
I’ve since left the business and all that “online work” and still manage a 4 hour screen time per day average. That’s still A LOT.
One way I have reduced it is by setting time allowances on the apps that take most of my attention (Instagram and Facebook). In addition to timed usage, I take Sundays off of social media (No Social Sundays). None whatsoever. No scrolling, no posting, no blogging, no “research”. Nothing.
Social Media Caveat:
Pinterest is considered social media but I stand by it’s a search engine. It has been since I started using it in 2012 and I will stand 10 toes down on that.
Searching for recipes and how-tos is what I use it for. Sundays I may use it to look up a recipe or sometimes I’ll read a blog post I pinned earlier in the week. Time is monitored there too and I don’t spend more than 1 hour on Sunday surfing Pinterest for any reason.
I’m not creating; I’m reading on Pinterest. The same could be said for reels/TikTok scrolling so be careful and know yourself (and the excuses you’ll make).
Gentle Digital Detox Steps
1– find out your current screen time.
2– set up time allowances on your top time-sucking offenders (Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, TikTok, any games!)
3– decide to take one day off a week from ALL social media content consuming or creating.
4– allow yourself a set time each week to check for analog living inspiration. Perhaps bookmark this blog! Or follow Johnson Home on Pinterest.
5– no device or screens after a certain time each evening or first thing in the morning (your circadian rhythm thanks you in advance!)
That’s it. That’s how we start a gentle digital detox. It’s not ALL OR NOTHING; it’s a decrease. Choosing to learn to live without the “noise” around us. It’s deciding to sit in the uncomfortable silence (no music, no podcast, no TV, no insert-other-crutch-here). Allowing ourselves to get bored again!
Creativity happens inside of boredom.
Example: our 13 year old figured out how to make a fire inside of a leftover snow ball on a day he was so “bored”.
More Analog Living Content
Admittedly, this is the first post on analog living specifically but more will be added in the future.
Click here to see what other analog living inspiration has been shared:
Pin this for later and follow along!
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