If you’re tired of doomscrolling, then an analog bag may be what you need! As someone who’s trying to become more present in the physical world, I’ve taken up some analog hobbies and habits that have really helped me reduce my screentime, and it’s been made easier with having an analog bag.
So, if you’ve been wanting to spend less time offline and more time doing hobbies and activities you enjoy outside of your phone, carry on reading to find out how you can make your own analog bag!
What’s an Analog Bag?
An analog bag is a bag filled with entertainment (and single-use devices) where you can enjoy time off from your mobile phone. The aim is to escape from the online world and replace doomscrolling with hobbies and activities that help you lean into your creativity and learning, both at home and outside.
What Are the Best Analog Bags to Get?
The best bag to use for an analog bag is one that you already own! Grab a tote bag, duffel, or purse that is big enough to carry more than your everyday essentials. If you don’t have a sturdy bag you can use, then I’d recommend a good quality canvas tote bag, duffel, or purse with multiple pockets to store different things.
What to Put in Your Analog Bag
So the big question – what do you actually put in an analog bag? It all depends on your interests or hobbies. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some ideas to inspire you:
Book or E-Reader
Having a book (whether it’s your own or borrowed from friends, family, or the library) or an e-reader (i.e., Kobo, Kindle) in your analog bag is probably the easiest way to help you defeat doomscrolling. Once you have a book/e-reader and you’re sucked into a story that you enjoy, you won’t even realize how much time has passed.
The great thing about having books or an e-reader is that you can bring them everywhere with you too; they don’t only have to be in your analog bag! I love bringing my e-reader everywhere with me so I can read on the train, bus, and plane.
Puzzle Book
Puzzle books are amazing for improving your memory and training your brain (speaking of, remember Brain Training on the Nintendo DS?) while also having fun! I love doing arrow word puzzles, and there are many other types of puzzle books you can do, such as Murdle, sudoku, and crosswords.
Murdle: Volume 1
Sudoku Book
Relaxing Arrow Words
New York Times Crossword Puzzles
Journal
If you like writing and doing artsy stuff, then keep a journal in your analog bag. If you like to collect things wherever you go, get a junk journal. If you read and want to review each book, get a reading journal. If you’re an artist, get a sketchbook. If you don’t like the idea of using digital planners to plan your life, get a physical daily planner. There are so many different ways you can use journals; just think of what appeals to you most and go from there!
Painting supplies
If you’re an artist, then keeping a few art supplies in your analog bag would be great for creating art wherever you go. For example, you can keep a watercolor book, a mini watercolor palette with a brush to do watercolor art on your commutes, at the park, or at a cafe!
Watercolor Journal
Watercolor Travel Set
Camera
The point of an analog bag is to reduce screen time on your mobile phone, so although your phone has a camera, to go analog, replace it with a physical camera instead. Digicams are making a comeback lately, which are great compact cameras to have on the go – plus, the Y2K aesthetic that digicam photos have is so chic. Alternatively, you can get a Polaroid if you want photos printed out instantly, or a film camera, which has a more candid feel.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Polaroid
KODAK PIXPRO FZ45 Digital Camera
Playing cards
Playing cards are always a fun addition to your analog bag, more particularly when there are others around you who you can play them with! You’ll never get bored with a deck of playing cards. You can play games like Blackjack, snap, go fish, or even get a set of UNO cards.
Playing Cards Pack
UNO Cards
Coloring Books
There’s something about coloring that is so therapeutic. If you don’t know what hobby to get into, this is such a simple and fun choice. The Coco Wyo coloring books are my favourite; they even have mini coloring books if you don’t have much space in your bag for a full-sized one.
Coco Wyo Cozy Cuties Coloring Book
Pen Case
With all the writing and/or coloring you’ll be doing with the contents of your analog bag, it only makes sense to have all of your pens, pencils, and coloring pens all in one pen case!
Big Capacity Pen Case
Sewing Kit
If you love sewing, then this would be great to keep in your analog bag. With all the scrap fabric you have, you can make tiny projects on the go!
Going Analog Without OverconsumingÂ
When going analog and creating your analog bag, it’s easy to get sucked into overconsumption. For some, going analog is just a trend – it’s enjoyed for a week, then forgotten the next. But the whole point of having an analog bag in the first place is to truly disconnect from the online world.
To avoid getting sucked into overconsumption with your analog bag, avoid seeing it as a way to acquire a bunch of new hobbies, but to reconnect with the hobbies you used to enjoy and didn’t make the time for before instead. Use those journals, puzzle books, and artsy supplies that are already sitting in your room before buying anything new.
Most importantly, forget posting how much you’re going analog on social media – it defeats the whole point of going analog! Focus on being present in the moment and actually re-enjoying those hobbies that you used to love.
