Analog Revival: The Anti Phone Summer
- jennysmithmattfeldt
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
less screen time, more analog hands on hobbies
We've gotten so good at filling every spare second that we've forgotten what boredom used to do for us. The second there's a lull, we reach for our phones. Waiting in line? Phone. Commercial break? Phone. Fifteen minutes before dinner? Phone. Somewhere along the way, hobbies got replaced with algorithms, and suddenly our evenings became something we scrolled through rather than reveled in.
This summer, I think it's time for a reset. Maybe it's the season, maybe it's the social media overload. Maybe it's the fact I know you feel better after a few hours away from the phone. Call them analog hobbies. Call them weekday side quests. Whatever you call them, the goal is the same: to make your life feel a little bigger than the six-inch screen in your hand. Because you can't add more time to your life, but you can add more life to the time you already have. And if there was ever a season to start, it's summer.
Want an instantly cooler Saturday plan? Google "whiskey tastings near me" (or wine, tequila, mezcal, coffee, olive oil—whatever you're into) and go learn something new for an hour. It's one of those activities that feels classy but it's low pressure, and you'll leave with some new random facts and at least one story to tell at your next dinner party. And it will officially make you the coolest person I know.
Bonus points: you just found a summer hobby that also counts as a workout. I love a hobby that kind of tricks you into a healthier lifestyle. You're outside, you're exploring, you're trying not to fall in, you won't even be thinking about your phone. Check Costco if you're in the mood to buy a board or check out rentals in your town if you just want to dip your toes in. Grab a friend, pack a snack and couple beers, make a moment of it.
Just tis the season to get in the water. Go for a swim, fill a kiddie pool up for your dog and watch the show, hit the lake after work, make some cocktails and to get in your pool floaty. Something about being in the water will heal your nervous system, I swear by it.
If you're craving a little more feminine energy in your life, this is the hobby. Putting together flower arrangements is about so much more than just having a pretty vase on your counter—it's about creating a home that feels like you. Curate the energy of your space, bring something living indoors, and add a little beauty to your everyday routines. And I promise it's easier than you're making it out to be. Pick up a bundle at the grocery store, mix in some greenery, experiment with unexpected combinations, and let yourself be a little creative. It's the perfect way to bring a little whimsy back into your life.
The Flower Frog
Pure whimsy. Instead of putting the stems in a vase try mixing it up with a flower frog.
Or find the cause that speaks to you. The easiest way to feel more connected to life is to spend time around something that reminds you there is a world outside your own little bubble. Volunteer at an animal shelter, spend time at a senior living community, help with a kids' program, or find a cause that genuinely pulls at your heart.
Our phones have a way of making everything feel distant. We consume so much of other people's lives that sometimes we forget how good it feels to be part of something real. These hobbies are less about filling your schedule and more about breathing new life into it. A few hours spent walking dogs, reading with someone, helping a community project, or simply showing up for another person can do more for your mood than another evening lost to scrolling. (I can't promise you won't end up with a new dog though.)
We're bringing back the art of gathering. Bring back Sunday dinners, pick up mahjong nights, craft nights, book clubs, cocktail hour. Invite your friends over for a themed dinner party, learn how to make pasta, sit around playing cards and drinking wine until way too late. We need more of this.
Kitchen Aid Pasta Attachment
I can't get enough of my Kitchen Aid attachments. This is my pasta attachment one, comes in a set of three, makes something that looks so complicated SO easy.
It's time to bring back the sport you were obsessed with when you were 14. There is something so satisfying about coming home tired from doing something you actually enjoy. Not just another workout but the kind where you lose track of time because you're having fun. Volleyball leagues, soccer, tennis, riding horses, swimming, dance classes—whatever it was, there is no reason you can't find your way back to it. It's not so serious just go play.
Perfect iPhone pictures are out. The fun, slightly blurry, imperfect photos with texture and personality are in. There's something so special about taking pictures without immediately worrying about the perfect angle, lighting, or making sure everything looks curated. The best photos are usually the ones where you can actually feel the moment anyways, the messy dinner table, your friends laughing, the sunset you almost missed, the little details you would've forgotten.
Try bringing a little more intention back into your photos. Pick up a film camera, a disposable camera, or even my favorite digital Polaroid style camera and start capturing moments just because they are worth remembering. They usually end up being the ones you love most.
Digital Polaroid Camera
I've been using this camera for three years straight. Creates the cutest little polaroids but it's technically a digital camera meaning you can take as many pictures as you want then only print the ones you want to keep. Saves on buying film but you still have the digital image, best of both worlds.
The grandma hobbies that started the whole movement. Knitting, needlepoint, and crochet might not sound like the most exciting way to spend your evening but there's is something surprisingly satisfying about sitting down and getting lost in a hands on project.
In a world where everything moves instantly, these hobbies force you to slow down. They give your brain somewhere else to go besides your endless list of notifications, and there's something inherently cool about having the same hobby as your Grandma anyways.
The coolest people you know probably know how to play cards. Like is it just friendly competition, is she trying to take my money? We'll never know. Learn poker, gin rummy, bridge, canasta, or whatever your family plays. Bring a deck on a camping trip, keep one on your coffee table, or make it part of your next dinner party.
Cutest Aesthetic Playing Cards
Current favorite card set. Sassy, pretty, western flair. Perfect way to curate your summer.
I know humans are creatures of routine. We love our favorite coffee shop, our usual grocery store, our same walk around the neighborhood. But that also means the quickest way to make your life feel a little more exciting is surprisingly simple: go somewhere new.
Go to a vinyl shop or bookstore.
There is something so satisfyingly un-replicate-able about physically filliping through vinyl records and shelves of second hand books. I'm sorry this one just makes you a cooler person. There is a completely different feeling from discovering something in person versus adding it to your online cart.
Find your local farmers market.
Google it, I promise there is probably one closer than you think. Go talk to the vendors, try something new, find better produce than you would have grabbed at the grocery store, and make a morning out of it.
Plan a new girls' night.
Find a jazz club with the dirties martinis ever created. Get dressed up, invite your girlfriends, and buy the first round. That's pure therapy right there.
Visit a botanical garden.
Find the garden, conservatory, or nature space your town is known for and spend an afternoon wandering. Bring a book, take pictures, or simply go somewhere beautiful for no other reason than because you can.
If you want to make a 90s summer happen again, start here. There is something so nostalgic about a backyard movie night. Tell the neighbors to bring blankets and snacks, wait for the sun to go down, and put on a summer classic à la The Sandlot. That's a core memory right there.
If you have even a tiny creative streak in you, I promise you the endless scrolling is numbing it. When we spend every spare moment consuming it pacifies our desire to create. The ideas, curiosity, and random little sparks of inspiration that used to come naturally start to feel harder to find. Our brains are so busy taking in everyone else's thoughts that we forget to make space for our own.
This is where journaling comes in—but especially The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. The book's famous “Morning Pages” practice is designed to help clear out the mental clutter and reconnect you with your creativity. Sometimes the best ideas are waiting for you in the quiet moments you used to fill with your phone.
The Artist's Way
Your path to reviving your creativity. Connecting to your purpose, getting 'unstuck', and working through anything blocking your creative energy.
There is a reason clubs are having a comeback. Mahjong clubs, card clubs, car clubs, bowling leagues, book clubs, running groups—you name it. People are craving spaces where they can show up regularly, learn something new, and actually connect with other humans.
The best part about a club is that you don't have to awkwardly figure out how to make friends as an adult. You already have the built-in activity. You just show up, play the game, learn the skill, and let the conversations happen naturally. Find something that interests you and see what exists in your town. Because sometimes the fastest way to make your life feel more exciting is simply having somewhere new to go.
Look we love our phones. The inspiration, the connection, the convenience. But I also think we have to be honest with ourselves— they're making us dumber, a little more distracted, and a lot more numb to the world happening right in front of us.
The answer isn't to throw your phone away and disappear into the woods. It's to make sure your phone isn't the most interesting thing in your life. Inject some new life into your days this summer, make plans, pick up the analog hobby, find a new spot, host all your friends. Watch how fast life feels new and exciting again.
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