How to lead a more analogue life

[Tiny Kernel]

An interesting piece on how to lead a more analogue life, which feels very timely given how much of this forum is about AI news right now. The idea of going analogue has been building for a while, with more people talking about stepping back from screens, apps and constant notifications. It is not about throwing your phone in a river, but about swapping some digital habits for physical ones. I have not managed to read the whole article, but the topic itself is worth a thread

The usual suggestions are things like using a paper notebook and diary instead of apps, reading physical books, buying a proper alarm clock so your phone can stay out of the bedroom, and listening to records or CDs rather than streaming everything. Some people go further with dumbphones or wearing a watch so they stop checking their phone for the time. Film cameras have been making a comeback for similar reasons

The appeal makes sense. Many of us spend hours a day on screens without choosing to, and a lot of apps are designed to keep us scrolling. Physical objects tend to do one thing and then leave you alone. There is also something satisfying about owning things rather than renting access to them through subscriptions

There is an irony in a lot of analogue living content being sold through online shopping guides, of course. Buying a new set of products is not quite the same as consuming less. And for many people, work and family life simply depend on being reachable online, so going fully offline is not realistic

Personally I have gone back to a paper diary and a cheap alarm clock, and the phone now charges in the kitchen overnight. It has made a noticeable difference to how I start and end the day. Has anyone else tried going more analogue, and what stuck?

Is tech the secret to a more analogue life? How gadgets, apps and tips could actually reduce your screen timewww.theguardian.com

[Millie82]

Records got me off streaming for home listening. Putting on an album and listening to the whole thing is a completely different experience from shuffling playlists. You pay attention in a way you just do not with background music

It is an expensive hobby though. New vinyl prices are silly now

[WildManCena23]

Paper notebooks are great for thinking. Something about writing by hand slows your brain down in a good way

I still use digital tools for anything I need to search later. The two work well together. It does not have to be all or nothing

[SkyHunter]

Film photography is my analogue outlet. Having only 36 shots makes you think about every picture instead of taking hundreds

Waiting for prints to come back is part of the fun. It feels like opening a present

[David]

A proper wristwatch cut my phone checking massively. Most times I picked the phone up, I only wanted the time and then got sucked into something else. Now I glance at my wrist and carry on. Small change, big difference

[NeutrinoX74]

Taking the phone out of the bedroom was the single best change I made. I sleep better and I do not start the day reading bad news. A twenty pound alarm clock did more for me than any wellbeing app

[Ellie40]

Dumbphones are a step too far for me. Banking, parking, tickets and work all need a smartphone now. Going without one is almost impossible in the UK. Maybe one day that will change