As AI-powered tools take on more of our everyday responsibilities, a growing number of people are looking for opportunities to disconnect and reconnect with tangible experiences. This shift, widely known as the “analog lifestyle,” emphasizes easing the pace, embracing practical activities, and recapturing time away from screens and generative AI.
The trend keeps accelerating, though its exact scale remains difficult to pin down. Pastimes once viewed as outdated, including knitting, painting, and various crafts, are experiencing renewed momentum. Arts and crafts retailer Michael’s has noted a 136% jump in searches for “analog hobbies” over the last half-year. Purchases of guided craft kits climbed 86% in 2025, with forecasts pointing to an additional 30% to 40% rise this year. Yarn kits, long linked to traditional crafting, surged 1,200% in popularity. Stacey Shively, Michael’s chief merchandising officer, stated that the company intends to broaden in-store spaces devoted to these materials as interest keeps rising.
A large part of the attraction comes from its mental health advantages, as many people now turn to crafting and other analog pastimes to escape nonstop online browsing, especially following the isolation and digital burnout brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Experiencing analog first-hand
CNN Business reporter Ramishah Maruf chose to explore the analog lifestyle firsthand. Over a 48-hour period, she put aside nearly every modern device she owned, including three iPhones, a MacBook, two large desktop monitors, a Kindle, and an Alexa. The experience went beyond stepping away from technology; it centered on breaking the cycle of automatic scrolling and regaining command of her time and focus.
Many people opt to disconnect from screens as a cultural or personal preference rather than committing to a strict digital detox. In British Columbia, 25-year-old Shaughnessy Barker has fully adopted an analog lifestyle. She relies on a home landline and uses a “dumb phone” app when she’s out, prioritizing conversations and letters over social media. Barker calls herself “an AI hater to my core,” having been raised on vinyl records and a collection of VHS tapes, DVDs, and cassettes. She organizes tech-free craft sessions and wine gatherings, pens handwritten messages, and enforces firm limits on how she uses her computer.
Even committed analog devotees such as Barker still encounter obstacles, as much of her daily work—operating a vintage shop and managing a “snail mail club”—depends on the internet, underscoring the strain between pursuing an offline life and handling real-world duties in a connected era. Barker accepts the contradiction: relying on TikTok to showcase a tech-free lifestyle reveals the careful equilibrium needed to remain analog within a digital age.
Why analog lifestyles are appealing
Many individuals increasingly embrace analog approaches in reaction to AI-generated content, often labeled as “AI slop,” a term used by Avriel Epps, an AI researcher at the University of California Riverside, who portrays it as monotonous, draining, and devoid of originality, while the analog movement itself does not reject technology but instead encourages participants to weave selected offline experiences into their daily routines.
Some opt for modest yet meaningful shifts, like swapping streaming platforms for a vintage iPod, shooting on film instead of taking endless digital photos, or relying on a physical alarm clock rather than a smartphone. These decisions deliver tangible benefits and help curb dependence on digital habits. Epps notes that embracing analog tools is less about rejecting information and more about controlling how much the digital realm learns about a person, whether by stepping back from Google’s ecosystem or committing to screen‑free Sundays.
The appeal reaches further than personal gratification, as many find that hands-on hobbies deliver focus, creativity, and relaxation in ways AI-driven entertainment cannot replicate. Throughout Maruf’s 48-hour experiment, she discovered that activities such as crafting, reading, and journaling opened up time that would have otherwise slipped away to scrolling. Engaging in pursuits like knitting, painting, or taking on physical projects enables participants to witness immediate, concrete outcomes from their efforts, strengthening their sense of achievement.
Community and connection through analog hobbies
Analog activities frequently draw people together, opening up screen-free social moments. Maruf witnessed this directly at a knitting circle in a Brooklyn library, where attendees of various ages exchanged advice and showcased their projects while staying completely unplugged. Tanya Nguyen, a frequent participant, noted that knitting provides a tactile way to unwind while keeping phones out of the picture.
Offline activities foster a calmer, more present mindset, something many participants admit is difficult to attain when most interactions happen through digital devices. By engaging with physical tasks—whether stitching a scarf, keeping a journal, or turning the pages of a printed book—analog fans discover both fulfillment and a sense of belonging. For Maruf, this analog trial made it possible for her to wrap up goals such as completing “Wuthering Heights,” mailing a handwritten postcard, and starting a knitting project, giving her a concrete feeling of achievement that extended beyond work or online demands.
Difficulties faced when embracing an analog lifestyle in an ever-connected world
Although the idea is attractive, fully committing to an analog way of living comes with obstacles. Numerous duties still depend on digital tools, whether for professional tasks or personal interactions. Even committed followers must balance the desire to live offline with the need to engage in the online systems that daily life requires.
Additionally, the trend highlights generational differences. Younger adults, particularly those who grew up with technology, may find it difficult to fully detach from screens. However, as the analog lifestyle gains popularity, even partial adoption—screen-free mornings, offline hobbies, and limits on social media—can provide meaningful relief from digital fatigue and AI saturation.
The movement also signals a broader cultural change in how society relates to technology, as more people challenge AI’s place in everyday routines and look for experiences that elevate genuine creativity, authenticity, and human interaction instead of mere speed or convenience. By embracing a slower pace, dedicating themselves to hands-on efforts, and limiting dependence on AI-generated material, participants regain control of their time, focus, and imaginative expression.
A growing cultural shift
The rising enthusiasm for analog hobbies reflects far more than a passing fad, as companies like Michael’s have noted sharp increases in both sales and searches for analog-centered products, indicating that many Americans are turning to offline pastimes as a way to practice self-care and push back against constant digital saturation.
While full digital abstinence is often impractical, the analog lifestyle demonstrates the value of selective offline engagement. By integrating screen-free activities into daily routines, individuals can regain focus, reduce stress, and create meaningful results that AI cannot replicate.
In the end, the analog lifestyle stands as both a personal and collective reaction to a world increasingly shaped by AI, highlighting a slower pace, a renewed appreciation for concrete achievements, and a deeper reconnection with the physical world and the people within it. Whether through hands‑on activities, reading, or simply cutting back on screen exposure, this movement invites individuals to reclaim elements of life that technology often eclipses, offering a route toward greater equilibrium in the digital age.
As more people explore these offline practices, it’s clear that analog living is not just a temporary fad but a broader cultural shift toward intentional, hands-on experiences in a world dominated by AI and digital convenience.
