21 Ideas for a Slower, More Analog Way of Being

I probably do this too much, but my brain is always looking for how to connect all the various pieces of information it receives and identify patterns. The latest pattern I’ve been picking up on is the current willingness of my peers to challenge themselves to do things they wouldn’t normally do, to go against the grain, and shift their usual routines. The most surprising part of this? They’re all doing things that are decidedly less convenient than their status quo. 

One friend who has been a diligent DoorDasher for years has decided to cut food delivery from her budget altogether. Another friend chose to buy her underwear from a local, woman-owned brand instead of making her typical Victoria’s Secret or Target run. Other friends are seeking out career coaching to figure out what they really want to do after years of working in relatively stable and gainful roles. Another is choosing to buy 80% of her food from farmers’ markets. Another is changing churches to find one more aligned with her needs. Another who has never loved exercise is genuinely feeling motivated to get more movement in. Even my husband, who has a clear movie-watching comfort zone (made in the ‘80s & ‘90s), who I’ve only been able to get to a theater to see the new Twister or Jurassic Park installments, is committing to watching more original content (versus recycled IP) this year. And I’m aiming to use public transit more and drive less! 

All of this, while the topic of analog living has been trending. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m into it! Have we finally reached a breaking point in our convenience culture? Is it hitting us that there’s a true cost to all of those cost-saving, time-saving measures? Maybe the spread of AI has been a cold, hard slap in the face, reminding us that we have to hold on tight to what keeps our communities strong, our planet livable, and humans human. 

Whatever it is, in my experience, it’s a worthwhile pursuit. Last year, my personal mantra was slow and steady – choosing not to rush, multitask, or overcommit myself. And it paid off so profoundly. (Most of) The last year has been my least stressful in recent memory, and it’s not because anything got easier. I’ve felt so much less frazzled, experienced so much less brain fog, and am much less reactive than I can ever remember being. Did you know your brain actually functions better and you make better decisions when you’re not stressed? Now that I’ve experienced what that feels like, I’ve realized I can’t afford not to do it.

I believe that one of the primary sources of the dysfunction in our culture lies within our pervasive sense of overwhelm. We often feel too busy, tired, stressed, and frazzled to add anything else to our plate, even if it’s truly better for us, and we seek quick & easy solutions to all of those problems. But as my husband says, sometimes the short way is the long way, and the long way is the short way. Or in other words, sometimes rushing just makes more of a mess, and cutting corners creates more work. And at the end of the day, the long way – the way that takes more patience and investment of our energy on the front end – pays dividends that just keep on coming.

So let’s do it together! Let’s find ways to slow down, detox from the digital (at least every once in a while), and choose to do what’s less convenient, less easy, less quick, and more meaningful, sustainable, and satisfying. 

Here are some ideas if you’re looking for analog inspiration:

1. Set aside time to read physical books instead of listening to audiobooks or using e-readers. Support your local library or independent book stores!

2. Listen to records, CDs, tapes, and the radio instead of streaming. Did you know streaming also uses much more energy than listening to analog music? Support local record stores and independent radio stations in the process!

1. My favorite local Portland radio stations include Portland Radio Project 99.1 (plays a range of indie music, including local artists) and KISN 95.1 (plays a wide and deep catalog of oldies – you can even hear old advertisements from the 40s-70s!), and OPB 91.5, of course, which is our local NPR affiliate.

3. Speaking of, get your news via physical newspapers or the radio. Become a subscriber, and help keep independent journalism alive.

4. The next time an article of clothing gets a hole or loses a button, learn to mend it yourself instead of tossing it. Or take your clothes to a tailor or shoes to a cobbler to help support these trades. But seriously, sewing a button back on or patching up a hole is surprisingly easy and oh so satisfying.

5. While you’re at it, take extra time to care for your shoes. Get yourself some shoe shine materials, and give your shoes a spruce so they last longer and look better in the process.

6. Go to the movie theater instead of streaming at home. Being in a theater cuts out all the other distractions and temptations of watching while at home and lets you have a truly immersive and communal experience as the artists intended.

7. Make something from scratch. If you have a habit of ordering out or opting for prepared foods from the grocery store – frozen dinners, pre-made sauces, pre-chopped produce, mixes, etc – to save time, try once a week or more to make an entire meal from scratch or bake something indulgent.

8. Challenge yourself to walk, ride a bike or scooter, or take public transit at least once a week for your commute or extracurricular activities.

9. Get yourself a real watch and clock for your home to give yourself one less reason to reach for your phone. And while you’re at it, try using an actual alarm clock, or if your schedule allows, see if you can wake up naturally without an alarm.

10. Try (or get back into) a new analog hobby – pottery, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, playing an instrument, photography (with a real camera), painting, drawing, puzzles, crosswords, sewing, or creative writing.

11. Play board games instead of video games! There are plenty of games that can be played solo or with a group. (Our favorite is Daybreak, which is a cooperative game about stopping climate change.)

12. Leave your home to exercise – hike, take a walk, take a class, or join a team sport to get from behind a screen for at least one part of your routine.

13. Turn your smartphone into a dumb phone while you’re at home. Create a mode that turns off all your app notifications on your phone when you get to your address. And make it one that you can opt into whenever you’re spending quality time with other people. You can even have a station for it in your home like a landline that you only go to when you have a specific purpose, not just to passively scroll.

14. Grocery shop slowly, seasonally, and intentionally. Find or create recipes using ingredients that are local and in-season. Give your Instacart account a break.

15. Add an extra step to your personal care routine just because. Start oil pulling or gua sha or use a face mask. Floss regularly. Take your vitamins. Choose not to be in too much of a hurry to take really good care of yourself.

16. Shop in-person. Search high and low in your community for what you’re looking for instead of scouring the internet (or Amazon). Ask around. Browse. Get advice from shop owners. Support your local community.

17. Get that thing fixed that’s been acting up lately. Go to a repair shop or learn to do it yourself. 

18. Do nothing at all. Lay on your bed and stare at the ceiling and let your brain do its thing. Or listen to music – just listen to music. As a whole activity. 

19. If you can afford it, and you just might, hire a coach or consultant before you go to ChatGPT for advice. Or ask someone you know if they know someone who can help. There are people who can help.

20. Grow something. Start a little garden. Grow your own food or tea or table flowers. 

21. DIY something the next time you realize it’s time to restock. Make a tincture from scratch or DIY a salve or cleaning solution or room spray.

Feel overwhelmed just looking at this list? Start small. Choose 15 minutes once a week, and do just one thing. Choose the thing that you’ve been low-key wanting to do for a long time, but feel like you never have time to do. You’re allowed, I promise. It’s not selfish or indulgent to live in a way that’s better for our nervous systems, better for our bodies, our families, our communities, and our planet. 

Let us know how it goes!

In pursuit of a better way of being,

Alex