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 phenomenon is growing, even if hard to measure precisely. Hobbies traditionally seen as old-fashioned, such as knitting, painting, and crafting, are seeing a resurgence. Arts and crafts retailer Michael’s has reported a 136% increase in searches for “analog hobbies” over the past six months. Sales of guided craft kits rose 86% in 2025, with projections showing another 30% to 40% increase this year. Yarn kits, long associated with traditional hobbies, jumped 1,200% in popularity. Stacey Shively, Michael’s chief merchandising officer, explained that the company plans to expand in-store sections dedicated to these materials as demand continues to grow.
Much of the appeal lies in mental health benefits. People are increasingly using crafting and other analog hobbies as a break from constant online scrolling, particularly after the isolation and digital fatigue many experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Experiencing analog first-hand
CNN Business reporter Ramishah Maruf decided to test the analog lifestyle personally. For 48 hours, she eliminated nearly all modern devices: three iPhones, a MacBook, two large desktop monitors, a Kindle, and an Alexa. The challenge wasn’t just about avoiding technology—it was about breaking the habit of mindless scrolling and reclaiming control over her time and attention.
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 people turn to analog practices as a response to AI-generated content, often called “AI slop,” which Avriel Epps, an AI researcher at the University of California Riverside, describes as repetitive, fatiguing, and lacking originality. The analog movement is not anti-technology; participants selectively integrate offline activities into their lives.
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 extends beyond personal satisfaction. For many, hands-on hobbies provide focus, creativity, and relaxation in ways that AI-driven entertainment cannot. During Maruf’s 48-hour experiment, she found that crafting, reading, and journaling freed up time that would otherwise be lost to scrolling. Activities like knitting, painting, or tackling physical projects allow participants to see immediate, tangible results from their efforts, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment.
Community and connection through analog hobbies
Analog practices often bring people together, creating social opportunities without screens. Maruf observed this firsthand at a knitting circle in a Brooklyn library, where participants of all ages shared tips and projects while remaining entirely screen-free. Tanya Nguyen, a regular attendee, explained that knitting offers a hands-on way to decompress while avoiding phones.
Offline activities encourage mindfulness and presence, which many participants say is hard to achieve when interacting primarily through digital devices. By focusing on the tangible—whether it’s stitching a scarf, journaling, or reading a physical book—analog enthusiasts find both satisfaction and community. For Maruf, her analog experiment allowed her to complete tasks like finishing “Wuthering Heights,” sending a handwritten postcard, and beginning a knitting project, creating a tangible sense of accomplishment beyond work or online obligations.
Challenges of living analog in a connected world
Despite its appeal, fully adopting an analog lifestyle presents challenges. Many responsibilities still require digital tools, from professional work to personal communications. Even devoted practitioners must navigate the tension between embracing offline life and participating in online systems necessary for daily life.
Additionally, the trend also underscores contrasts between generations, as younger adults raised around technology often struggle to completely step away from their screens. Yet as the analog lifestyle becomes more appealing, even limited practices such as starting the day without devices, pursuing offline pastimes, or reducing social media use can offer substantial relief from digital overload and AI saturation.
The movement also reflects a cultural shift in attitudes toward technology. Increasingly, people are questioning the role of AI in daily life, seeking experiences that prioritize creativity, authenticity, and personal engagement over speed and convenience. By slowing down, focusing on tangible projects, and reducing reliance on AI-generated content, participants reclaim autonomy over their time, attention, and creativity.
An expanding cultural transformation
The surge in interest for analog hobbies signals more than a niche trend. Companies like Michael’s report dramatic growth in sales and searches for analog-focused products, suggesting that many Americans are exploring offline hobbies as a form of self-care and cultural resistance to constant digitization.
Choosing complete digital withdrawal is rarely feasible, yet an analog approach highlights how intentional periods offline can be invaluable. By weaving device-free moments into everyday life, people can sharpen their concentration, ease mental strain, and foster meaningful outcomes beyond what AI is able to duplicate.
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.
