With Americans glued to their electronic devices at an all-time high (7 hours and 4 minutes per day, to be exact), many of us are exhausted by the endless online content in an AI-dependent world. Digital exhaustion has caused us to adopt something old that feels new again. Analog living is trending this year and interest in practical hobbies is at an all-time high. From Los Angeles to Lyme, Connecticut, people are signing up for cake-painting, knitting and card-making workshops instead of doomscrolling or binge-watching the latest Netflix series. Junk Journaling — a handmade mixed-media book created from sentimental items like ticket stubs, old photos, notes and letters — has over 1 million posts on TikTok. These activities are popping up not only in local libraries, but also in retail stores, coffee shops, and even breweries.
Danei Edelen, author and executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Northern Kentucky (NAMI NKY), said she was exposed to these active, hands-on activities early in life. Her mother crocheted flannels and her grandmother made quilts and crocheted doilies. She remembers them creating alone and at family gatherings. “When my family got together, the women in my family always had hand projects,” she said.
Analog hobbies can help improve mental health
Ahead of the recent surge in analog hobbies, Danei, who had previously been hospitalized for mental health issues, signed up for an art class that took place online during the pandemic. The teacher asked the students to create a drawing every day for 20 days. The first assignment, Danei recalled, caught her attention. When she posted the drawing on Facebook, friends and family responded with likes and positive comments. “Suddenly, in the midst of this scary Covid situation, creating these drawings and connecting with a community gave me daily focus and purpose.”
She also understood that the benefits of analog hobbies went far beyond praise. The act of doing is what makes us feel good, stimulates the creative part of the brain, and takes us away from the to-do list and the desire to always be busy. “I believe that drawing every day helped rewire my brain in a positive way. The support I received from others also helped rebuild my confidence. Now I also do crafts and knit socks,” she said.
Mental health experts now recommend analog activities to their patients. Seema Sharma, SEP, LMFT and CEO of Holistic Trauma Therapy, said research confirms that repetitive hands-on activities such as knitting and other crafts help people relax, feel happy, function more effectively and provide a sense of achievement. “The brain gets a reward for doing something physical that endless scrolling doesn’t provide,” she said. “Analog hobbies are a mental health support, not a replacement for treatment. Their real goal is to find a reliable path to yourself,” she added.
Whether arranging flowers or beading a bracelet, most analog hobbies can be enjoyed alone or in a community, and both environments have a positive, albeit different, impact on emotional well-being. “Solo activities provide uninterrupted time alone with your thoughts. This type of private, restorative time can be incredibly valuable to your nervous system. Community-based analog activities provide connection. The shared experience offers people a natural way to connect with one another,” said clinical psychologist Jessica Meers, Ph.D., DBSM.
So does it matter which hobby you choose? Experts say not really. The key is to find activities that you enjoy and want to return to. “What the hobby is doesn’t matter. What matters most is the structure of the activity,” said Sharma.
How to get involved in analog hobbies
If you’re looking for an analog hobby, you may need to think about cost and accessibility, especially for those who live in rural areas. A pottery studio may be more expensive because materials require additional fees, while a knitting or needlepoint group may be less expensive, especially if you plan to go there regularly. Libraries, community centers, and craft stores often offer free in-person and live online series. Local Facebook groups, Meetup and Eventbrite also list opportunities to connect and create. Online art therapists and creatives sometimes offer free Zoom classes and video content, and platforms like Craftsy often offer affordable annual memberships.
Everyone can benefit from crafts, not just those managing chronic stress and anxiety. Some experts point to high-performing professionals who spend most of their waking hours staring at a screen. “This group typically has constant cognitive load and no other option. An analog hobby could be the first time in years that their nervous system is completely shut down,” said Sharma.
Analog hobbies can help you relax – and sleep
Not only are analog hobbies a great way to keep the mind active and relaxed, but they can also improve daily routine and sleep health. As we continue to unplug from our phones and make up in bed, reading a physical book, journaling, or slowly drawing—creating imperfect lines and practicing conscious breathing—can signal the brain that it is beginning to calm down and relax. “A simple craft before bed often aids relaxation in a way that scrolling through a phone simply doesn’t,” Meers said.
Trying an analog activity requires little to no artistic talent. In fact, as a form of meditation, it can be even more effective for those who are not attached to the outcome. Whether you choose to purl, bead, or matt, the goal is to forget that there is a goal and enjoy the process.
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