As AI-powered tools increasingly manage our daily tasks, more people are seeking ways to unplug and engage with the physical world. The movement, often called the “analog lifestyle,” focuses on slowing down, enjoying hands-on activities, and reclaiming moments 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 Pastimes once viewed as outdated, including knitting, painting, and various crafts, are experiencing renewed momentum.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.
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.
Encountering analog in person
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 people are drawn to analog ways of living
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 choose small but meaningful changes: replacing streaming services with a vintage iPod, taking film photographs instead of endless digital snaps, or using a physical alarm clock instead of a smartphone. These choices create tangible results and reduce digital dependency. Epps emphasizes that going analog is less about rejecting information and more about limiting how much the digital world knows about an individual, such as stepping away from Google’s ecosystem or observing 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 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
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Ultimately, the analog lifestyle represents both a personal and societal response to an increasingly AI-driven world. It emphasizes slowing down, appreciating tangible accomplishments, and reconnecting with both the physical environment and the people around us. Whether through crafts, reading, or simply reducing screen time, the movement encourages individuals to reclaim aspects of life that technology often overshadows, offering a path toward balance in the digital era.
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.
