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 Pastimes once viewed as outdated, including knitting, painting, and various crafts, are experiencing renewed momentum.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.
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.
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.
For many, stepping away from screens is a cultural and personal choice rather than a strict digital detox. Shaughnessy Barker, a 25-year-old living in British Columbia, has embraced an analog approach fully. She uses a landline at home and a “dumb phone” app when away, emphasizing personal interaction through calls or letters rather than social media. Barker describes herself as “an AI hater to my core,” having grown up listening to vinyl records and collecting VHS tapes, DVDs, and cassettes. She hosts tech-free craft nights and wine evenings, writes handwritten notes, and sets strict boundaries on her computer usage.
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.
Building community and forging connections through analog pastimes
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
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 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.
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 individuals embrace these offline habits, it becomes evident that analog living has evolved beyond a passing trend, emerging instead as a widespread cultural movement that values deliberate, tactile experiences within an era shaped by AI and digital ease.
