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.
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 analog lifestyles are appealing
Many individuals increasingly embrace analog approaches in reaction to AI-generated content, often labeled as “AI slop,” a term used by Avriel Epps, an AI researcher at the University of California Riverside, who portrays it as monotonous, draining, and devoid of originality, while the analog movement itself does not reject technology but instead encourages participants to weave selected offline experiences into their daily routines.
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 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 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.
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 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.
A growing cultural shift
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.
