Over the holiday break, I noticed a growing trend among influencer behavior on TikTok, specifically as there is a great push for people to “go analog,” meaning to be more present and off their phones. I love this, and believe it could be a great way for all of us to engage with the world around us more physically, instead of just digitally. While social media has many benefits and can connect us with people from all over the world, taking the time to unplug and reduce reliance on our phones allows us to experience life in real time.
People are beginning to experience “digital fatigue,” a state of feeling tired and burnt out from screen time. The conversations I’ve had with those around me regarding our cell phone use have demonstrated that there is a desire to ditch social media, but social media addiction runs deep. I can relate to this, especially since my TikTok algorithm has been curated for so many years, tuned just to fit my niches. In this case, replacing my social media use with other activities allows me to feel more grounded.
Related to this, physical media is making a comeback in the new year. It feels good to own things. Streaming services have become so popular, but without them, how would we have access to any media? I like owning my favorite movies, books, and songs because I know that they can’t be taken away from me if a streaming service decides to remove them from their platform.
With the rise of physical media, it is important to differentiate it from overconsumption. The books that line my shelves and the vinyl and CDs perched on my wall have been collected over the years. Recently, I have enjoyed venturing to local thrift stores and searching through them for vinyl. Local thrift stores have a variety of books, vinyls, DVDs, and CDs that are also very inexpensive! If you are looking to grow your physical media collection, I highly encourage you to go to your local thrift store.
Other ways I am trying to go analog include keeping a physical journal, completing puzzles, scrapbooking, borrowing books from the library, and watching movies in theaters. It’s refreshing not to rely on social media; growing comfortable with being bored is important. I don’t think we need to be entertained all the time. It is in the mundane, simple moments around us that can provide us with the most peace.
