Going Analog

Since the start of the year I’ve noticed a boom in what the internet is calling “analog hobbies”. The younger generation has apparently discovered the joys of physical media and millennials are retreating to simpler times. Vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and even VHS tapes are making a comeback. People are cancelling their streaming services and opting instead for a slower, more curated experience. Is it just me or is it weird that analog hobbies are having a moment in 2026? Because, at least from my perspective, the concept is actually pretty normal? I’ve never stopped using physical media. I still have two Ikea towers dedicated to my DVD and Blu-rays. I stubbornly never made the switch to e-readers for my books either. Boardgames have always been popular and arts and crafts cover everything from knitting to jewelry making. Did any of these go out of style without my noticing? It feels like the internet en mass is trying to make regular life trendy.

“Going Analog” has been criticized as a consumerism trend that encourages wasteful and excessive spending. This critique is valid. I cringe when I see someone’s collection of all thirty-one variants of an album or influencers encouraging people to buy a bunch of supplies all at once. I get it. People tend to overcompensate when discovering a new hobby. We’re excited and feel the need to catch up, but let’s not get carried away by the shiny and new.

At its core, the concept of going analog supports slower living, reconnecting with ourselves and life beyond our screens. And a big part of slower living is mindful consumption. Build your collections over time. Be selective. I consider myself somewhere between minimalist and maximalist. Okay, definitely leaning towards the ladder. You can read about my thoughts on the philosophy in my 2025 article, The Sentimental Minimalist. Without repeating myself now, the point I’m getting at is I recommend thoughtfully curating your library with content you genuinely love and will thoroughly enjoy for years to come. So, while I do still collect physical copies of albums, my hoard is relatively small and to be honest, I have no intention of giving up my YouTube Music subscription. The last article I wrote was a list of playlists I curated for every mood. There are just too many positives about streaming for me to act like 2002 was an idyllic era for music consumption. I can mix and match my favourite songs, discover new songs and artists much easier and I can do it all without lugging around a Walk-Man that eventually breaks from overuse. The same can be said for movies and television. The streaming industry has definitely become ridiculous. Way too expensive and far too saturated, but there are benefits to a digital catalogue as well.

A peak at my vinyl collection

In response to the argument that analog living is just the newest push towards consumerism, I am going to present a solution that I rarely see mentioned in the online discourse surrounding physical media. The public library! Did you know you can borrow movies, CDs, and video games from the library for free? Back in the summer of 2014, before my family subscribed to any streaming service (is anyone the least bit surprised we were late to the game?), the library made it possible for my brother and I to binge watch the sci-fi masterpiece Lost. We would walk to the library together, borrow one season at a time and to be honest it’s an experience I look back upon with great fondness. It felt akin to when we visited Blockbuster with our parents and picked out a movie to rent for the weekend — except this was free!

Search for analog hobby ideas and you’ll be bombarded with lists mentioning up to a hundred options, which sort of perpetuates the overconsumption criticism. Today, I am offering you three that I personally enjoy and one that is still relatively new to me.

Brain Games.

Wordsearches, crossword puzzles, sudoku. Yes, there are apps for all of these games, which are littered with ads for other games. I prefer the good old fashion pen and paper method. These are particularly great during workday breaks when I need to give my eyes a break from the computer screen. I also love to work on them in the mornings with my breakfast.

Boardgames.

Did you know that a lot of boardgames have mono-play versions? So even if you have no one to play with, you can still enjoy an afternoon of boardgames at the kitchen table. Games that I own that have mono-play modes are: Wingspan, Under Grove, Sagrada, and a card match game.

Paint-by-Numbers.

I’ve strayed away from painting a long time ago, preferring card making and scrapbooking. Paint-by-Numbers was a great way to ease back into an medium that I really do love. I was gifted a kit for Christmas and I completed it over 3 afternoon sessions. It was surprisingly calming experience. This particular kit is from Michaels, where they have a wide selection.

Embroidery.

I deeply admire the art of embroidery. It’s a skill I’ve wanted to try for years. This was also a kit I received for Christmas and it’s much harder than I was expecting. I pricked my finger numerous times… I started back in April and soon thereafter suffered the loss of my dog, which threw me for a loop and I haven’t been able to get back into it. My plan is to bring it to the cottage with me in a few weeks.

I hope analog hobbies are not simply a popular trend that will fade by the end of the year. It makes me happy that we are encouraging each other to spend more time offline and rediscovering the benefits of living a slower, more intentional lifestyle. Perhaps this movement will remind us of the importance of balance.