During the colder months, I’ve always loved curling up under a heated blanket with a good book, but this year felt different. From the early weeks of June, I found myself inadvertently swapping my analogue hobbies for a toxic doomscrolling loop, all whilst remaining blissfully unaware of just how gross it was really making me feel. That is, until I returned to analogue hobbies (inspired by this year’s BHG Creator Awards, of course).
My go-to analogue hobbies for lowering screen time:
- Junk journaling / scrapbooking (here’s why)
- Knitting or crocheting (here’s why)
- Jigsaw puzzles (here’s why)
- Pottery (here’s why)
- Paint by numbers / colouring (here’s why)
I’d spend hours mindlessly skipping through reels; even getting through a movie without checking my phone felt like an achievement. It’s not that I was necessarily enjoying myself; in fact, I felt incredibly guilty about my lack of productivity. But when you’re caught up in the easy dopamine hits promised by social media, it’s dangerously easy to ignore concerningly high screentime stats, and the fact that your free time is no longer really yours.
For months, I struggled to find hobby ideas that might help, largely to no avail. I tried to get back into reading, but I found that my attention span limited me to shorter novellas and verse novels (P.S. if you like verse novels, read ‘It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over’ by Anne De Marcken – it’s brilliant). In the end, the only thing that really got me out of my slump was trying analogue hobbies that kept my hands busy; in particular, junk journaling.
If you, too, want to break a particularly bad phone habit, keep reading; I’ve rounded up the 5 analogue hobbies that helped me reduce my screentime and feel a little more creative, all from the comfort of my living room.
1. Scrapbooking (or junk journaling)
Given that my screen time streak was broken by starting a junk journal, it feels only right to put it at #1 on the list.
Despite feeling drawn to collecting memories with something other than my camera roll, I’ve always been resistant towards the idea of scrapbooking. For context, I’m a perfectionist, but not in the ‘good‘ way people might imagine; in the past, one minor mistake (a slip of the pen, a smudged title) has led me to abandon notebooks entirely. Junk journaling, however, is a special variation of scrapbooking that encourages imperfections.
Receipts, clothing tags, train tickets; all the things that usually go straight to recycling are staples for the craft. And working with what some consider ‘trash’ seems to relieve a little pressure; when I’m between the pages of my trusty Leuchtturm notebook, it’s a free-for-all. Sure, I probably still spend a little too much time on composition, but unlike other artistic crafts I’ve tried, I haven’t given up on it yet.
My main tip for anyone starting a junk journal is to embrace a gatherer mindset. When I was toying with the idea, I started collecting bits and pieces ‘just in case.’ Then, when I finally committed to a notebook, I had a catalogue of material ready to be taped and pasted in. The journal pouch from locally-owned brand Shell Flower has been a game changer, too. With plenty of glue, tape, scissors, pens, and paper pieces to keep track of, junk journaling can be a messy hobby, and the pouch saved my desk from total disarray.
Cake Washi Tape
$7 at Shell Flower
The Journal Pouch
$65 at Shell Flower
Check & Cherish Plain Notebook
$40 at Papier
Instax Fujifilm Mini Link 3 Instant Photo Printer
$179.95 at Amazon
2. Crochet
Knitting and crochet were the first hobbies I fell in love with. Granted, they’re currently on pause due to a lack of motivation, but I blame this on the notoriously difficult Hablibut Sweater pattern I’m currently working through.
I’ll be totally honest; the learning process isn’t necessarily easy, at least at the start. One of my very close and very patient friends had to spend over an hour walking me through the simplest crochet stitches before I ‘got it,’ and I still have to return to YouTube tutorials after any long break. However, the feeling of finishing a project well-and-truly makes up for the somewhat tedious learning process.
The one mistake I see so many beginners make, and that I’ve made myself (case in point: my attempt at the Halibut Sweater), is going straight for difficult projects instead of working their way up. I know you probably have a dream jumper pattern in mind, but starting with scarves and granny squares is a rite of passage. You have to nail the basics before moving on. The good news, however, is that once you start, improvement is generally pretty quick. I went from beginner projects to proper clothing items within a few months.
Download your free knit & crochet favourites e-book here!
Ergonomic Crochet Hooks 9pcs
$10.99 at Amazon
Abbey Road Born to Be Wool 100g
$17 ($11.90 for members) at Spotlight
The Granny Square Sitches Card Deck
$39.99 at Amazon
ETIMO Red Crochet Set
$39.99 at Amazon
3. Jigsaw Puzzles
Call me old-fashioned, but I’m a sucker for a good jigsaw puzzle. A couple of years ago, I spent a winter in Montreal, and whenever the snow was too thick to go outside, puzzles were my go-to activity.
However, I am quite particular about what makes for a ‘good’ jigsaw puzzle; by my criteria, they should always have a minimum of 1,000 pieces and a design that doesn’t include huge blocks of solid colour. I’ve also found puzzle boards a game-changer; finding a place to work on the puzzle where it can be left for extended periods of time is a big ask, but with a board you can easily store the puzzle without disrupting your hard work (my go-to is under the bed).
And if the idea of taking it all apart doesn’t appeal, consider preserving the finished piece with puzzle glue. Simply brush it all over and pop the puzzle in a frame for a DIY wall art option – just make sure you pick a design you really like.
Journey of Something 1000 Piece Puzzle
$55 at Theiconic
Hallmark ‘Day at the Dog Park’ Jigsaw Puzzle, 1000 pc
$36.23 at Amazon
Puzzle Art Lover Morning Fields 1000 Pieces
$99.95 at Theiconic
EIGTWEN Puzzle Glue Conserver
$18.99 at Amazon
4. Pottery
I’ve seen so many beginner-friendly pottery kits popping up in recent years, but I personally got into the craft by attending an intro class with a group of friends. I really can’t overstate how much fun it was; naturally, there were a few disasters, but to my surprise, a couple of pottery prodigies among the group, too.
There are plenty of potential avenues for those of us who aren’t ready for a pottery wheel-based project, but when you’re still in the trial phase, I wouldn’t go straight in with a project that needs to be fired in a kiln. Air-dry clay is a very safe option, so long as you don’t make your project too thick to dry. On the other hand, traditional clays need to be sculpted properly to avoid cracking or exploding at high temperatures.
Personally, I highly recommend starting with a beginner’s pottery throwing workshop, or at the very least, air-dry clay. During my first session, I had a lot of technique-related issues, and if I hadn’t had all the hands-on guidance from my instructor, I’d probably still be making mini pots that crack in the kiln. If you’re interested in trying pottery out before buying a home kit, I recommend checking out the options on Class Bento (you can even opt for a craft-and-sip session).
Journey of Something Deluxe Pottery Making Kit
$55 at Myer
Mini Electric Pottery Wheel Machine
$83 at Amazon
Pott’d™ Home Air-Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners
$101.34 at Amazon
Sculpd Pottery Starter Kit
$110.71 at Amazon
4. Colouring ( or paint by numbers)
While I’ve always been a watercolour girl myself, I can’t deny the meditative appeal of a good colouring book or paint-by-numbers set.
Like junk journaling, this form of art shields me from any form of self-criticism (not that we should be self-critical about art); the pictures are already drawn, all we have to do is colour them in. Another little perk is that paint-by-numbers sets generally come with everything you need, and don’t leave you with pots of leftover paint you’ll never use. Alternatively, if you’re opting for a colouring book, you’ll likely need a coloured pencil set, but affordable options start from just $10 or so.
Like puzzles, these kinds of crafts can also leave you with some beautiful wall art if you choose to frame your pictures.
Journey of Something Paint by Numbers
$45 at Theiconic
Market Days: Colouring and Stickers
$34.99 at Amazon
HIMI Twin Cup Gouache Set, 48 Paint Colours
$62.21 at Amazon
Academy Art Colour Pencil Tin Set, 24 Pack
$63.25 at Myer
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