Gen Z has deemed 2026 “The Year of Analog.” But what exactly does that mean? And why now? Well, it seems like this younger generation has finally gotten enough of their screens. “Going analog” is anything they’re doing to avoid their phones and the digital world. Their eyes are tired of constant doomscrolling. They’re burnt out and tired of comparing themselves to everybody else online. The constant influx of news is heavy and draining. So, they’re turning back to physical media and hobbies to ground themselves.
There’s countless ways to do this, but a few have become increasingly popular. There’s irony in them learning about all of these hobbies through watching others do them on social media, but we digress.
Ways to “Go Analog”
Most people embracing a more analog way of life aren’t retreating to a cabin in the woods with no WiFi. Instead, they’re choosing one or two ways to spend some time off their phone. Here are just some of the ways Gen Z is choosing to do this.
1. Journaling
There’s been a serious rise in journaling in the past year or so, or at least that’s how it seems when you open any social media platform. People are showing off their “journal ecosystems,” which essentially are just their collections of journals. There’s no one way to journal, everyone can do it differently, which is what makes it so fun for people.
There’s of course regular “diary” entries where you just talk about your day. But there’s also junk-journaling, where people collect the “junk” from their day-to-day life and scrapbook it together. This is a low-cost way to keep memories. It’s as easy as collecting movie tickets, receipts from dinner with friends, or brochures from new cities and pasting them all together on a page. That way, you see what you’ve been up to and have a creative outlet at the same time. Your journal can be perfectly aesthetic or as messy as the inside of your brain.
Reading journals or content media journals have also become popular. It’s here that people record everything they’ve been reading or watching along with their opinions on it. People long to have their opinions heard, so this is one way to get all of that out without getting caught up in the social media aspect of it.
2. Collecting DVDs, Records, and Physical Media
It seems like these days you can pay for every streaming service, but none of them have your favorite movie that you want to rewatch. This becomes increasingly frustrating when the price of these services continues to rise every year. That’s why young people are going back to their roots and choosing to dust off their DVDs to watch movies and shows instead of relying on streaming. You save money and can watch what you want.
Records have been back for a while, but their popularity also relates to the price of streaming services. You shouldn’t have to pay for a monthly subscription to listen to music that’s low quality, when you can have a high-quality listening experience sitting on your shelf.
3. Crocheting/Knitting
“Granny hobbies” aren’t just for grannies anymore. Crocheting and knitting are popular pastimes that have people using their hands to create something valuable, whether that’s a blanket, sweater, or just a potholder.
What you make doesn’t have to be “good,” you just have to keep trying. With practice, you’ll get better, and eventually you’ll produce something you’re proud of.
If your mind is used to a lot at once, it’s easy to throw on an audiobook while you do this hobby. Your brain is going, your hands are going, but your eyes finally aren’t focusing in on a screen.
4. Puzzles
Puzzles not only give your brain a break from screens, but they engage your brain in a helpful way. You’re using your mind for something other than doomscrolling. You can put together a physical puzzle to create a fun image, or you can try something a little more mobile, like a crossword puzzle. Your memory will thank you in the long run.
5. Printing Photos for Photo Albums
Older generations have been saying it for years: only having your pictures on your phone is dangerous. One lost or stolen phone and suddenly every memory you have is gone. Or (and everything always comes back to subscriptions) your phone suddenly wants you to start paying for the photos you took. You need to pay for more storage. The app you use has decided to increase prices. A specific example of this is the multimedia messaging app Snapchat, which recently announced that users will have to start paying to keep their “memories” (the photos users took and saved on the app).
These issues are solved when people take the time to print out physical photos that they love. With a photo album, you can easily flip through and reminisce on some of your favorite memories. No scrolling required.
2026 doesn’t have to be the year of analog for you, but we could all benefit from lowering our screen time a little this year.
