By Naomi
Maybe you’ve seen the trend on social media (oh, the irony), but currently slow living, or analog living, is what lots of people are talking about. It’s more than a trend, though. It’s a response to people realizing that being chronically online is not making them happy. Doomscrolling is a real problem and bad for your mental health. You don’t own any of the content you can stream and it can be taken away at whim. These realizations are leading people to live more mindfully, and consume media more mindfully.
You don’t have to get rid of your phone immediately, but there are small changes you can make to make your life so much richer. Below are some suggestions on how you can embrace slow living, one step at a time.
Start a tactile hobby
Do you always reach for your phone while you’re watching TV, for example? Try a hobby that occupies your hands, so you can pay full attention to what you’re doing. You’ll have created something yourself, which is also so satisfying.
Journal
Instead of writing notes on your phone, carry around a notebook! Use stickers to decorate your scrapbook, or a junk journal. It can be fun to collect little mementos wherever you go, so you can always treasure those moments.
Read magazines
If you want short form content, read a magazine! A nice bonus is that you can use the magazine for your scrapbook, once you’re done reading it. At ABC, we have a selection of magazines, and we can reserve them for you as well. There’s a magazine for almost every subject out there, so be sure to have a browse in store.
Play games
Why not carry a puzzle book around with you wherever you go? It keeps you entertained, and it’s good for your brain (or so I hear). There’s this lovely line of puzzle books by Arcturus Publishing, and there are so many Murdle-type books available now.
Another great way to unplug and connect with others is by playing (board)games. The games we sell at ABC are not available on our website, so come take a look in store or contact us to see what we have!
Read books
If you feel like you would like to know more about slow living, and doing a digital detox, and being mindful, here are some books to get you started on that journey.
Read more books
We wouldn’t be a bookstore if we didn’t tell you to read! books! It’s truly a great way to stay off your phone, to relax and unwind or to keep you entertained on that long train ride. You can browse our highlights, or take a look at our top picks. There really is a book out there for everyone, so come to our stores to see what we have to offer!
