If you’ve noticed your weekly phone time average creeping up but wish to spend more time on phone-free hobbies, an analog bag may help.

Screen overuse affects millions worldwide every day. Apps are designed to constantly grab our attention, and they do a good job of it. I know I certainly feel this, and I’ve been looking for ways to reclaim my attention.

As of 2024, people worldwide spent an average of 6 hours and 38 minutes online daily, and according to a 2025 poll, Americans spent over 10 hours daily. That’s 2 whole years out of a 5-year period. Read that again.

Being more intentional about phone-free activities is one way to help reclaim your attention, reduce stress, and feel more joyful in your day-to-day life. Let’s take a look at analog bags, shall we?

Analog bags or baskets are filled with supplies for fun phone-free activities. I call mine my “house tote.”

Many creators online are also feeling the effects of too much screen time, and analog baskets are trending — a sure sign that we’ve had it with doomscrolling. But these need not be just a passing trend; they can become a lifelong tool as we move forward into an ever-deepening digital age.

Most people use a sturdy basket or tote bag that they can take with them to different rooms in their home. It’s basically a portable toy box for adults. I experimented with a few different totes before I found one that “felt right.”

Baskets are cute, and it’s likely easier to see all your stuff without digging around. Totes are great for carrying to a coffee shop or a friend’s house, but you might have to dig a little bit to find things. They’re also your best friend on a road trip.

Once you have the basket or bag you want to use for this, it’s time to fill it with all your favorite phone-free things! Here are some examples:

  • your current read (preferably a physical book)
  • journal or sketchbook
  • your favorite pens, pencils, and sticky tabs
  • scrapbooking or junk journaling supplies like washi tape, stickers, and a glue stick
  • an old iPod or CD player so you don’t have to stream music on your phone (and then get sucked into the spiral of everything else that’s on your phone)
  • the coloring book you’re currently working on, along with your preferred markers or colored pencils
  • crafts like knitting or crochet, crosstitch, and needlepoint
  • crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku
  • a deck of playing cards or tarot cards
  • magazines

Tip: purse organizer inserts are great for separating things into compartments. Pencil cases and stationery pouches are also great for organizing your analog bag.

This compact sticker book is gor-geous and contains over 700 matte stickers. I mostly use it for journaling. The travel-friendly crossword game has become a daily ritual for me. And coloring books and puzzles are now my go-to for winding down.

The key to making the best use of your analog bag is keeping it in a place you’ll use it the most. When not in use, store it somewhere like under your coffee table, where you’re going to see it all the time from your spot on the couch.

Instead of reaching for your phone when you’re watching a movie or a show, reach for that analog basket and keep your hands busy.

Waiting for water to boil or your laundry to dry? Grab something from your analog bag. Waiting for your food delivery? Analog bag.

In addition to a slim coloring book and a solitaire crossword game, mine is currently filled with journaling and reading supplies. I tend to set it on my bedside table at night, so my idea notebook is at hand if I have a creative writing idea.

You can also bring it along if you know you could have a long wait, like at the DMV or a car repair appointment.

less stress, more play

“My go-to analog items are pretty book-heavy. There’s whatever book I’m reading at the moment, whether that’s a chunky nonfiction book or a lighter novel I can whip through quickly, a sketchbook with a set of pencils and charcoals, and a notebook for creative writing. I also keep my trusty iPod Classic close by too; music is the main way I switch off and turn my mood around if I’m feeling low or stressed.

“For me, the activities I go for instead of scrolling have to be pressure-free. I engage with them all fully, but I don’t put any pressure on myself to complete anything when I’m dipping into them.

“The benefits I’ve found from filling my time with more analog activities are real: my mind is much quieter, I feel less anxious, I feel as though I have actually switched off after work, and I feel more in touch with what I actually want to do with my time. I can thoroughly recommend it.”

— Lois Zoppi, market editor

Quotes represent individual opinions. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Analog bags are a fun tool for getting off your phone and into your hands-on hobbies. And they’re great for any age. If you have kids, you could help them make their own analog bag, too.

Spending more time on phone-free activities instead of constantly picking up your phone is a more productive, creative, and less stressful way to live your life. Our phones aren’t going anywhere, but we can choose not to spend so much time on them. Our well-being will be better for it.