Back in time: People miss the analog era, they are returning to push-button phones
In today's age, it's very easy to get consumed by our phone and spend a good chunk of our day on it. In times when artificial intelligence is on the rise, short videos are a form of entertainment and social networks determine our status, it's the right time for a change. Hobbies of earlier days are coming back into fashion, and this is confirmed by their rapid sales increase.
Unlike the very popular "short-term detoxes", this comes gradually and with greater intensity. People are tired of so-called "fast" life and trying to find a way to slow down and be more present. Being offline is not a pose, but a new lifestyle. It's also a way to take better care of yourself and pay attention to your mental health. Limitation or replacement of touch phones goes hand in hand with detox from social networks. And that too can be one of the most striking benefits.
“In this questionnaire study involving 42,597 adults in the USA, irritability represented another effect of using social networks. This deserves further closer characterization also with regard to known associations with depression and suicidal tendencies.”
The worst results of irritability were shown in subjects who spend most of the day on social networks, demonstrated by an American study.
Small Steps, Surprising Results
For a similar, or the same effect, it is not necessary to take immediate and drastic steps. You really don't need to throw away your new iPhone and give up your beloved tablet for your inner peace. Sometimes the smallest details are enough, which can improve your life in the end.
You can start, for example, with your sleep hygiene. Many experts claim that having mobile phones near our heads can disturb our sleep and rest.
"The higher the intensity of light on smartphone screens and the longer you are exposed to it, the more likely you are to have sleep disorders and the quality of your sleep will decrease,"
said Dr. Lee Hyang – woon for the portal The Korea Herald.
So, the first step could be, for example, exchanging your mobile alarm for an old-fashioned alarm clock. Apart from a better quality sleep, shutting it off might even bring you more joy in the morning.
Knitting and crocheting are back in fashion
A lot of people are returning to creative hobbies such as painting, crocheting, ceramics, or knitting. Specifically, the search for knitting or crocheting yarns has increased by 1200% over the past year, said Michael Stacy Shively, the main business director of the company. The total search for "analog hobbies" on their pages has risen by as much as 136%.
We were not spared either. In the Czech Republic, over the recent years, many new brands selling crocheted bags appeared. One of the best-known is also Adolphinata, which also made an appearance in the TV show The Lion Pit. There is also interest in various workshops and café pop-ups.
Camera and MP3 are more cool
Old cameras are increasingly becoming a trend. Developing a film brings tension, excitement and joy that photographs from a phone cannot replace. The same is true for listening to MP3s or a gramophone. They are mainly appreciated by younger users for whom it's paradoxically something new.
Regardless of the fact that having a gramophone with an old camera at home is really cool.
The Reality of a "dumb" phone
Although it may seem that replacing your smart phone will bring only advantages, it's not exactly the case. In today's age, it can be very challenging for everyday life to go without phone applications. This was even tested out by editor Matěj Růžička from Samsung magazine. As negatives he pointed out, for example: social isolation, navigation and orientation, a camera with photos and the lack of instant access to information. But the final experiment showed him that digital balance is not about extremes, but about setting the right boundaries.
Such a restriction is not at all harmful for mental balance and more productive time. However, it is still necessary to remember that the world keeps turning and people around us are very likely not going to stop themselves. There is really no need to go to extremes, but swapping morning scrolling on networks for a few pages of a good book will certainly make the morning nicer.
Sources: original text, cnn.com, samsungmagazine, idnes.cz, jamanetwork.com
