Happy New Year!

I’ve been seeing a lot of memes that say people don’t want a new year, they want a gently used 2006 or 1999 [or insert whatever year you’re nostalgic for]. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been nostalgic for the 1990s for quite awhile. I was in high school and college in the 90s. That was before we all had cell phones and were reachable 24/7. Social media hadn’t been invented yet so our every move wasn’t broadcast on the internet.

I long for the simpler times. Times when I got my news by reading the newspaper or watching the nightly news. When I was bored and there was nothing to watch on television, I would read a book or call a friend or go shopping. I didn’t spend hours on end scrolling through social media, trying to determine what’s true, what’s real or AI, and reading comments from people tearing each other apart. I watched plenty of T.V., but I didn’t spend an hour looking through several streaming platforms only to not be interested in anything. I didn’t “watch” T.V. while simultaneously be looking at my phone. I had a longer attention span and could read articles and books. Now I can barely watch a 1 minute instagram reel.

In 2026 I plan to live a more analog life and be less of a consumer. It won’t be like it was in the 90s *sigh* but maybe I can regain a little bit of peace. I’ve done a bit of brainstorming over the last couple of weeks on things to implement. So far my ideas are:

• Subscribe to a newspaper
• Cancel streaming services and other memberships/subscription services
• Get an antenna and watch over-the-air television
• Cancel Amazon Prime
• Shop at brick and mortar stores instead of shopping online
• Listen to the radio in the mornings while I get ready for work
• Complete a Project Pan (this includes books, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and craft supplies)
• Make recipes from cookbooks I already own rather than search for new recipes on the internet
• Handwrite lists instead of using my Notes app
• Use my film camera instead of my phone or digital cameras
• Get a library card
• Go thrifting for furniture and homewares
• Learn to style the clothes I have rather than buy new clothes

Do you want to live a more analog life? What steps are you taking to make it happen?

Cheers,
B