It’s official: In 2026, doomscrolling is out and analog bags are in — at least according to practically every lifestyle resource on social media (looking at you Cosmo, Today, and Scary Mommy). While we can’t get rid of our smartphones entirely (wishful thinking), we can curb the anxiety that comes with the relentless news cycle and confusing heath “tips” that dominate our feeds. Enter the analog bag: a vessel chock full of cozy hobbies and portable activities that require no tech whatsoever. Ready to unplug for a little while and take a more old-school approach to your mental health? Here’s what to pack in your analog bag:
Sewing Kits
We didn’t need Martha to tell us that sewing crafts have plenty of health benefits like improving cognition, regulating anxiety, and enhancing mindfulness. After all, these so-called granny hobbies have been our thing for sometime now. To that end, a crochet, cross-stitch, or embroidery kit is an analog bag must-have. If you like to use your hands to get creative, these activity kits are perfect for DIYers of all skill levels. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions and you’ll be on your way to finding comfort in the craft. Don’t forget to share your progress with others via a #wipwednesday post.
Find embroidery, crochet, and cross-stitch kits here.
Coloring Books
Looking for a hit of screen-free nostalgia? Add an adult coloring book to your bag. Grab some colored pencils or pretty markers and you might start to feel like you are back in the 90s, listening to alt rock and minding your own business. Today’s coloring books feature the stars and vibes of the pop culture zeitgeist, from fantastical dreamscapes to the internet’s favorite daddy, and even those dead-cute plushie bears. No kid-stuff here. Just plenty of blank space to put your own colorful spin on something tangible.
Click here for adult coloring books.
Puzzle & Activity Books
Another granny hobby we love? Word search, cross words and any other kind of puzzle book. There’s a reason why our elders always had one of these books on hand while we were growing up. Not only are they good for the brain, they also are a great way to unwind and find a little calm in the day’s chaos. And like the coloring books above, today’s activity books are anything but boring. You can color by number, put together a sticker puzzle with The Golden Girls, and even seek out words and phrases from your favorite episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Take your pick from Word Search, Sticker Puzzles, and Color-By Number titles here.
Classic Reads
Did you know … in 2025, 40 percent of Americans did not pick up a single book. We need to change that. Personally, we are partial to literary classics. If you find them intimidating, perhaps knowing that you can compare your latest read to the film version (after you finish the pages, of course), might be enough incentive to pick one up. With two highly anticipated book adaptations hitting the big screen this year, along with a plethora of other blockbuster films that were based on classics, we decided to make choosing your next read simple by putting together our Books-On-Screen Reading Challenge. Even if you only read one, you are heading in the right direction.
