The Future of Summer Looks More Analog. Here Are 15 Screen-Free Activities to Try

Analog summer is having a moment in 2026, with more people trading doomscrolling for books, board games and film cameras. Here is what the analog summer trend is, why it took off and how to try it yourself.

What is analog summer and why is it trending in 2026?

Analog summer is a cultural shift toward slower, tactile hobbies that pull people away from screens and back into the physical world. Think handwritten letters, film photography, board games and craft projects instead of another hour on TikTok.

The data backs up the vibe. Searches for “analog hobbies” on the Michaels website jumped 136% in the past six months, and searches for yarn kits climbed 1,200% in 2025, according to CNN. Heather Bennett, president and chief customer officer at Michaels, said customers are moving past passive scrolling and seeking out the friction of physical hobbies they can create with their own hands. Michaels leadership described the moment as a really big cultural shift, not a niche craft revival.

Why are people ditching screens for analog activities?

Burnout from AI-generated content and endless doomscrolling is pushing people toward hobbies they can touch. Analogers are not anti-technology. They just want slower, more tangible ways to spend their time.

“AI slop is quite fatiguing both in the actual action of viewing the content and the fact that it’s so repetitive, so unoriginal,” Avriel Epps, an AI researcher and assistant professor at the University of California Riverside, told CNN.

You do not have to swear off tech completely to get in on it. Small swaps count. Replacing Spotify’s AI shuffle with an iPod, using a film camera instead of your phone camera or buying a real alarm clock so you stop reaching for your phone first thing in the morning are all common starting points.

What is the analog bag trend on TikTok?

An analog bag is a canvas tote packed with screen-free activities that you grab instead of your phone. The trend took off with Gen Z influencers who wanted a physical alternative sitting within arm’s reach.

“I am trying to find activities that keep me from scrolling on my phone, especially since I work on social media full time. It’s easy to get on the internet, get on social media and just kind of scroll mindlessly… I think [an analog bag] helps you slow down and embrace different things in your life that you wouldn’t do if you’re scrolling,” Gen Z influencer Brynne Anika Fritjofson told NPR.

Sierra Campbell, credited with starting the trend, described the appeal similarly. “When I have a dedicated analog and I see it in the corner of my eye when I’m on my phone, I feel a relief… because I’ve done something to set myself up for success. This is my phone replacement, so I can put it down and pick up something else,” she told NPR.

What are the best analog summer activities to try this year?

The easiest analog summer activities are the ones that get you outside, using your hands or hanging out with people in real life. No app required.

Try these 15 ideas to build your own analog summer.

• Plan a picnic
• Go on a bike ride
• Spend an afternoon reading outside
• Go birding or bird-watching
• Play yard games like horseshoes, croquet or badminton
• Document the summer with a disposable camera
• Plant something in a garden, pot or windowsill
• Try a craft and take it outside
• Watercolor or paint outside
• Make homemade ice cream
• Host a game night
• Write someone a letter or postcard
• Cook something over a fire
• Pick berries at a local farm
• Go camping

Pick one or two, drop them in your analog bag and see how a screen-free afternoon actually feels.