The Resurgence of Analog in a Digital Era
Social media seems to be always trying to provide solutions for problems that originated there. This time it is the project to restore our attention span, how to stop doomscrolling and retrieve control of our wasted lives. This is why in the last few years, the algorithm has seen a revival of hands-on activities.
Our minds have never been more overstimulated on a never-ending rush basis. Life has become a constant battle over productivity and earning the right to rest. Time has become an expensive currency that must be spent appropriately and we are constantly told to make the most out of it. Simply existing and going through life is no longer enough. Wake up early, hit the gym, make a magnificent breakfast, dress cute, go to classes, get on top of assignments, join a club or five, make as many friends as you can, go out with them for drinks, get home early, prepare another amazing meal, have the perfect skincare routine, light some candles and read a book, and be ready for bed at 9:00 pm.
Even with an outstanding level of discipline and organization, these routines are simply unsustainable leading us to heightened anxiety, which has proven to be a significant part of college life. Recent studies have determined that more than 60% of students experience high levels of anxiety throughout their university life. Further, the World Health Organization reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders, affecting around 470 million people. Now add the pressure of perfect routines and productivity and life can feel like it's falling apart around you.
This is where the resurgence of hands-on activities comes in.
Ever since the pandemic, people started looking for ways to spend their time in isolation while seeking community from a distance. This has led to people reclaiming leisure through slow-paced pastimes and moving towards analog in an effort to battle digital fatigue and restore their attention span.
Looking for community and connection in times of digital isolation has never been harder. As such, people are taking on a different approach to seek meaningful relations in real life. Slow-paced activities can be a great moment to get to know people with similar interests in a phone free environment. They can also be great for some enjoyable alone time after a busy day or staying home on weekends.
Nostalgia plays a huge role in the attractiveness of slow simpler living, especially among Gen Z. Being very much the last generation to have grown up not glued to an iPad, we can still recall running around and cloud gazing in a park with our siblings, playing pirates with our friends, building Legos, and helping our parents make our birthday cakes.
In conversation with other AUP students, a sophomore shared enjoying her second year discovering Paris and Europe through scrapbooking. "I love keeping museum tickets and printing pictures to create physical memories and relive them anytime I want," she shared.
Another junior shared she's been getting creative in the kitchen, trying at least one new recipe per week and seeing what happens. "It's fun and I like knowing exactly what goes into my food."
A senior who has been dealing with the stress of her final year said, "baking has always been my way to clear my mind and take a moment for myself." She also shared her love for diamond painting, "every time I go back home mom and I put on a show and just do that for hours on end. It's very soothing and you get a pretty picture at the end."
Another student shared her newfound love for crochet, stating "I like slowing down after a stressful day and getting my hands moving. There is a special satisfaction in seeing the results of something you made yourself."
Picking up hobbies has never been easier and more accessible. There are tons of tutorials out there on how to do pretty much anything. Stores around Paris like Hema, Flying Tiger, Søstrene Grene and Atelier de la creation make it even easier with a variety of crochet kits, beads kits, painting supplies, cute stationery and baking tools.
At the end of the day, there is power in finding ways to channel our inner child and connecting with others while disconnecting from the online realm at least for a few hours.
