LITERARY WAYS TO LIMIT SCREEN TIME

Analog Literary Pastimes to Replace the Phone

First off, there’s nothing better than a good paperback book. It’s small enough to carry in your pocket or purse and is wonderful for on-the-go as well as staying in. Try using your commute as a way to catch up on your reading rather than texting or checking social media. The cool California writer, Eve Babitz, observed: “Since I’ve started carrying a book everywhere…I’ve had a much easier time of it (people running late), and the bitterness that shortens your life has been headed off at the pass by the wonderful paperback.”

A novel to read isn’t the only book you can carry to pass the time. So many use apps on their phone for making notes, but we’re trying to forego the app experience, so carry around a tiny spiral notebook for making lists or a pad for drawing. Writing to-do lists and even bits of poetry and prose is essential for any lover of words. If you notice in Central Park (or any large, beautiful park) or museums, there are people—usually students—with sketch pads and portable watercolor sets practicing their plein air painting. With Spring here, this is a great idea!

So many of us love to play word games on our phones (Wordle, anyone?)…so why not carry around a newspaper with the daily crossword and fill it in by hand (no cheating) or get one of those Sudoku books? Sometimes, we simply want to keep our hands busy when we’re waiting for something…have you noticed that little old ladies used to constantly knit and crochet for this very reason? Now, we’re not saying you need to carry your knitting with you on the bus or train but you really would look like the coolest hipster in Brooklyn if you did!

A wonderful idea for nervous hands is playing cards. It’s not that we’re promoting gambling or anything of the sort, but solitaire, which is played with a set of cards, is a fun replacement for the phone. One can also learn to read tarot. Reading tarot isn’t an occult thing; it’s simply a way of interpreting classic images based on your own intuition and knowledge about life. This is actually a very effective way of taking information that’s randomly given to you, examining it, and applying it to real situations. It’s a very practical tool. If this isn’t your thing, you can try reading tea leaves or gazing at the stars and brushing up on your astronomy.

Ideas for Using the Phone Less

Put your phone away when you’re out and about. This means no looking at the phone when you’re walking! If you’re lost and in need of directions, map out your destination ahead of time so you have some idea where you’re going (if you can). Instead of relying on your phone for the time, wear a wristwatch. Monitor your screen time, turn off notifications, and set realistic goals. Consider using a flip phone for a week! This way, all you can do is make calls and text. Going out without a phone is also incredibly freeing. Can you imagine a time not so long ago when you could only reach someone via telephone if they were in their house?

Make screen-free zones and times (and never during meals). This is very important for parents of young children. Having meals together without the distraction of screens is so important. Try playing board games or putting together puzzles with the family. This will encourage conversation, and you’ll make countless memories. When you watch movies or TV, make it meaningful and choose quality content. Watching good films together is a favorite pastime of most families and is a way to introduce movies you loved as a kid to your own children. This can be life-changing! Teaching your kids how to do simple hands-on activities such as sewing on a button or darning socks is also ideal because it’s practical, sustainable, and will definitely come in handy.

Arts and crafts are always fun and aren’t just ways of passing the time. Studies show that art classes greatly improve anxiety and help kids to slow down and breathe. If they’re not exposed to art in school, set aside time to create something with your children at home. Whether it’s making a collage, sculpting with clay, or painting, these activities help kids to concentrate and will give them a sense of fulfillment because they’re creating something wholly unique.

Get your news and information from print newspapers and magazines. While this may seem outdated and arcane, there’s an upside! You know when you’re scrolling on any form of social media and the online interaction just gets to be too much because you’re inundated with other people’s opinions? Without a comment section, you can read the news, think about it, and not be influenced by a lot of exterior noise. Setting aside time to use your laptop instead of the smartphone is also an effective way of cutting down on your scrolling.

Try taking fewer photos and make them count. We are constantly snapping photos of everything with our phones, and with new and improved camera technology, most of them look pretty good. Any and everyone is suddenly an amateur photographer! We take more photos than ever, but they’re not ones we actually develop, can touch, feel, and keep forever in a scrapbook or shoebox. Most of our photos these days end up in the cloud. Try using an actual camera with film (and then get the film developed). Of course, you can use a digital camera as well and then simply print off the photographs you love. Polaroid cameras are also making a comeback; they’re instant and you can keep the memory forever. It also limits what you take photos of (because you only get ten pics and the film is expensive) so you’ll be more discerning.

For more information on books to read and ways to make your life more literary, visit Full Cycle Publications at the website and see what’s on the blog. To learn more about analog FCP memorabilia to help with your screen diet, check out the links below: