Many people have reached a point where the latest apps and technology feel like too much. In a bid to reclaim some level of freedom or just get more joy out of leisure time, people are opting out of screen time.
Here are 5 things you could do if you want to be away from the a screen:
Read a book
You could read a physical book from a bookshop, purchased second hand or borrowed from a library. If that’s not your thing an audiobook could work if you press play and then put the tablet, laptop or phone away to avoid being drawn to the screen.
Listen to music
Instead of relying on your phone or computer, why not listen to a vinyl or CD. If that’s not an option, queue a few albums on Spotify put your phone down and let them play straight through without pausing or skipping.
Read a magazine
I feel like magazines serve well as an alternative to a blog or newsletter. They might seem expensive with many costing around £6 but if you find a good one it should feel more than worth it.
Look through a recipe book
When was the last time you made something new? Why not flick through a recipe book and find 5 new recipes to try over the coming month. Sure you could just use youtube, tiktok, instagram or a blog instead. It might be much quicker online but why not slow down and give yourself the time to browse leisurely.
Draw or doodle
Why not buy a little sketchbook to fill with drawings or doodles. It could be a bunch of self portraits, views from a window of your home or just whatever comes to you in the moment. The main thing is to do it without focusing on being good at it. The purpose of leisure isn’t to be the most skilled.
…
Now here’s the thing, I’m not opposed to technology. I use spotify almost daily, watch a tonne of youtube, scroll social media and find audio content easier to consume than reading.
However, I still enjoy the feeling of interacting with a physical thing. It slows me down, feels much more intentional and it’s relaxing.
The Daily Gemm 