The “analog bag” trend on TikTok is inspiring users to replace their phones with offline activities, fostering healthier habits and creative pursuits.
In an age dominated by digital devices, a new trend is emerging on social media that encourages individuals to embrace offline activities. Dubbed the “analog bag,” this movement is gaining traction on TikTok, where users are swapping their phones for books, art supplies, and puzzles to cultivate healthier, more fulfilling habits.
The trend is largely attributed to TikTok creator Sierra Campbell, who shared a video showcasing her own analog bag filled with a variety of non-digital items. Her bag includes a crossword book, a portable watercolor set, a Polaroid camera, a planner, and knitting supplies. In her video, Campbell urged her followers to create their own analog bags, leading to a wave of similar posts featuring items like magazines, decks of cards, paints, needlepoint kits, and puzzle books.
“I made a bag of non-digital activities to occupy my hands instead of the phone,” Campbell explained. She noted that this practice has significantly reduced her screen time and enriched her life with “creative and communal pursuits that don’t include doom-scrolling.” Campbell emphasized that the concept of the analog bag stemmed from her understanding that the most effective way to change a habit is to replace it with another.
Dr. Daniel Amen, a California-based psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, supports the idea behind the analog bag. He explains that the brain is inherently habitual, with neurons that “fire together wire together.” This means that every time a behavior is repeated—whether positive or negative—the neural pathways associated with that behavior become stronger, making it easier to repeat the action in the future.
Research indicates that habits often emerge as automatic responses to specific cues, such as boredom, stress, or idle time, which typically provide some form of reward. When individuals lack alternative behaviors, they are likely to revert to their established routines, often without conscious awareness. Dr. Amen suggests that replacing an old habit with a new one that is linked to the same cue is more effective than attempting to suppress the behavior entirely.
For example, Campbell likens her experience to quitting coffee: “When cutting out coffee, you need to have another drink to grab for, not just quit cold turkey. It’s how the pathways in our brains work.” By introducing a different routine that still offers stimulation and engagement, individuals can gradually weaken their original habits and foster new automatic responses.
“Simply stopping a behavior is very challenging,” Dr. Amen stated. “Replacing one habit with something that is better for your brain is much easier. That’s how lasting change happens, one step at a time.” He emphasizes that having alternatives readily available increases the likelihood of their use. “Your brain does much better with small, simple actions than big, vague intentions,” he added.
Instead of making broad statements like, “I’ll stop scrolling today,” Dr. Amen recommends identifying a small habit that can be performed in specific situations. For instance, one might choose to knit ten rows of a scarf during their commute or read a few pages of a book while waiting at a doctor’s appointment.
Campbell has shared practical examples of how to utilize an analog bag in everyday life. For instance, when at a coffee shop with friends, she might take out a crossword puzzle and invite others to join in solving it during lulls in conversation. Rather than capturing dozens of photos on her phone, she opts for an instant camera, which limits her shots and encourages more intentional moments.
“It’s brought so much joy,” Campbell reflected on the analog bag trend, “seeing how it resonates with so many.” As more individuals embrace this movement, it appears that the analog bag may not only help reduce screen time but also foster creativity and connection in an increasingly digital world.
As the trend continues to grow, it highlights the importance of finding balance in our digital lives and encourages individuals to seek out fulfilling, offline activities that can lead to healthier habits and a more engaged lifestyle, according to Fox News Digital.