Analog hobbies and other self-care activities to try

This post was written for Life According to Steph by our friend Maggie Hammond. Maggie is proud mama to two little people, and has one too many furry friends. Passionate about alternative medicine, education, the great outdoors and animal welfare.

Thanks to the pandemic, the lines between work life and home life have become blurrier than ever. Homeschooling, Zoom calls, and email answering, as well as relaxing, were all magically supposed to happen in the same living space. 

Being cooped up indoors meant checking emails during dinner didn’t seem so bad; finishing work late became the norm, and missing lunch became a bad habit. 

Now, to help with self-care, a new trend of analog hobbies is emerging. Today we’re talking about what analog hobbies are, activities to try, and other self-care ideas for 2021. 

What are analog hobbies? 

Analog hobbies are creative outlets that don’t require a connection to the digital world. These types of hobbies typically require hands-on engagement and full focus – so they’re great for living in the present and practicing mindfulness. 

It’s so easy to end the day scrolling through our phones, and we quickly lose sight of all the things we used to love doing that didn’t require electronic devices to be permanently strapped to our hands. 

Analog hobbies to try 

1. Reading 

On vacation, some of us dip our toes back into the world of reading and curl up with a good book. But in everyday life, we often find it hard to dedicate time to reading – and not just reading our phones. You can join in the Show Us Your Books monthly event to find some new pieces to try or visit your local bookstore to see what’s popular at the moment. 

2. Gardening

If we are all staying at home, we might as well make the most of it. If you live somewhere without a garden space, create a small indoor garden. Try your hand at this hobby and bring new freshness into your home. 

3. Sewing, knitting, crochet

There’s something very peaceful about sewing and knitting. Whether you’re an expert or beginner, getting into these analog hobbies can open the door to a whole world of creativity. 

4. Baking 

Bread, cakes, cookies – all the good stuff, some people take real enjoyment out of baking, and it’s a hobby the whole family can benefit from! 

Other Self-Care Ideas for 2021 

Hobbies are only one side of the coin. To ensure that your 2021 is successful and you have enough energy to try out the above activities, you need to focus on self-care. There are plenty of other self-care activities to take part in for 2021 to achieve a happier and healthier life:

1. Get a full body massage  

After a long year of stress and hard work, your body deserves a little release. A full body massage will leave you feeling revitalized and ready to achieve your goals.

2. Book a dentist appointment 

A huge population in the US suffers from dental anxiety, and as such, never visit the dentist. Even if you are normally good at seeing the dentist, if your dental hygiene has taken a hit over the last year because of the pandemic, then take the time this year to book an appointment at bafdentistry.com, and you’ll thank yourself later. If you take the time to improve your dental hygiene, you will feel more confident, but you will also be at less risk of developing long-term health conditions. 

3. Deep clean the house 

Whether you do it yourself or hire a cleaning service, you can bring a new lease of life into your home with a deep clean – perfect for trying out the above hobbies. Everything from using a toothbrush on the tile grout to cleaning inside the cupboards can be tackled, which leaves more time to do the things you love. 

These are just a few self-care activities to try this year. Let us know what ideas you have!