You’re meant to create your own bag, tailored to your preferences. Over the last two weeks, I assembled my own analog bag and tested the non-digital life millennials seem to miss so much.

I used a tote bag that I already had (because, spoiler alert, the idea is not to go out and buy a new bag for the sake of a trend). It contains playing cards, my journal, a novel, a crossword puzzle, and a colouring book and crayons. Others also add Sudoku, magazines and other trinkets.

I wanted to keep it simple and include offline activities that I know I like so that I’m more likely to use them and stay off my phone.

Honestly, at first it was hard to remember that I even had an analog bag. My brain was set on using TikTok and Instagram any chance I got. But I made sure to use the bag at least once a day and kept it in places around my house that were visible, so that I would remember.

I tried doing a similar challenge in the past, but I failed after the second or third day at best. This time, I felt more inclined to keep going because I knew that there was a community of people online who recognised they had a dependency on their phone (regardless of how many hours a day are spent on it), and were taking active measures to try to limit or eliminate their screen time.

This made me feel part of something bigger than myself and helped me stay motivated.

I wanted to use it in the morning at breakfast and during tea time in the afternoon, but I held back.

After a while, I found that I felt less anxious and could concentrate for longer periods of time. During this week, I journalled and read short stories.

When journalling, I was able to connect more with myself and live in the moment. By reading, I saw myself improving my vocabulary and stimulating my creativity. This made me engaged and wanting more. I am already an avid reader, but I realised that I could be reading much more if I replaced my TikTok time with opening a book.

@nicolevictoriia_ What’s in my analog bag ✨ #analog #analogbag #whatsinmybag #whimsicalaesthetic #hobbies @rhode skin @llbean ♬ Jazz Instrumental – Marco Antonio

A screenless life was the norm for previous generations. Nowadays, we have all the things we could ask for on our phones, but this doesn’t mean we are satisfied. Some of the people in my generation desperately want to slow down and ‘touch grass’. Maybe digital disconnection can keep us in tune with ourselves and others and find a better balance.

Overall, I found this experience to be difficult, but extremely rewarding. I definitely recommend it to individuals who want to challenge themselves and see what life is like with reduced dependency on their phones. But be aware that the first days will probably be very tough!

I am satisfied with my results as I was more present in my day-to-day life, and I picked up hobbies I enjoyed in my childhood. This experience has made me want to keep taking measures to use my electronic devices less.