How to Embrace the Analog Trend of 2026?

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This January, a time to rethink our habits to start off on the right foot, there’s a word on everyone’s lips – or should we say, on every Instagram post: analog. Returning to the essentials and swapping our screens for gentler, mindfulness activities is the quest of the moment. However, between the genuine need to unplug and the trendy aesthetics on social media, what really lies behind the trend of an analog year 2026, and how can we truly embrace it?

Why does the concept of an analog year 2026 appeal so much?

Drowned in a daily life dominated by notifications, with our eyes glued to screens and our mental health declining due to endless scrolling, the need to disconnect has never felt more urgent.

Indeed, this race against time toward digitalization and visual and informational overstimulation has made us more exhausted than inspired… So much so that today, an inverse trend is emerging: that of stepping back and reconnecting with real life through an analog lifestyle.

How to create an “analog” environment?

To succeed in disconnecting, it’s interesting to rethink our environment, particularly by limiting the presence of screens, but also by adjusting our daily tools.

Recently, we talked about the success of the customizable refillable notebook, highlighting a desire to return to paper. This is further confirmed by the popularity of mini-planners like Filofax at the start of this year.

These tools, which overshadow our Google Calendars and other Notion boards, re-emphasize the importance of our words and somewhat force our brains to become active participants in our daily lives.

Which analog hobbies are making a comeback in our hearts?

Whether they are activities we are already familiar with or new practices to try, analog hobbies exist by the thousands! They invite us to reconnect with our thoughts, imagination, and creativity, while encouraging us to slow down and live in the present moment.

These hobbies can invite calm moments, such as reading, journaling, solving Sudoku puzzles, watching movies and series… They can also inspire us and get us outside, like gardening, cooking, and baking, visiting museums and exhibitions… Or they can explore our artistic side through the practice of manual activities.

Our ideas for manual activities to try

Friendship bracelets, punch needle, ceramic painting, homemade Christmas decorations… In recent years, manual activities have continued to gain popularity among both novice and experienced profiles.

Indeed, these activities, which align more than ever with the desire to disconnect, allow us to reconnect with simple and authentic pleasures while having a meditative/therapeutic effect. And that’s exactly what our minds need right now!

For my part, new passions have even emerged through my creative discoveries. Notably: pottery with air-dry clay, embossing on metal sheets, cyanotype (creating patterns/shadow play on photosensitive sheets), and crochet, for which I previously shared the creation of a crochet hat DIY, and then a crochet balaclava.

Furthermore, for this analog year 2026, I would like to try linocut, and why not, adopt a bonsai!

These activities are at the very heart of the analog lifestyle and can be taken anywhere – as demonstrated by the sub-trend of the “analog bag” which has accumulated millions of views on social media.

Reconnecting to real life

The idea of an analog lifestyle also brings into perspective our way of connecting with the people around us.

Recently, numerous clubs have emerged, with the common goal of bringing people together in real life, away from screens, during convivial moments (happy hours, dinners, film screenings, manual activities…).

Whether they are book clubs, other formats dedicated to films, cooking, board games, or simply social clubs allowing for new acquaintances/friendships… All are meeting with great success, highlighting a genuine need to reconnect with each other in a more authentic and down-to-earth manner.

Because it’s a fact that in an era where everyone is ultra-connected online, many suffer from loneliness, and these gatherings bring warmth to the heart.

Is the analog trend really disconnected?

However, as always, there is a nuance to highlight when it comes to trends.

Indeed, while the idea of adopting an analog year 2026 advocates for a return to essentials, far from screens, it turns out that ultimately for some, this lifestyle is more of a way to generate reach on social media by aligning with the current trend… In this case, we can question the true nature and authenticity of this mindset.

Added to this, Pinterest predictions presenting Poetcore as one of the major trends of this new year suggest that this analog/literary aspect will soon be used more for aesthetic purposes than as a concrete way of life.

But of course, for those sincerely adopting an analog year 2026, we already know that the benefits will soon be felt!

Photos: 2ère Pinterest, Unsplash