Going Analog in 2026
As we’ve been talking through goals and plans for 2026, one of our biggest goals is to unplug more and find more meaning in our days away from our phones and computers. More meaningful connection and presence in our lives is the goal! Winter is always a great time to look inward and as the year winds down, we encourage you to spend some time in your planner or notebook writing and brainstorming how you can reconnect with your spirit, enrich your mind, and go technology free in 2026. And while we at Golden Coil are big fans of technology, we’re a notebook company after all and know a thing or two about the art of putting pen to paper. Today we’re sharing some suggestions and ideas to inspire your own unplugged, analog adventures in the new year.
Leave the House
Dress for the outdoors. If the winter air is bitter cold where you live, bundle up and get outside. Instead of driving, try walking your errands around your town. Put your digital e-reader away and hit the library. Wander around the stacks of the library and look for a new book to read. Stop in local shops and support small businesses as you are able. Become a tourist in your town or surrounding area. Plan a day trip or weekend exploring a new place. If you own a camera outside the one on your phone, charge it up and take it on your adventure.
Put the Phone Down
Easier said than done! If you find yourself in the rhythm of doom scrolling or if you’re struggling to focus in other areas of life, think about setting some limits on your scroll time. Your phone comes with tools to set time limits on your apps. But some people find these are too easy to bypass. If you can relate, you might want to consider a device like this. Make a commitment to staying off your phone for the first hour of your day in the morning and the last hour of the evening before bed. Pull your planner out to jot down to-dos and review your calendar. In waiting rooms and carpool lines, grab a book instead of your phone.
Use Your Senses
Brainstorm in your planner or notebook skills or hobbies you’ve wanted to explore. Maybe you’ve wanted to try pottery or to take piano lessons. Maybe you’d like to try knitting, quilting, or embroidery. If those skills sound too tough right now, maybe it’s as simple as sitting down with a stack of paper and art supplies, a block of air dry clay, or bending the analog rules and making a playlist for a friend on your computer. If you are lucky to have a record player, put an album on and listen the whole way through. Light a favorite scented candle or stick of incense. If you have a typewriter, get it set up and type some sentences. Pull out some favorite stationery and envelopes and write a letter to a childhood friend. Put together a surprise package for a friend with a few small favorite things. Collect items throughout the month and try your hand at collaging or junk journaling in your Golden Coil notebook. And if the chance arises, attend a local performance. See a play, musical, concert, or show. Keep your phone put away and soak up the experience. Reacquaint yourself with the experience of doing things with zero proof to show you did them. Make it your goal to live in the moment and be an active listener.
Brain Work
Pick up a newspaper at a local shop and read the news while enjoying a favorite drink. Challenge yourself with a daily crossword puzzle or sudoku. If you have a favorite poem or passage from a book, print it out and commit to memorizing it. Within a week you can have it memorized and recite it to your family. If you enjoy cooking or simply would like to get better at it, choose a cookbook and plan some new recipes to try. Maybe it’s a classic recipe you’ve been too afraid to tackle. Maybe you have been searching for the perfect signature dish you can make for friends and family. There’s a great inspiration list here.
Connection
Between the hustle of daily life, and ease of clicking a button to order groceries and essentials, the new world may be more streamlined but it can also feel a little lonelier. Make the effort this season to connect with the people you love and those that encourage you to be fully yourself. Instead of texting a friend, pick up the phone to give them a call. Recruit a friend to join you in a new volunteer opportunity. Offer to help a friend with childcare or picking their kids up from sports practice. Try completely unplugging from social media on the weekends to be present in your life. Start a themed supper club with friends on Sunday nights. Think of fun themes like soup & bread, big pot of spaghetti night, childhood favorite night, steakhouse dinner, breakfast for dinner, family heirloom recipes, french fry dinner night, etc. Set up a puzzle table or pick an evening for playing classic board games like Sorry, Battleship, and Scrabble. Break out of your comfort zone and try a new class. It could be a workout class or something artful like flower arranging or paper making. Maybe you’ve wanted to learn how to play an instrument like piano or guitar and can find local lessons to try. And seeing how easily a movie can be streamed at home, we’ll bend the screen rules with a visit to the movie theater. Go solo or with a friend. Get the popcorn and candy and silence your phone.
How are you getting back to your roots and stepping back from technology in 2026? We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Give us your best ideas and enjoy some unplugged time over the coming months. We’d love to hear your reflections and experiences as you unplug in the new year.