10 Analog Hobbies Gen Z Is Bringing Back (And Why You Should, Too)

Do You Suffer from Screen Fatigue?

Many view Gen Z as chronically online digital natives. But many have made a deliberate choice to reclaim their mental health, swapping endless scrolling for physical, tactile activities. To younger adults, these phone-free hobbies feel like a radical new wellness trend. To those who’ve lived through a few decades, though, they’re familiar—they’re simply the way we used to live.

Here are 10 analog hobbies making a major comeback—and why rediscovering them might be the best thing you do for yourself.

The 10 Analog Hobbies Making a Comeback

35mm Film Photography: Choose the slow, deliberate process of loading a roll, selecting shots carefully, and waiting for prints.
Vinyl Record Collecting: Listen uninterrupted to entire albums as an intentional ritual.
Paper Journaling & Scrapbooking: With physical notebooks, pens, and paper keepsakes in tow, you have new space for private reflection, planning, and creative expression.
Crocheting, Knitting & Fiber Arts: Use rhythmic, tactile creation to make clothing or decor.
Tabletop Board Games & Tabletop Role-Playing Games: Gather around a table with friends or family for face-to-face strategy, storytelling, and real-world connection.
Reading Physical Books & Book Clubs: Embrace the tactile satisfaction of paper pages and focused reading. Gen Zers also gather for silent book clubs, reading their own books in a social setting.
Vintage Digital Cameras: Use early-2000s point-and-shoot cameras for low-stakes photos that capture moments without connecting to social media.
Hands-On Physical Crafts (Pottery, Linocut, Candles, Stained Glass): Immerse yourself in creative processes where your hands are messy with clay, ink, or wax for a full digital detox.
Cooking from Physical Cookbooks: Bring physical recipe books back to the kitchen counter to avoid sleeping phone screens and mid-recipe notifications.
Letter Writing & Pen-Paling: Embrace the thoughtful delay of physical mail, postcards, and handwritten notes over the instant obligation of text messaging.

Why It’s Time for Your Own “Rediscovery”

It’s easy to look at this list and think, “I used to do half of those before life got in the way.” When busy schedules take over, creative play is often the first thing we sacrifice. But returning to these hands-on activities later in life offers physical, mental, and social benefits that go far beyond nostalgia.

A Workout for Brain Health

Tactile skills—like reading sheet music, calculating stitches, or mastering a linocut block—supports healthy brain function. Combining physical motor skills with real-time problem-solving creates new neural pathways, helps maintain focus, and builds cognitive resilience. Learn more about neuroplasticity.

Lowering Stress

Touchable hobbies encourage fine motor precision. Their repetitive, rhythmic nature activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering heart rate and reducing cortisol.

A Natural Bridge to Younger Generations

If you’ve struggled to find common ground with younger family members or others, these hobbies offer a creative bridge. Gen Z is actively seeking guidance on knitting, film photography, or caring for physical collections. You don’t just share a common interest—you possess decades of genuine mastery that younger people are eager to learn.

Reclaiming Play Without “Productivity” Pressure

For decades, your time was likely measured by productivity: work deadlines, household maintenance, and raising families. Analog hobbies allow you to enjoy low-stakes play for the joy of the process, with no performance reviews and no deadlines.

A Real Sense of Accomplishment

Holding a finished hand-knit scarf, sitting down to a meal cooked from a stained cookbook, or holding a freshly developed photograph provides a real sense of accomplishment.

Disconnecting to Reconnect

Gen Z may be framing the “unplugged life” as a brand-new wellness movement, but you already know the secret: life is richer when your hands are busy making something. Our Creator God has made us to be creative.

Pick up that old camera in the closet, pull a dusty album off the shelf, or grab a physical book. The tools may be from your past, but the benefits are for your present. Unlike Gen Z, you don’t need to learn these hobbies from scratch; your muscle memory is already there, waiting for you.

What are your favorite screen-free escapes?
Perhaps you want to learn something new. Pick one analog hobby to try.
Put together an analog bag (see NOTES).
Pray about how to connect with the younger generation using a hobby as an open door for gospel conversations.

NOTES:

I started researching this post when I learned about analog bags. Gen Zers personalize totes to carry their favorite portable hobbies. In addition to the above items, they might have a mini watercolor palette, a crossword puzzle book, a flip phone, a zine, and more.
- A zine is a self-published booklet made from a folded piece of paper.
I realized I had my own analog bag that I made about 10 years ago. I updated it and hope to start using it. It’s a felt bag with a bird cross-stitched on the outside, with an artist’s journal, coloring cards, and watercolor pencils tucked inside.
- I took photos of my analog bag for this post.
- The background of the photo is a crocheted afghan I’m working on for our newest grandchild. Our older granddaughters have been learning to sew and crochet from me.

10 Analog Hobbies Gen Z Is Bringing Back (And Why You Should, Too)