The Analog Life Project: Some Things To Know Before We Get Started
First let me say how overwhelmed I am by the response to The Analog Life Project!
I had this idea to do something a little different in the new year and share it with you guys and expected maybe a few people would join me..... I love seeing so many like-minded people turning toward the same collective vision! It feels like we’re onto something important and I’m excited to see where all this goes.
That being said....
This is a personal exploration. It’s about having fun! If you do all these things already... great!
If none of this is new to you... ok!
If you have other ideas... awesome!
I’m open to any and all friendly, constructive comments. Just be nice about it!
A few thoughts before we start:
THERE’S A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM HERE: This project is not a 10-Step Program or How-To Guide. My life feels like it has slipped into the deep-end of the online digital world so the idea of this project is to make more room for all kinds of analog experiences, in order to feel more balanced, more creative, and more engaged with the human parts of life.
This can look different person to person! For me, I love reading and the feel of a book in my hands, seeing the books I’ve collected on my shelves every day. I love cooking and exploring new recipes. I sell stationery for a living! so I love pretty paper, cute washi tape and the feel of a weighty, smooth pen. And as someone who has published a couple journals, I love digging deeper through writing and guided prompts.
This project is slanted toward my own interests and loves but it can be tailored to whatever analog activities you want to explore. I look forward to hearing about where you take this too, as well as the meaning you’re finding in ‘going analog.’
That said . . .
THE IDEA IS TO BE OFFLINE MORE OFTEN: Given that this is a project that encourages more offline living, my attention will be diverted from social media, Substack, and blog much of the time. So, while I treasure your comments, I expect our direct engagement and communication will be more limited than usual. Again, I’m trying to find a balance between engaging with this community and not spending more time online!
HOW WE USE INSTAGRAM: Many of you have found this project through Instagram. Welcome!
These days the algorithm on Instagram is pointing me toward all the “analog lifestyle” posts. The nostalgia! And while I love the cozy analog life aesthetic that Instagram presents, I can lose hours out of my day by scrolling and watching other people live their lives online. Not my goal! So I want this project to go beyond the nostalgia and the novelty of walkmans and dial phones. My goal is not so much about creating an aesthetic as about being offline and specifically being off social media more often.
So my plan for Instagram will be to use it to keep you posted when content for this project is available, and, of course, for my ongoing business purposes, to showcase the products I sell. Instagram won’t be used as a platform for the project itself.
You Will Need:
SUPPLIES: Each month I’ll be providing printable materials so you will need access to a printer. I also think it would be cool to keep all of the year’s worth of content in one place ( a three-ring binder or folder) so you can see it all together at the end of the year, a tangible archive of your analog year experiment.
There will be a letter-writing component coming up so snail mail supplies are recommended. (We will talk more in detail about this next month!)
ANALOG MEDIA: My dad is giving me his old 35mm camera, and I’m oddly excited to relearn how to use film again after a 20-year lapse! For the photo challenge activity, if you’re inspired to buy an old camera at a thrift store—wonderful. If you want to use your phone—also wonderful. This project is about creativity and attention and exploration. Not about having to buy stuff.
TIME & ATTENTION: This project is about slowing down, pausing, and thinking deeply about WHY this endeavor is important. For each of us our reasons might be different but all of us were drawn to this idea and it’s important that we give ourselves enough space to explore our ‘why.’
LIBRARY CARD: In January we’ll be talking about the library as a resource. Having a card isn’t necessary but still an a pretty darn good idea.
How Does The Analog life Project Work?
BLOG POSTS: We start January 1! Each month, I’ll share 1–2 short essays on the blog and here on Substack, about my own analog life experiences, books I’m reading, food I’m cooking, etc., along with ideas for other small practices - things to make, to notice, to do - for integrating a little more meaning in our lives.
PRINTABLE PDFS: Each month I will offer an assortment of printables (worksheets, journaling pages, lists, bookmarks, recipe cards, etc) Not assignments per se, but instead prompts and possibilities—easy and pressure-free. Some will be reflective, some creative, some just for delight. You can keep the printables in a 3-ring binder or folder: a tangible archive of your analog year experiment.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT: Your thoughts and experiences are welcome and encouraged here on Substack. I’d love to see a robust contribution, and exchange, of ideas and inspiration here.
https://littletruthsstudio.com/collections/stickers
I Love Hearing Your Ideas!
So many of you have already shared suggestions and ideas about how to make this project richer and more rewarding. I love it! And I love knowing that this project can go in so many different directions, that you all will share a diversity of experience as we go. I also love knowing that our unique experiences will only enhance the community component of this project.
PEN PALS: Yes! I will be posting about a Snail Mail Club in January. And I’m having a blast designing some super cute stationery for the project too.
COMMUNITY: Several of you are planning to do the project with a friend or as a group. Great idea.
CRAFT CIRCLES: Love the idea of combining the project with a creative group activity. Knitting? Embroidery? Sketchbooking? I’m here for it and I want to come too.
READING MEET UPS: Grab your book, head to the coffee shop, meet other humans. I love this idea.
The Analog Project is Free But.....
The Analog Project is a year-long project with monthly content and is completely free.
As such I would love it if you would consider supporting this project and my work by visiting my shop.
Thank you my friends for all of your kind comments so far! I look forward to starting on January 1!
https://littletruthsstudio.com/collections/stickers
This is such a great idea, I'm glad I stumbled upon it. Regarding the photography paragraph, what I like to do sometimes is pick up an old dismissed smartphone (like the one your dad had to change because it stopped receiving phonecalls) and use it as a substitute for a camera. You just reset it to factory settings, delete all the apps you can, don't put a sim card in it and keep it in airplane mode all the time and ta-da! You now have a brick that takes photographs :-) if I'm feeling fancy I will download an app that simulates old photography film but the phone camera will do just fine.
Anyway, all this just to say I'm very excited for this project, can't wait to start and throw Instagram in the bin! 🖤
I am not great at consistency and I have guilt at times with time constraints of writing to pen pals. I have fallen in love with post crossing. I am able to use the stationary I love and send it off for someone else to admire. I helps me slow down and its always a small enough endeavor that it improves my day without feeling like a burden. It also helps me feel less alone in the world.
www.postcrossing.com
What is Postcrossing?
It's a project that allows you to send postcards and receive postcards back from random people around the world