Posted 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Offline is the new cool
Being online and connected digitally are extremely important in 2026. Though some people are taking to the analog lifestyle. You may have seen Tik Tok videos of people who turn their phone into a “dumb phone” and use it as a landline to try and cut back on screen time. Others practice “screenless nights with friends”, as I have done with my own friends. Instead of all sitting together on our phones, we played a variety of board games.
It is more common than ever for people to say their hobbies include video games and scrolling on social media. Hobbies provide real benefit to a person’s health and well-being, and having a hobby can support and improve mental health. And when these hobbies are art related, there are even more benefits. Cognitive function can be improved with hobbies as well, especially for older adults, but it is never too early to pick up something new! Having analog hobbies is good for your mind and body.
When it comes to “screenless nights with friends", you can do just about anything together. It does not have to be board games as I mentioned before. Parallel play is a term I commonly associate with screenless nights. Technically it is a term that is used within the stages of development for an infant, but can also be used for adults. It is engaging in recreational activities next to someone else without directly interacting. You and someone else can be doing the same thing but not together, like reading a book next to someone or working on separate hobbies in the same space.
Whether you do crossword puzzles, diamond paint, or read, you are improving your cognitive function. Take this as your sign to start something new or finish something you started!
Haleigh Cartwright, Peer Health Advocate