What I’ve Been Doing Instead Of Spending Time On My Phone

I started sharing this little series on Instagram after seeing similar posts shared by others. I really liked the idea of people showing that they are trying to spend less time on their phones or other devices, and what they are doing instead. Often, it shows people embracing offline forms of media or doing analog activities like reading, crafting, journaling, etc. (Check out my post on why I think people are embracing a more analog lifestyle here.)

I thought that this would also make a great series for my blog, where I can occasionally share what I’ve been doing instead of doomscrolling on my phone.

When I am not on my phone, I try to take an analog approach, doing some analog hobbies or using the time to be more productive (creating content or doing housework). Recently, I’ve been trying my best to find balance in my use of devices, including my phone, computer, etc. But I will admit that this year has been quite device-heavy as I have been getting back into writing and creating content for this blog. I am trying to balance this as best as possible by taking breaks and changing things up every now and then.

A couple of examples are writing my ideas or drafts for my blog posts in a notebook before typing them up on my iPad or computer. This gives my brain time to brainstorm and write things down in a more raw form before polishing.

Another example is allowing myself weeks when I have a slow or low productivity approach. Giving myself permission to rest with no expectations to do anything in particular. A week where I can embrace slow and creative hobbies to fill my cup so that I can have times of increased motivation. I feel that this is important for me to implement regularly in my routine so that I don’t end up burnt out. This isn’t hard for my overactive brain, and because I live with a chronic health condition. I will admit I’m not great at it, but I try.

Featured Media: Dua Lipa’s Album Future Nostalgia, Lofi Girl: Spring Collection 2026, Avril Lavigne’s Album ‘Let Go’. Credits at the end of this post.

How I Spend My Time When I’m Not On My Phone

Here are a few things I have been doing instead of spending time on my phone.

📀Re-Building my Physical Media Collection📀

In the last couple of years, I’ve been going back to consuming things like music, movies or TV Shows through physical media rather than streaming. I found myself overwhelmed by the volume of content on streaming platforms and also felt a bit disconnected from what I was consuming. (I still have access to some streaming platforms, but I have just been using them less.)

After a big declutter and re-organisation of my house last year, I now have extra space to rebuild my collection. I already had some CDs, Vinyl records and DVDs, but I am now adding new items to my collection. I buy media both second-hand through eBay and local second-hand shops, as well as new from a local store that still sells physical media.

I have found that I am enjoying consuming music and video media this way. It feels more intentional because I have to pick something out to watch or listen to from a curated collection instead of scrolling through endless options on a streaming platform. I also like that I can consume without the internet.

Find out more about ‘Why I am going back to physical media over streaming’ here. I wrote a blog post talking about it.

📻 Listening to Music Offline & Organsing my Digital Music Library📻

One of the reasons for building my physical music collection is to listen more intentionally offline, either on CD, Vinyl, cassette, or Offline Digital Music. (I was lucky enough to be given my parents’ entire cassette collection when I purchased a new cassette player for myself. Apparently, Dad still had it in his shed. I thought that it had been thrown out years ago. I feel very lucky and grateful.)

I’ve been really enjoying listening to some old favourites that I grew up listening to (both things I liked and that my parents listened to); it’s been a lot of fun going down memory lane. Mostly it’s been stuff from the 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s, like Fleetwood Mac, Simply Red, Avril Lavigne (her debut album), Shania Twain, Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, etc.

I have also been going through my digital music files and properly organising them. It has taken a while, but it will be worth it. I have imported all my CDs onto my computer. I also purchase some music digitally, mostly from independent artists (through Bandcamp) or when extra tracks are missing from CDs (Apple music/ iTunes store).

Part of my process includes adding album art and missing information. This will help me when listening to the music on my digital music players, as everything should now hopefully be organised correctly.

I still like to consume some music digitally, but on a dedicated digital music player or iPod (instead of through a streaming app), as they are great for portability, meaning that when I go out I don’t have to lug around a case full of CDs and a portable CD player (though I do have one). It also allows me to purchase albums by independent artists and listen to them offline.

I recently talked about How Listening to Music is helping me heal. You can check it out here.

Analog Hobbies – Memory Journaling, Watching Movies on DVD (Fairytale: A True Story & Hook (Robin Williams)), Disney Puzzles, Painting Colouring Canvas. Credits at the end of this post.

📺 Watching Nostalgic Movies & TV Shows 📺

As I mentioned, I have also been watching a lot of movies offline. I’ve gathered quite the DVD collection, and so I am currently trying to work my way through it. I am prioritising this over watching movies and TV shows on streaming platforms.

I’ve been going down a nostalgia road trip, watching a lot of movies and TV shows I grew up with, Like Hook (Robin Williams). This is such a nostalgic movie for me, along with other Robin Williams movies (Jumanji, Mrs Doubtfire), which I have also watched recently. I have also been watching a lot of Disney movies from my physical media collection.

Recently, I have also been diving back into some nostalgic TV Shows, like Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Stargate SG -1.

I am enjoying making this a part of my downtime and self-care. Taking time away from needing to be productive to watch a movie or a couple of episodes of a TV show I like. It really helps me relax and get out of productivity mode.

🎨Doing Some Analog Activities🎨

I like to make time for some analog activities like reading, doing a puzzle, painting a colouring canvas or building a LEGO set. I often pair this with watching a movie or a TV show to help me relax.

I am one of those people who finds it hard to just sit and watch without having something else to do, so this helps give me the time to focus on some analog hobbies while watching something.

I have really been enjoying doing a puzzle over multiple sessions; it’s a great mindfulness activity. I recently completed my first 1000-piece puzzle (the Disney Princesses one pictured above), and I was quite proud of myself because I usually find them really intimidating. I am currently working on an Encanto one.

📸 Starting a Memory Journal 📸

At the start of this year, I decided to start a memory journal. It’s a creative project but also allows me to see what has been going on in my life. Because life gets so busy, I often forget, so It’s great to look back upon.

I create spreads based around different memories. For example, I have a page dedicated to my dog Olli, who passed away earlier this year, and that has really helped me work through my feelings. I also do monthly spreads with photos of things I did each month. This can be activities I’ve done, things I’ve been watching or listening to that I really enjoyed, etc.

It’s something that I am enjoying doing and will definitely continue doing in the future. I am currently working on spreads for my Conqueror Virtual walks, of which I have done 15 walks so far, and so that was something I wanted to memorialise in my journal.

I recently shared the third edition of my subscriber-exclusive series, The Joyful Journal, in which I talk more about starting a memory journal. You can check it out here. (It’s free to subscribe to my blog if you want to read it.)

Featured Media: Magnus Chase and The Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Nintendo Switch 2 & Disney Dreamlight Valley on Switch 2. Credits at the end of this post.

📚 Reading Lots of Books 📚

I have been reading a lot of books lately, slowly working my way through my endless TBR.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been working my way specifically through all of Rick Riordan’s Books. There are so many, but I am finally getting toward the end of the list (I’m just focusing on the main ones, not the short stories). I recently read Percy Jackson: The Senior Years (books 1 and 2, or 6 & 7, however you want to look at it), Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and I’ve just started the second book in the Trials of Apollo series. I shared an Instagram post about this if you would like to check it out.

I also just finished the last book in the Inheritance Games Saga. The last book in the Grandest Games series, The Gilded Blade. I really enjoyed reading it, and I am sad it’s over now, but it will be a series I revisit in the future.

🎮 Gaming 🎮

When I am not doing Analog Hobbies, watching TV or writing blog posts, I like to play video games (you might already know this, as I used to post gaming videos). I have been trying to play games on some of the different devices and consoles I own. My Switch is normally my go-to, but I also own some retro consoles and have games on PC, so I’ve been trying to give my attention to other places.

Recently, I’ve been enjoying playing:

Disney Dreamlight Valley (this is one of the weekly games that I play) (I play this one on my Switch 2).

House Flipper Remastered (This is such a fun game, but the first-person perspective sometimes makes me feel a bit motion sick. Though I do like that it has a hands-on approach to decorating. Meaning that you can legit smash some walls down or build them up piece by piece.) (I’m playing this on PC through Steam.)

Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (I played this on my Nintendo 2DS/3DS, but it was originally a DS game. I like puzzle games, but I’m not always good at them, so I will admit that I had to look up the answers quite a lot. It was fun though, and this is the first time I have played a game from this series. I am excited for the new game that is coming to Nintendo Switch soon. I will definitely look at purchasing it.)

Yoshi and The Mysterious Book (I’ve been playing this on my Switch 2, and I’ve really been enjoying it. It’s really cute, and the levels aren’t too difficult, which makes for a nice cozy time. I’ve finished most of the main storyline, but I still have to go back and redo a couple of levels.)

An outdoor couch and chair on a deck.

⛅Getting outside and enjoying some fresh air⛅

I’ve been trying to prioritise getting outside because I spend too much time inside. Now that winter is over, I won’t have to chase the sun as much. I quite like taking a cup of tea, a book, a magazine or some music outside with me and having a mindful moment while enjoying some fresh air and sunlight.

I’m also hoping to get out and go for some walks now that the weather is getting nicer.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it inspired you to make time for some fun activities and get off your phone.

Check out my previous posts like this on my Instagram account.

Until next time, I hope you have a lovely day.

Erin

Credit:

I’m not sure who came up with this post style originally. If you know, leave a comment below, and I will add credit.

I put together the header image and collage images in Adobe Express. Photos are by me (Erin Applebee); Tape & Paper featured in the header image, as well as the gradient featured in the Reading and Gaming image, are Adobe Express Assets.

Products featured in the photos included in this post:

(I don’t own the copyright to the products featured in this post.)

Dua Lipa’s Album Future Nostalgia (Warner Music)
Lofi Girl: Spring Collection 2026 (Lofi Records)(Band Camp, YouTube)
Avril Lavigne’s Album ‘Let Go’ (Arista Records/Sony Music)
Winsor & Newton Heavyweight 200gsm Visual Art Diary A4
The Ransom Note Sticker Book – Luke Herriottt
Junk Journaling Papers – Anko / Kmart Australia
FujiFilm INSTAX mini Link 3 Instant Printer Sage Green
Believe, Fairytale: A True Story (Icon Productions)
Hook 1991 (TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Disney Princesses 1000 Piece Puzzle (Disney, Crown, Distributed in Australia by MJM Australia)
Mandala Colouring Canvas (Anko, Kmart Australia) (may not be currently available for purchase)
Magnus Chase and The Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
Disney Dreamlight Valley (Switch 2 edition) (Disney, Game Loft)
Yoshi and The Mysterious Book (Good-Feel, Nintendo)

Disclaimer – This post is not sponsored and doesn’t contain any affiliate links; any links included are for reference only in case you are interested in checking out a mentioned link or purchasing a reviewed product. Check out my full Disclaimers here, including AI use on my blog.