Whats in my analog basket?
Hi friends!
You know that moment when you plop down on the couch after a long day, intending to just relax for five minutes, and suddenly an hour later you’re deep in a spiral of doom scrolling feeling more anxious than ever and overwhelmed as hell? Yeah, me too. 🙃 If you’ve been around for awhile then you probably know that a couple of years ago I really started trying to fill my time with things I actually enjoy doing rather than doom scrolling and along the way I have picked up quite a few hobbies that I have added to my arsenal! When I found out that “analog baskets” were a thing and trending over on TikTok and Instagram I knew that I needed to have one. It is a brilliant concept which is just a basket of all of the non phone things that you like to do like crossword puzzles, playing on your Nintendo switch, coloring, crafting kits and so much more! I like to think of it as a basket of my favorite things that help me stop the endless scrolling.
I knew I wanted to use what I had on hand and not go buy anything new because we all know I don’t need to go purchase any more hobbies! You can absolutely go grab a few fun things to add to your analog basket if you are just starting out! I just didn’t because all of the things I would add were already in my house just tucked away in about 10 different spots, which I also realized was stopping me from doing them because of the extra steps to go find said things and then decide which one I wanted to do. ANYWAYS. I found a basket that I had that fits perfectly next to the couch, it even looks like it was supposed to go there so that’s a win! Yours doesn’t have to be decorative, I decided to have mine be because I didn’t want to move it around all the time, I wanted it to be in one spot so I always knew where it was! Below I go more into detail about the things in my basket and hopefully that can give you some ideas of what to add into your own analog basket!
Happy Reading!
Here’s what lives inside my basket:
National Parks Word Search Booklet: This is something I became a LITTLE addicted to doing word searches this month but I think that it’s an okay thing to be addicted to. Haha I love doing these word searches, they aren’t super complicated but it helps me to focus in and calm down the thoughts in my head while I work on the word search! I have been doing a few of them each day and I love the theme of the one that I am currently working on! This National Parks Word Search booklet is adorable and now that I have purchased this one Amazon has shown me all of the other versions of this that I might want in the future lol!
Coloring Book + Alcohol Markers - This is a hobby that I have been doing for a long time and I have really come to love coloring and being able to majorly zone out without staring at a screen. I’m not the best at it but it makes me happy and I am going to keep on doing it! I love how many coloring book options there are out there and I recently got this one that has a spiral binding which makes it so much easier to color with!
My Switch + Cozy Games - I love playing on my switch but it definately something that if it’s out of sight, it is out of my mind! Once I put this in my analog basket I started playing it a ton more! I have a case for it so even if my actual console is off charging, I will remember that it is in the basket because of the case so that’s a nice reminder! I love cozy switch games and some of my favorites are FaeFarm, Tales of the Shire, and Dreamlight Valley Cozy Edition!
A Little Pouch - I also have a little pouch in my basket that has different colored pens, pencil, my Kindle page turner… Just the little miscellaneous things that I don’t want getting lost at the bottom of the basket. It helps me stay more organized, and less overwhelmed by the basket, which is the whole point!
My Current Craft: I like to keep whatever craft I am currently working on in there! Right now I have a felt needle kit but is the kind of thing that will change as time goes on and I complete different projects. I think having this in there makes me reach for it more frequently than I would if it were somewhere else. Sometimes it is building a little bookshelf nook kit, sometimes it’s an embroidery kit, it can really be anything of that nature!
Notebook + pens: I keep a little notebook and a couple of pens, this isn’t so much a journal but more just a place that I can write things down like lists and ideas. Some might call it a journal, but I really write whatever I want in there. I’ve never really gotten into journaling so I don’t know if that can be considered what this is but it’s nice to have in there!
Headphones: These really are the perfect for pairing any of the other options that I have listed! I can either listen to a book, turn on a playlist and listen to music or a podcast if I’m feeling wild haha! The only time my headphones come out of my basket is if I am going on a trip, otherwise I put them right back in there when I get home for my next cozy night in!
My Current Read: I always like to keep the physical copy of whatever book I am currently reading in my basket so I can easily grab it when I am on the couch but I also keep my kindle in this basket as well! I like keeping my options open and it’s nice when my headphones are just in the basket already as well if I am feeling like listening to a book while I work on something else that I found in my analog basket. I made a huge roundup of all of the books that I have read this year over on Amazon that you can check out if you are looking for your next read!
My Mobile Desk, a serious game changer!
One thing that has really changed the game for me was when Dustin got me a mobile desk for Christmas a couple of years ago. I use it for work every day, but I also use it when I’m working on a project from my analog basket that can’t be done in my lap. So if I’m coloring or doing a more hands-on craft, like my felt needle kit, I will pull out my mobile desk to the living room and use it there. There are so many options on Amazon, this is the one that I have! I like it a lot, and I love that it has wheels so that it’s easy to move around. Now that my office is upstairs, it’s not as easy to bring down, but that just might mean there is a second mobile desk in my future haha!
I really like to think of it as a collection of things that I would like to do, but if they aren’t just automatically near me, I’m not going to think about them until I’m committed to watching a TV show or a movie or something else rather than doing these slower activities that I would like to be doing. I love that the idea of the analog basket gives me choices that don’t involve a screen, but are still fun and things that I enjoy doing. I can grab a brain puzzle when I want a challenge, pick up my latest craft kit if I feel like working with my hands or I can just color while listening to music and zoning out. And yes, sometimes I will pair whatever I am doing with a TV show but instead of watchic=ng the big screen while I scroll on my little screen, I can be doing something else while I watch a show! Honestly, it’s been a game-changer. So if you have also seen this idea trending over on social media, take this as your sign to create your own analog basket for your house! I would keep it by your go to spot to hang out and I think your brain will thank you! If you already have an analog basket let me know what is in yours, I would love to add new things to mine! If you have any other questions you can drop a comment below or send me an email at hello@emmatarynjones.com and I will get back to you ASAP!
XX
Emma