Every Sunday morning, I get a notification on my phone to alert me of how much time I spent on my phone the previous week. I usually quickly glance at it and then close it, but over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that number increasing steadily while the time I spend on my favorite hobbies decreased. I wasn’t getting through books as quickly as I usually do, and my current coloring book has been open to the same page for longer than I’d like to admit. I found myself frustrated at how quickly time seemed to pass in the evenings, doing little more than mindlessly scrolling. I could also sense my mood being affected by whatever online content I was consuming. I was ready for a change.

Funny enough, the inspiration I needed to kick this habit came from Instagram, where screen time seems to be a common concern right now. I saw a number of creators posting about their intentions to live a more analog lifestyle. They were putting together baskets and bags full of activities that didn’t involve a phone. Rather than stream music on their phones, they added an old iPod or CDs and a player. There were books, crafts, puzzles, and journals. As someone who rarely sits still, even when watching TV, I loved the idea of having different ways to keep my hands busy readily in front of me.

I thought about what I’d be most compelled to do, and filled a little basket with a couple of books, coloring books and markers, a crossword puzzle book, playing cards, an unfinished project, and more. It sits under the coffee table where I can easily reach it from my spot on the couch. Now, when I get home, I allow myself to unwind with a few minutes of phone time to catch up on what I might have missed, and then place my phone on its charger next to my bed, where it stays for the rest of the night. I just started this new routine a week ago, but I feel really good about it, and it’s even inspired my husband to spend less time on his phone.

If you’ve been feeling the need to cut back on the amount of time you spend on your phone, I suggest putting together a basket of your own, full of whatever it is you enjoy doing. And if you’re looking for more ideas on ways to spend your time without a phone involved, we’ve created a “Screen-Free Activities” BINGO card for you. Click here.

Here are some publications (like Bella Grace!) we recommend adding to help you disconnect.

The post Creating My Own Analog Basket first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.