Going Analogue in 2026: A Slower, More Creative Way Forward

In between the noise of notifications, algorithms and glowing screens, more of us are longing for softer days — mornings that begin with a pen instead of a phone, evenings spent colouring or writing letters, and creative rituals that unfold slowly, without urgency.

Going analogue in 2026 isn’t about abandoning technology altogether. It’s about choosing moments of calm and taking time to notice how you're feeling and what's going on around you. It’s about finding comfort in paper, ink, and small handmade rituals that make everyday life feel more grounded. 

This year, our goal is to have less screen time, less doom-scrolling and less stress! Below is a gentle guide to embracing analogue habits in 2026, inspired by stationery, creativity, nature, and the simple joy of making things by hand. Do you need more analogue habits in your life?

Life feels faster than ever. Digital tools are helpful, but they rarely leave space for rest, reflection or creative wandering. Analogue practices invite us to slow down and be present — to notice details, mark time gently, and reconnect with ourselves.

Benefits of going analogue include:

• Less screen fatigue and digital overwhelm
• Improved focus and memory through handwriting
• A calmer, more mindful daily rhythm
• More room for creativity without pressure or performance
• Less distractions and procrastination

Analogue isn’t about productivity. It’s about presence.

A paper diary or calendar is often the first step towards a slower year. Writing plans by hand helps you notice the shape of your days — busy seasons, quiet weeks, and little pockets of rest.

At WashiGang, we stock a curated range of analogue diaries and calendars designed to support gentle planning rather than rigid scheduling. We always prefer analogue when it comes to planning and scheduling. The difference between analogue and digital style planners and diaries is that your plans don't get lost amongst the digital overwhelm. 

• Undated planners for pressure-free planning at your own pace
• Minimal daily and weekly diaries that leave room to breathe
• Desk calendars that quietly mark the passing of time
• Diaries for hand written to-do lists or daily memories
• Illustrated wall calendars that turn planning into a visual ritual
• It’s also nice to check your schedule and to-do lists without having to go on your phone, which can be quite distracting

Reading on paper already feels like an analogue act of resistance — a small rebellion against endless scrolling. Pairing books with a reading journal deepens that experience, creating a place to capture favourite quotes, fleeting thoughts and quiet reflections. Or if you read a Kindle, a reading journal can be a way to bring your reading back to a tactile analogue presence in your memory.

Reading journals are perfect for cosy evenings, rainy afternoons and sunlit mornings with a cup of tea.

• Remember books that moved you
• Keeping a reading journal gives you an opportunity to pause and reflect on what you’re reading instead of rushing onto the next book
• Create a personal archive of stories and seasons

Handwritten letters feel almost sacred in 2026, but we think analogue communication is coming back. Taking the time to write slowly, choose paper, decorate envelopes and seal them with care turns communication into a creative ritual. Writing letters by hand is a meaningful way to create connections. Write to friends. Write thank you notes. Write letters you never send. Write to yourself.

Why we love letter writing:

• Slows you down and encourages mindful, intentional communication
• It's a lovely way to mark the passing of time in each others lives compared to instant messaging
• Creates a tangible analogue keepsake that can be revisited over time
• Allows you to express your personality through your hand writing, paper choices, stickers and doodles

You don’t need to be an artist to create. Colouring, doodling and experimenting with art supplies are gentle ways to reconnect with play and curiosity. 

Analogue art-making invites imperfection — smudged pencil lines, uneven colouring, pages that feel loved rather than perfect. Whether you're aiming to master a new skill or just enjoy the soothing feeling of doodling or mixing colours - art making is for everyone!

Try a few of our favourite analogue items for getting creative:

• Colouring books designed for mindful creativity
• Archer & Olive journals with thick 160gsm paper for collaging and sketching
• Creeping Moon watercolour sketchbooks for painting and mixed media art
• Paint Pens and Brush Pens
• Art Books filled with tips and prompts to help you get creative

Junk journalling is a gentle form of analogue memory keeping — a place to gather the small, ordinary things that often slip past unnoticed. Ticket stubs, packaging, receipts, photos, pressed leaves, handwritten notes and scraps of paper become markers of days lived and moments felt. Rather than documenting life perfectly, junk journalling invites you to stay present, to notice what you pick up, what you keep, and what catches your eye as you move through the world. Over time, these pages become a quiet record of your seasons — not just what you did, but how it felt to be there.

A lot of our digital photos and memories get lost over time due to storage space and it's so nice to have an analogue memory storage system that you can have and hold and treasure forever. 

Your junk journal can be about anything! Here are a few ways to use your junk journal:

• Daily or weekly diary
• Memory keeper for keeping photographs and souvenirs with little hand written notes about them
• As a place to collect the small things from your day — receipts, packaging, tags, leaves, notes — without needing to explain them
• Mood boards
• As a creative outlet with no rules, no “right” way to fill a page
• Nature observations. Press flowers, tuck in leaves, or sketch the birds, clouds and trees you notice on your daily walks.

Gratitude journalling by hand is a slow, grounding analogue practice that gently shifts your attention toward what is steady, kind and nourishing in your everyday life. Writing gratitude by hand encourages reflection without distraction, allowing small moments — a warm cup of tea, a quiet morning, a kind message — to feel worthy of being noticed and remembered. Over time, this analogue ritual becomes a soft anchor at the beginning or end of the day, helping you reconnect with presence rather than productivity.

Why we love it:

• Encourages daily awareness of small, meaningful moments
• Shifts your mindset to appreciate what you have (do you ever find yourself comparing your life to others online?)
• Fosters a deeper sense of contentment and appreciation in everyday life
• Supports emotional wellbeing and reduces stress
• Helps reframe difficult days with balance and perspective

At WashiGang we are constantly online - so we really love to take time out for slow living through more analogue habits. Here are a few ways that we like to spend time being present and going offline: We all love to read and are always discussing books in the office! Shannon goes for bush walks, spends time in the garden, loves doing puzzles and is often baking yummy treats to bring in. Lauren and Emily often start the day with a morning walk and swim. And of course, writing or creating in our journals is a regular analogue experience here - we're so lucky we get to play with stationery supplies! At the moment junk journaling is a staff fave, as it's such a playful and low stakes way to be creative. 

Here are our staff picks for going analogue in 2026:

2026 is the year to make some time for your analogue hobbies, which also happen to be good for your mental health! Scheduling regular screen-free time allows you to slow down, be fully present, and cultivate mindfulness and calm. Even just a few quiet minutes a day going analogue, away from devices, can help reduce stress, improve focus, and reconnect you with the simple joys of everyday life.

Check out our range of diaries, reading journals, letter writing sets, colouring books and art supplies, and start weaving small analogue moments into your everyday life.