I’ve shared a lot on this blog and on social media about our evening scrolls…. side by side in the dark after work, sometimes even sending each other a reel while sitting next to each other – not saying anything at all. If your evenings look like this too –
Sit down for a minute.
Pick up your phone.
Suddenly it’s 9:47 and you’re tired but somehow still scrolling…
You don’t need more discipline. You need a stopping point. That’s what Analog Evenings are:
A set time where screens go off and your night shifts into something quieter, slower, and a little more intentional.
Not perfect or aesthetic. Just… not endless scrolling.
Here’s how to make it work:
1. Pick a Clear “Screens Off” Time
If you wait until you feel done scrolling, you won’t be.
Pick a time:
- 7:30pm
- After dinner
- When the kitchen is cleaned up
If you attach it to something that already happens, the transition will feel much more natural.
2. Decide What Counts as “Off”
Same rule as always, if you don’t decide ahead of time, you’ll negotiate this with yourself all day and fall back into the trap.
Options:
- No social media
- No “just checking” apps
- TV: yes or no (your call)
- Music, audiobooks, podcasts: usually fine
This isn’t about silence (though it’s really awesome once you learn to be comfortable in it) it’s about reducing input.
3. Create a Simple Transition Ritual
You need a bridge between “day mode” and “evening mode.” Romanticize this time in your day just a little bit.
Think:
- Turn off overhead lights
- Make tea or a snack
- Light a candle
- Change into comfortable clothes
Using these small signals can help to tell your brain: we’re done for the day.
4. Don’t Sit Down Without a Plan
This is where scrolling sneaks back in.
Have 2–3 easy options ready:
- Reading something low-effort
- Crochet, puzzles, scrapbooking
- Tidying something small
- Sitting outside for a bit
You don’t need a full routine (unless you do, and then by all means….) for most, you just need somewhere for your attention to go.
5. Expect the Urge to Reach for Your Phone
You will reach for it automatically. That’s not a failure, that’s the habit. I practice screen free time regularly and still, I reach for my phone.
When it happens:
- Notice it
- Pause
- Go back to what you were doing
That tiny interruption is the whole shift. While I still do reach for my phone, it does happen less and less as you start to break the habit.
6. Keep It Low-Energy
Analog evenings are not the time to become your best, most optimized self.
This is not:
- A productivity block
- A self-improvement routine
- A second workday
It’s a wind-down, time to just be present and a part of your life. Yes, you *can* use it for any of the above mentioned things but the point is you don’t have to. The goal is just to live live.
7. Give Yourself an “Out”
If you make it too rigid, you won’t come back to it. Analog evenings should feel slightly uncomfortable at first, not like a prison.
Options:
- One intentional scroll before bed
- One show (on purpose, not autoplay)
- A shorter window instead of the whole night
Consistency matters more than perfection. Start low and go slow.
8. Make It Feel Slightly Better Than Scrolling
This is the part no one says out loud in their blogs about analog living. If your alternative feels boring and your phone feels rewarding… guess what wins?
Upgrade the experience:
- Better lighting (lamps > overheads)
- A cozy spot you actually want to sit in
- Snacks, tea, a blanket
- Something you genuinely enjoy doing
You’re not just removing screens, you’re replacing them with something that feels good.
This Is Where Your Day Actually Ends
Right now, your evenings probably blur together. Analog Evenings give them a shape.
Not every night. Not perfectly. Just often enough that you start to feel the difference between being done for the day… and just scrolling until you fall asleep.