- Gen Z has embraced the Analog Bag Challenge to combat digital addiction.
- Maddy Tolman took on the challenge, and found it easier to reach for those "analog" items after 48 hours.
- Dr. Jackie Nelson also highlighted the brain's struggle with rapid technological advancements.
SALT LAKE CITY — For many of us, the minute boredom strikes, our first instinct is to reach for our phones. But a growing trend among Gen Z is quietly pushing back against digital habits, swapping screens for a bag full of familiar, analog items.
A trend called the "Analog Bag Challenge."
Maddy Tolman admits she is addicted to her phone.
"I don't even realize I'm on my phone anymore," Tolman said. "I go to text my mom a question, and before I know it, I'm on Instagram reels scrolling. It's been like, three hours, and here I am, still scrolling on my phone."
The Analog Bag Challenge is designed as a phone-free way to stay stimulated and curb digital addiction. Hundreds of people have shared their "analog bag" setups on social media, often including sketchbooks, knitting supplies and journals.
Tolman agreed to test out the trend herself. We set her up with a bag full of analog items: a journal, a notebook, a magazine, a word search, even a Polaroid camera.
The rules were simple: no apps, no scrolling for two days. Every time Tolman felt bored, she reached for the bag instead of the phone.
The effect of digital vs. analog activities on our brain
Experts say breaking digital habits can make a real difference.
"I think a lot of it is catching on because our brains are just so tired," said Dr. Jackie Nelson, a psychologist with Intermountain Health. "When you're scrolling, you're really shifting quickly between dopamine and cortisol. So you're more on edge. Your heartbeat might go a little bit faster. You're more hypervigilant."
Activities like crafting and journaling engage the brain differently. Nelson explained, "It just gives more opportunity for that creative thinking, slowing down our processes, allowing our brains to rest."
After 48 hours, Tolman reflected on her experience.
"I was really bored at first," she admitted. "By the end of the 48 hours, it was a lot easier to reach for the bag than my phone. I was journaling or I was reading or I was accomplishing something on my to-do list that has been waiting to get done."
The challenge didn't just change how Tolman spent her time, it changed how she felt.
Nelson notes that the rapid rise of technology has outpaced our brains' ability to keep up.
"The buildup of technology over time, from a historical standpoint, has been incredibly fast, and our brains don't know how to keep up with it."
For Tolman, the experiment was more than temporary.
"I would absolutely keep going with it. I would even go for longer," she said.
The Analog Bag Challenge is a reminder that sometimes stepping away from screens, even briefly, can help restore focus, creativity, and a sense of calm in a hyper-connected world.
