Analog bags, a current trend on TikTok, are tote bags filled with various offline items and crafts that have quickly become popular as a way to limit screen time and break digital addiction, so that users can reconnect with more tangible projects.
In recent years, the general public has seen a growing amount of time spent in the digital world. As a result, many members of the GCSU student body have decided to take a step back and take up more tactile hobbies.
“I recently picked up collaging. [It] keeps me entertained without looking at my phone every two minutes,” said Dhara Weaver, a junior creative writing major.
Weaver has been tracking her screen time and has become concerned with the large portion of the day she has spent on her phone. She picked up collaging from a friend in an effort to bring her phone usage down.
Other students have maintained their hobbies from when they were young, but have since incorporated other activities with collaging.
Eden Frayne, a freshman nursing student, has been an active reader since she was four or five. However, recently she has shifted to listening to audiobooks while she works on the new hobby she picked up.
“I recently took up crochet as well and enjoy practicing my stitches while I listen to an audiobook,” Frayne said.
Reading is a common hobby that is not only easily accessible, but also diverse in its subject matter. This allows the participant to become interested in a literary piece and interact with the community surrounding it.
“I really enjoy losing myself in a story,” Frayne said. “For that reason, I mainly tend towards fantasy, science fiction or traditional fiction when I’m picking out a new book.”
A study by Michelle Cleary at the University of New England, published in “Issues in Mental Health Nursing” (2025), found that hobbies reduce daily stress and build community.
“Hobbies facilitate relaxation and pleasure, playing a crucial role in mitigating anxiety, stress and depression and promoting overall life satisfaction,” Cleary said.
Some students are looking for ways to destress and distance themselves from coursework for a short break to avoid burnout, especially as midterms approach.
“Exams require so much reading and note-taking that I forget to make time to relax,” said Aicha Niane, a junior psychology major.
Niane found that the yoga classes offered at the GCSU Wellness Center were the perfect answer.
“[Yoga] is very relaxing and rejuvenating, and it really helps me focus on my breathing,” Niane said.
Hobbies can provide an outlet for self-expression away from social media and a grounding experience that offers a sense of fulfillment and passion outside of work and school.
“In a world where I feel like I spend more time every year on a device or looking at a screen, finding a hobby that gets us off our phones is more important than ever now,” Frayne said.
GCSU offers many opportunities for students looking to explore new hobbies. On campus organizations such as the Gardening Club, the Creative Arts Alliance, the Literary Guild and the Intramural sports program provide a space for students to try out new activities and interact with other like-minded hobbyists.
If students would like to make their own analog bag and don’t know where to start, they can check out Sierra Campbell, @siececampbell, on TikTok, who is credited with starting the trend. Some common items to include in an analog bag are notebooks, pens, a book or two, word searches, coloring books, a deck of cards and coloring pencils to keep one occupied and off their phone.