To ask those of you with an analog bag that’s working- what’s in it?

[S3mple]

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/jan/09/rise-of-analogue-bag-fashion-answer-to-doomscrolling

I’ve seen this idea online and think it’s a great idea. Trying to use things I’ve already got but has anybody who is having success with this got anything particularly good in theirs?

You would be surprised 😂

I dont really use my phone while out. Except that Ive discovered a little word game on it which is essentially the same as a puzzle book

I'm not being naff enough to call it an analogue bag, but I've never bothered with a kindle or laptop on holiday and if I go out for a day trip or short trip away I take a book or colouring but also my phone.

I think that's normal, but acknowledge the kindle is good for some as a reading option. Personally, I want something I don't have to keep charging to read. I don't think that's very unusual.

On the subject of travel. I can't abide thise scan their phone people on London underground. Is there ever going to be a point they don't hold everyone with a card or even cardboard ticket up ?

I have a basket at home next to my handbags in the hallway so i can grab something out of that or put something in my bag.

So I have soduko books and a proper boggles game because I like phone games
I have dip in dip out books so ive got something to read but not too deep. I have sticker mosaic books, I have embroidery, paint by numbers, try it out origami set,
Puzzles
Notebooks, note cards and envelopes and felt tips and colouring books

Sock or hat knitting, a paper fan, pencil and small sketchbook, NYT or other crossword puzzle book, and a paperback novel. I've been carrying the same kinds of things for many years. I also carry a balm stick, sunscreen stick, water bottle and a couple herbal tea bags and hot sauce.

Point taken 😆

Analogue bag? 😹 They’ll brand anything. But I think it’s a good idea and thank the OP for making me conscious of it

The important thing is to use it so I guess thinking carefully re what you put in it is key- or maybe not. Maybe just having it to hand is.

Not in a specific bag but I have embraced the idea. I'm doing a cross stitch which is quite complex and keeps me off my phone (vinted!) In the evening. I've also started bullet journalling, mainly for tasks and getting lots more done, also buying books for 50p - £1 from the charity shop.

Do you do the journaling on a sofa or at a table? I find I reach more for my phone on the sofa but not sure if journaling and activities you need to lean on something would work. Does moving to a table still
encourage you to keep off the phone? Considering some kind of lap table.

Apologies for the odd questions but want to make this successful and trying to get into the workings of me always reaching for my phone and how to offset that iykwim.

@S3mplegreat question. I've bought a hard back A5 notebook with sections which is really easy to use wherever I'm sat. I do use it on the sofa. I've also bought some nice pens which I only use in the journal. Once a week I write my short term goals but I've also written other sections with wish lists, to do lists etc

When I'm out and about, I usually use that time to think and maybe plan what I'm doing with my days off. If I'm going on a longer train journey I'll take a book with me, but don't do anything for my short commute to work. My peeve is people scrolling on phones and not paying attention to where they're walking, surely it just takes ages to get where you need to be?

At home, I keep a cross stitch project next to the sofa if I want something to do whilst watching TV and DH is normally building a Lego set. I keep a book next to the bed, but I'm usually too tired to read on an night at the moment!

I have a book, a puzzle book and a colouring book in my handbag. I don’t use my phone for anything apart from messages and calls.

Wow that’s really impressive re not using your phone. Do you have colouring pens in your bag too?

I don’t think having hobbies needs to be known by some trendy name.

My crafts etc live around my house.

I keep bag contents to a minimum as I need a bag to be very light due to back issues. So I have a folded half page torn from a newspaper which contains a few different crosswords and sudokus,and a very mini notebook . I even bought a few tiny books, but found I actually didn’t want to read them.
A friend actually tears up books into chunks so they get rid of the chapters they have read so not having to carry round big tomes, but I feel that’s a step too far for me!

Why does no one just scroll any more? Why always doomscrolling? Is this the new ‘staycation’ - ie an incorrectly used word that is so widely misused that the wrong use is just accepted?
Also - if you need ideas to take a book or a notebook instead of your phone…real worry