The Analog Diaries

Summer vision board, part one. I do not own any of these pics.

First blog post of the year, say what? Somehow, we are officially halfway through 2026. 2025 belongs in the trash can where I left it, but this year has been infinitely better, despite my lack of blogging. Somehow, for me at least, this platform still persists, even though no one really blogs anymore (has the entire world migrated to Substack?). For some reason, this space feels oddly tangible; a good, solid space that waits patiently for me to return to it, even as it gathers virtual dust in the meantime. ☠️

The year’s halfway point is a perfect time for me to reflect on my two words of 2026: analog and free. I’d say I feel decently free, but living a more analog life is something I’d like to pour more effort into.

I feel like I’m constantly saying this (here, there, everywhere), but I want to be more offline. Aside from blogging, writing or other creative pursuits, that is. I realize no one is forcing me to be as connected to the internet as I am, which forces me to face a painful truth: It’s in my power, and my power alone, to form new habits and routines and stick to them.

Growing up, my dad used to have our family set aside Saturdays as something of a Sabbath. We had specific rules for that day about being online less, or not at all. Instead, we focused on art, music, people, God, food, movies - anything but scrolling. I so respect and appreciate my dad for that. That’s a parenting win right there. #GoMike

Now, as an adult who makes her own schedule and rules, I feel myself longing for the discipline of that offline Saturday routine again, the concept of Sabbath and leaning into a mandatory rest from the drain of everyday life. Analog is one of my words for a reason this year, but on further examination, I would like to do a better job of executing what that means for me in my actual day-to-day life. I want to be as offline as possible: reading physical books (hello, Dungeon Crawler Carl series!), listening to records (namely Glass Animals and Sombr), running in the park, laughing with family and friends, making cups of green tea, tending to my plants, learning to cook something, going to a coffee shop. You know...real life.

Summer vision board, part two. I do not own any of these pics.

So, in this second half of 2026, my desire is to be more intentional about leaning into creativity and offline pursuits. I feel I’ve always been a kind of retro person, but in this season of healing, growing and becoming a better version of myself, I owe it to myself to take more time for what’s right in front of me.

PRACTICES TO LEAN INTO:

• Giving away clothes and items that no longer feel like me •  Reading books from the library voraciously •  Giving myself enough offline time to WRITE and THINK •  Distance running •  Taking care of plants •  Enjoying graphic novels •  Blogging •  Listening to new records and going record shopping •  Drinking green tea •  Journaling •  Taking nature walks •  Going to church •  Visiting indie bookstores •  Poring over nostalgic books and magazines

I’m really about that old-school life. If Bob Dylan couldn’t do it or access it in the 60s, I don’t want it (within reason LOL). Ultimately, I want to spend more time and energy on things that matter. I recently attended author Joshua Becker’s book tour, and he spoke about how the trappings of the modern world distract us from our purpose and the most precious things. As a result, I want to rid myself of the things that steal my time, energy and joy, and have less: Less stuff. Less time online. Less distraction. More life. THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ’BOUT!

Too late, my love,

2025

To quote The Mountain Goats, “I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me.” (Spoiler alert: I did, in fact, make it.) Even though this year has felt, at times, more like an affliction than a span of time, I’m so proud of everything I’ve accomplished. Some of my small victories in 2025 have felt just as meaningful as my big wins. 

SMALL VICTORIES:

• Started going to a new church •  Blogged throughout the year • Bought myself a Nintendo Switch • Saw My Chemical Romance live for the first time • Went to see the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” live (also for the first time) • Got back into running • Kept consistent with journaling all year long • Read lots of books • Started dressing more authentically to my personality • Went on tons of mental health walks • Enjoyed a girls trip with my family

BIG WINS:

• Got promoted at work •  Got out of an abusive relationship • Refinanced my car •  Took a social media break in January • Saved money • Worked on myself a lot in therapy • Strengthed relationships with my family and friends • Started feeling like me again • Didn't give up

My words for 2026 are “analog” and “free.” (2025’s were “heal” and “kind,” if you’re curious.) The former boils down to simply wanting to be more offline. I feel like I have been screaming saying this to myself since the dawn of time, but it’s my biggest goal for this next year. It’s just plain necessary for my mental health.

I want to intentionally cut back on the online pursuits that steal my focus (social media, shopping, scrolling) and replace them with analog activites that make me feel like me — listening to records, reading magazines and books, doodling in a notebook, running in the park. Basically, anything that offline 10-year-old Erin would do, I want to do. (Except for maybe climbing trees. And having bangs. But hey, you never know!)

And now, please allow me to present my list of the following items, media, people, and/or experiences that I could not have endured 2025 without, in no particular order, and with zero context:

• “Message Man” by Twenty One Pilots • Subway • Suja green juice • “Sinners” •  Running • Jesus • This live performance of Conan Gray’s “Vodka Cranberry” • Native’s sugar cookie body wash • “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series •  These cozy matching sets • “I’m Yours” by Jesse Jo Stark • Girrlscout socks • YouTube videos from Lexi Dahlia • Dan and Phil’s relationship reveal •  My local library • This sketch • “Schitt’s Creek” • Animal Crossing • Lunchables • Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” album • Bandanas • This “Survivor” clip that reignited my obsession with the show • Learning that it is actually possible to make quinoa IN THE MICROWAVE • “On the Floor” by Perfume Genius • My blog • Netflix documentaries • Matcha • Button Poetry • Dark chocolate • Matthew 11:28-30 • The Therapy & Theology podcast • My family • “Hannah Hunt” by Vampire Weekend • Steven Furtick sermons • This masterpiece that gave me so much serotonin • Selena Gomez’s album with Benny Blanco • The Google Weather Frog

Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I’m going to be holding my breath until the end of “Stranger Things” debuts.

Off to make a vision board,

Fall Favorites

Earlier this year, I posted my springtime mood board of little inspirations for the season. Now that it’s officially fall (my favorite season), I thought it’d be fun to share my fall-themed mood board (it’s green- and rust orange-colored, but I think it counts 👻). I’m not sure if I will continue making mood boards for every season, but so far they’ve been fun to create and they give me something fun to share with anyone who visits this blog.

None of these photos were taken by me.

Unlike other seasons, for me, fall seems to

come with a built-in soundtrack.

Certain records trigger memories from over a decade ago, memories of driving to college while listening to my favorite folk CDs. Now those albums always remind me of college and my commute, of being on campus in the fall, sipping a latte while reading issues of Nylon magazine and the college newspaper while waiting for my next class to start. Oh, to be a college freshman in a 3000-level creative writing course! *cries in 2012*

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the books on my fall reading list are very academia-oriented (the closest thing I can get to a time machine, LOL).

I’m currently reading “Heart the Lover,” a campus novel recommended by the book critic who writes a column in the magazine that I copy edit at work. (I recently finished reading another recommendation of hers, “Class Clown” by Dave Barry, which was very funny and resulted in many laugh-out-loud moments while reading it *in the wild* at my local Starbucks.)

Other books on my fall-specific reading list include “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt, which I started a while ago but never finished; “The Wilderness” by Angela Flournoy; “Mystery Lights” by Lena Valencia; “The Idiot” by Elif Batuman; maybe a vampire novel or two (such as my very worn copy of “Twilight”); and anything by Sally Rooney. If you have any recommendations, I’m all ears! 👂 Happy fall.

I like me,