I call it my "analog activities" things I'm doing without something that needs to be charged. knit, crochet, bake, paint, read, play a card game. I love video games and reddit, but I think every day also needs that physical in the real world task.
I’ve recently gotten into pottery, and it’s been a great way to disconnect. It’s impossible to check my phone while I’m working because it gets so messy, which I love. It’s also taught me patience—the whole process from wheel to bisque firing, glazing, and the finished piece takes about three weeks at least. The moment I realised I’d made five pieces in a row without messing up was a great feeling. Slow hobbies are so fulfilling <3
Wow that is amazing Susie, I tried pottery once before and it is soooo much harder than it looks! I love your sentiment of literally not being able to be on your phone because of the mess. Here's to more messy, analogue hobbies in 2025!
Good job!! The thing about hobbies and skills that you acquire slowly is so true! I love the idea of not noticing any difference or improvement until you do. Btw, your first loaf seems good to me :S I might not have the baker's eye, but at least you made bread for a first-ish try! "If it's bread, it's bread." I think Socrates said it ;)
Awww, I'm so hungry now, haha I still want a bit of your starter 🥰 Your sourdough breads look so pro! The Halloween ones were my favorite.
My next post will be about our "attention." It's more like a series, and in the post after this, I will also talk about things that we can do to improve our attention. Definitely one of them is doing things that are slow, require us to be present and to be more in flow.
We are so hyperconnected, it feels nourishing when people share what they did offline. This could actually inspire another podcast episode: things we do offline :)
This was so therapeutic to read, I am inspired to try making my own sourdough! Or at the very least - I am definitely convinced I want to start making my own bread next year (have you ever made fermented buckwheat bread? I am a big fan).
I've never made buckwheat bread, but that sounds amazing! I really want to experiment with more fermented bread ever since we had fermented potato bread at a restaurant here recently, it was insane.
I think it was a secret recipe, no one I met in Frisco knew how. I guessed they were marinated in vinagery liquid with some species, onion and garlic. But specifically I have no more than those hunches.
Holy moly a beautiful sourdough loaf there, well done!
My rye starter is only 2 weeks old (btw I feel compelled to write a post about this, been emotional as I could finally make it alive after 2 failed attempts), so I only make easy things like bagels and soon focaccia, not *the* sourdough yet.
As for my no-screen stuff, I wrote it sometime ago I’ll pull the link up later as now I’m on phone.
Your sourdough loaves are stunning! My husband picked up baking sourdough during the pandemic (because *of course*) and has stuck with it and baked so many wonderful loaves over the last few years. I've recently really craved working with my hands more and have toyed with the idea of returning to knitting...this is the little encouraging push that I needed :)
Very relevant! There is something visceral about bread. Once I was able to cultivate fast rising yeast from the store and bake my daily bread in a rice cooker, I could start to feel like myself again.
It really isn't that hard and my bread has been such a part of my life for so many years.
Well, I'm a #bobwells #cheaprvliving #nomadland style #vanlifer so it took me awhile to figure it out. 🤣😂😁
I feel so much like myself again. The rice cooker does take a lot of power compared to pancakes on a propane stove, but I think it's my favourite way to "bake".
My friend even uses hers to heat up water for coffee in the morning.
I'm a Substack newbie and would love to learn more about rice cooker cooking, if you can recommend any accounts to follow.
I call it my "analog activities" things I'm doing without something that needs to be charged. knit, crochet, bake, paint, read, play a card game. I love video games and reddit, but I think every day also needs that physical in the real world task.
I love the term analogue activities! I might have to borrow that one 🩵 also a fan of knitting!
Omg I just wrote a post about analog activities today and balancing digital inflow— and then saw your comment!! Kismet! 🧡🧡
Sorry I restaked almost all of your article, I just felt it too relevant for my existence atm 😂😂😘😘
🥺 what a sweet compliment, thank you!
🤣 best
I’ve recently gotten into pottery, and it’s been a great way to disconnect. It’s impossible to check my phone while I’m working because it gets so messy, which I love. It’s also taught me patience—the whole process from wheel to bisque firing, glazing, and the finished piece takes about three weeks at least. The moment I realised I’d made five pieces in a row without messing up was a great feeling. Slow hobbies are so fulfilling <3
Wow that is amazing Susie, I tried pottery once before and it is soooo much harder than it looks! I love your sentiment of literally not being able to be on your phone because of the mess. Here's to more messy, analogue hobbies in 2025!
Good job!! The thing about hobbies and skills that you acquire slowly is so true! I love the idea of not noticing any difference or improvement until you do. Btw, your first loaf seems good to me :S I might not have the baker's eye, but at least you made bread for a first-ish try! "If it's bread, it's bread." I think Socrates said it ;)
To be fair, the good thing about sourdough is that even if it looks terrible it usually still tastes alright :D
Yummy!
Awww, I'm so hungry now, haha I still want a bit of your starter 🥰 Your sourdough breads look so pro! The Halloween ones were my favorite.
My next post will be about our "attention." It's more like a series, and in the post after this, I will also talk about things that we can do to improve our attention. Definitely one of them is doing things that are slow, require us to be present and to be more in flow.
Check out Lee's Substack; I love her "10 Offline Things I Did This Week" https://leetilghman.substack.com/p/10-offline-things-i-did-this-week
We are so hyperconnected, it feels nourishing when people share what they did offline. This could actually inspire another podcast episode: things we do offline :)
Have a wonderful start to the week, my lovely!
This was so therapeutic to read, I am inspired to try making my own sourdough! Or at the very least - I am definitely convinced I want to start making my own bread next year (have you ever made fermented buckwheat bread? I am a big fan).
I've never made buckwheat bread, but that sounds amazing! I really want to experiment with more fermented bread ever since we had fermented potato bread at a restaurant here recently, it was insane.
this reminds me I have to try again! My starters always seem to die days in.
Are you keeping yours in the fridge? I only take mine out for a few days when I'm baking bread, but I store it in the fridge the rest of the time!
Yes! The problem was getting the starter to grow the first week before I could put it in the fridge.
Ah!, Sourdough!, and some only in San Francisco marinated mushrooms…
😳 drop the mushroom recipe, that sounds amazing!
I think it was a secret recipe, no one I met in Frisco knew how. I guessed they were marinated in vinagery liquid with some species, onion and garlic. But specifically I have no more than those hunches.
Wow, we’re on a similar wavelength with our thoughts this week 🧡🧡 loved this essay!!
Thank you so much Danielle 💖
Holy moly a beautiful sourdough loaf there, well done!
My rye starter is only 2 weeks old (btw I feel compelled to write a post about this, been emotional as I could finally make it alive after 2 failed attempts), so I only make easy things like bagels and soon focaccia, not *the* sourdough yet.
As for my no-screen stuff, I wrote it sometime ago I’ll pull the link up later as now I’m on phone.
Your sourdough loaves are stunning! My husband picked up baking sourdough during the pandemic (because *of course*) and has stuck with it and baked so many wonderful loaves over the last few years. I've recently really craved working with my hands more and have toyed with the idea of returning to knitting...this is the little encouraging push that I needed :)
You should totally do it Lindsay, knitting is so therapeutic 😌 thank you so much for reading!
loved this! made me want to try it <333
Go for it! :)
Very relevant! There is something visceral about bread. Once I was able to cultivate fast rising yeast from the store and bake my daily bread in a rice cooker, I could start to feel like myself again.
It really isn't that hard and my bread has been such a part of my life for so many years.
I really admire people who use their rice cooker in interesting ways! I need to branch out 😌
Well, I'm a #bobwells #cheaprvliving #nomadland style #vanlifer so it took me awhile to figure it out. 🤣😂😁
I feel so much like myself again. The rice cooker does take a lot of power compared to pancakes on a propane stove, but I think it's my favourite way to "bake".
My friend even uses hers to heat up water for coffee in the morning.
I'm a Substack newbie and would love to learn more about rice cooker cooking, if you can recommend any accounts to follow.
love this idea
loved reading this! fully agree - really excited to get baking and be offline today. thanks for sharing 🥰