In a world of endless notifications, algorithm-driven content and the constant pressure to do more, be more and consume more, an unexpected shift is taking place: People, among all the chaos and uncertainty, are choosing to slow down. They are deciding to take a moment and turn off their screens, intentionally silencing their digital lives.
This isn’t just a coincidence or a passing trend — it’s a byproduct of the overwhelming speed of current life and the constant yearning for the intentional, the tangible and the real. From the rise of the slow living movement and the reassurance of nostalgic practices to the resurgence of analog activities, people are engaging in other activities that encourage them to take a break from the digital world, practice intentionality, and fully embrace the present moment.
From vinyl records to film photography and letter writing, sensory, old-fashioned activities are making a comeback, reflecting the desire for slower and more intentional interactions that digital media often lacks. A deeper relationship with one’s activities allows one to fulfill the need for comfort in today’s unpredictable world.
Dr. Jeremy Bailenson, a professor of Communications at Stanford University who specializes in the psychology of virtual and augmented reality, explains this shift in our lives.
“One of the main critiques of modern digital culture is the passive nature of scrolling through content,” Bailenson said. “One major reason people turn to analog experiences is the desire for tactility: holding a book, developing a photograph or placing a needle on a record.”
Jonathan Bakhash, a Palo Alto High School junior, is an avid baker who enjoys the real-life connections he can build through his products.
“Sharing my skills [baking] to bring people together and make memorable experiences is really the reason I got into baking in the first place,” Bakhash said. “Having the ability to produce something that gets everyone together is very rewarding.”
Like many, Bakhash spends his time baking as a source of escape — not only from his everyday life but also from the digital world.
“Baking is a way for me to put focus on a passion of mine while taking my mind off of other things going on around me,” Bakhash said. “I found baking as a non-digital activity which I do almost every week, and [it] has really helped me to disconnect from the digital world and devote myself to something meaningful.”
Bakhash says the time he spends working on his baked goods can certainly be tiring, but at the end of the day, it is incredibly rewarding.
“When I make artisan sourdough bread that takes 3 days to make,” Bakhash said. “The reward is so fulfilling as I know I put all my effort into creating something to the best of my ability.”
Despite the longer process for bakers like Bakhash, consumers are starting to value products that provide healthier and higher quality goods. This shift has influenced bakers’ practices as they are turning towards more traditional baking practices, which tend to take longer and are more hands-on, according to Bakhash.
“Baking naturally is a long process as you are using yeast and natural fermentation which extends the amount of time it takes to make a baked good,” Bakhash said.
This lifestyle and mindset allow people to escape from all the chaos of their lives and to live — at least for a moment — in the present, sans stress.
“We have evolved to a point where everyday lives are so complicated,” Bakhash said. “People are just looking for a way out. Living simplistically gives people this break they are longing for, allowing them to mentally equip themselves for their future.”
On the other hand, while some may turn toward analog experiences to counteract their digital fatigue, VR is emerging as a surprisingly fitting tool for intentional engagement. Bailenson says that unlike social media, which thrives on passive scrolling and utilization, VR can promote participation, presence and deep immersion.
“The way virtual reality is being used today aligns with these very desires,” Bailenson said. “Not as an extension of the overwhelming digital world, but as a tool for intentional, immersive and meaningful experiences. Haptic feedback and hand tracking in VR allow for a more natural, hands-on experience, making digital interactions feel more physical and meaningful.”
While most people are drawn to analog activities, VR portrays a futuristic approach to finding the balance between both sides, the tangible and the technological.
“While VR is a digital medium, it bridges the gap between the digital and physical world by incorporating movement, spatial awareness and embodied interaction,” Bailenson said.
Sophia Rofman, a Paly sophomore, has found a similar experience through her passion for drawing. Rofman spends hours drawing a single art piece, so for her, it is relaxing to be able to focus on something that’s not a screen for a long period.
“When I’m drawing, I forget about everything else because drawing takes my full attention,” Rofman said. “It’s not only an escape from the digital world and screen time, but for many people, the act of drawing can be relaxing in a way that other activities are not”.
Rofman is able to find a sense of nostalgia through her drawings, whether through utilizing brighter colors, simple shapes, blurred lines, or drawing on a physical medium.
“Nostalgia makes me think of childhood, and when I was a kid everything moved so slowly,” Rofman said. “When people see art that is nostalgic, it brings back feelings and memories of being a kid. It makes you slow down and appreciate the art more because you have a special bond with it that you don’t necessarily have with art that displays modern themes.”
Many artists tend to switch between several different techniques and materials when creating art. Due to recent technology advancements, digital art has started to gain more and more popularity. Despite this, Rofman still enjoys papercraft since she finds it more grounding.
“Making art digitally takes a shorter amount of time because you are provided tools that you can use to edit your drawings in ways you can’t do physically,” Rofman said. “When I use those tools, it almost makes me feel like I am cheating, but when I make physical art, I feel more proud and fulfilled with what I’ve made”.
Newer technology has also shifted artists’ perspectives on art and the meaning behind it. Cameras, for example, are changing the meaning and the intention behind art made today.
“Painters used to copy what they saw, but now we have cameras for that,” Rofman said. “It [cameras] is leading people to make art based on emotions rather than facts.”
Another advancement that has heavily influenced the art world is artificial intelligence. According to Rofman, it has become harder to differentiate between AI-generated art and human-drawn art.
“With things that are handcrafted compared to AI, there is an intention behind every stroke or detail and it can convey a deeper meaning,” Rofman said. “AI art isn’t capable of doing that in my opinion.”
Artists like Rofman who continue to use paper for their art amid a sea of accessible and convenient sources of digital art allow art to maintain its status as a grounding, creative form of expression. These artists are the ones who push back against the hyper-digital and fast society synonymous with the 21st century. As Bailenson mentions, the future may not be about rejecting technology outright, but rather integrating it in a way that allows us to slow down, live with intention and reconnect with the physical world.
This cultural pendulum that swings back to simplicity signals more than just a craving for the past — it marks a complete reimagining of the future. It displays one where technology coexists with slower, more fulfilling ways of living, a future where doing less, but with greater intention, leads to a richer life. However, as the reliance on technology and its convenience continues to grow, it is becoming clear that overconsumption is not fulfilling in the long run.
“People are not fulfilled with these short forms of happiness that this growing digital world provides,” Bakhash said. “However we can’t get rid of it, so the best way to combat it is to start balancing it with real-world experience.”
