Why It's Good for ADHDers to Embrace the Analog Life
On Becoming Post-Digital Because the Internet Sucks
I do love technology. Specifically I love programming, and even more specifically I love figuring out solutions to problems with technology. But at this point in my life I’ve had to firmly conclude that it would have been better for humanity if personal technology had never become normalized.
I’m a millennial and we were supposed to be the first tech-savvy generation. Like many people I thought technology was a safe career to go into because companies will always need people with a high level of technical skill. There will always need to be new programs, websites, apps, etc.
And yes, this is true, and my particular field is pretty stable at the moment, but AI is, of course, coming for us.
I keep reading these articles panicking about the world collapsing because AI takes all of the office/knowledge worker jobs. First of all, it’s possible to survive without an office job. Also, office jobs…suck?
The Internet sucks. Your phone sucks. Binge-watching sucks. Everything digital eventually sucks away your time, mental health, and your bearings about what is true and what is false.
While I do think this is probably true for everyone, as someone with ADHD who really craves the dopamine all of these awful things provide, I’ve had to finally admit to myself that personal digital technology should not be a normal part of my life. Yes, I have to use them for work and scheduling and stuff. And I’m writing on the Internet and fully recognize the irony of smugly pontificating that the Internet is bad and everyone needs to get off of it.
But I do need to de-normalize my digital life. And it’s not enough to just quit technology cold-turkey. I have to occupy my mind with other things or the itch to return to my bad technology habits will only return.
Just a Bunch of Analog Things to Do Instead of Wasting Your Life Online
If you have to have a smart phone for work, consider Bricking it when you’re not working. Then you can use it as a phone (for calling and texting) but cannot fall into the trap of letting it suck away your time.
I’m specifically only listing things I can do with a toddler around.
Go outside
When in doubt just go outside. Go for a walk. Lay down in the grass. Whatever, just do it outside.
I aim now to spend about 75% of my time outside. Houses are for sleeping!
Good to have: chalk, bubbles, a sprinkler, a ball, a bucket to fill with water and some cups (my 2 year old can occupy himself with a bucket of water and some cups for hours apparently)
Garden
I wouldn’t have had a garden if it weren’t for my kids. I thought it would be fun for them to see things grow and eat stuff right off the plant. It has been the best investment of time and money of my entire life. We wake up every morning and check the garden to see how everything is growing. There’s a watermelon growing right now and it doubles in size pretty much every day. Like actual magic.
Clean / declutter
Cook or bake
Make extra of something and give it to your neighbor, for no reason at all. It will be appreciated even if you are not great at baking.
Read a book (or at least read the toddler a book)
Paint or use colored pencils
Sew or knit
Write in a journal
Take a bath (even if the toddler insists on taking the bath with you)
Play with kids
Basically, when in doubt, at least try something that doesn’t require technology first, before you allow yourself to use technology.
Analog Skill Building
You may find you don’t know how to do stuff without technology. You may wish to invest in some physical books.
Once you start down the “living life without technology” rabbit hole, you do tend to get into some prepper-type stuff. I do find that sort of thing interesting, and it’s piquing my ADHD oppositional curiosity - like, how far can I go cutting technology out of my life?
Here are some things I have found helpful:
Just in Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens
I came across America’s Housekeeping Book which is available for free in the Internet Archive - it is fascinating and I wish I could find a hard copy for a reasonable price
A Final Note: Analog Clocks Are Great
Being able to actually observe the passage of time is really helpful for time-blindness. I have analog clocks now in most of the rooms of my house. Below is an example similar to the one I have:
You really appreciate the awful suck of a life wasted online when you can actually see those hours drain away.
Go outside!