In a world where spending hours on your phone is normalized, it is important to find everyday hobbies that can move your attention span from the screen to something you truly enjoy. From crafting to spending time outdoors, simple hobbies create a great way to step away from the screen and connect with the current world around you. 

Bedazzaling 

A popular hobby seen around TikTok is bedazzling different items that people own. Most people order bedazzling kits on amazon to kickstart a new project in their home. Inside a bedazzling kit it comes with multicolored rhinestones, glue to apply the rhinestones, and tools for placement such as a wax pen or tweezers.

 To bedazzle, you apply the glue onto the area of choice then pick up a rhinestone with the pen or tweezer. After this, you apply the flat side of the rhinestone onto the area with glue. You continue doing this around the entire object; after finishing, you will have a beautiful shiny design that makes the item unique. While bedazzling, Addison Kopiczko (11) will “just play music” to help her focus, instead of drawing her attention to scrolling on her phone. Some popular objects to bedazzle are perfumes, lip glosses, skin care products, hand sanitizers, and more. 

Reading 

A simple but looked over hobby is reading books. Reading books is enjoyable because the options are endless, with romance, scientific fiction, drama, and more. Viviana McGovern enjoys being able to visualize moments and experience adventures while reading books. While reading, Viviana gets to “escape [her] day to day and be fully immersed in a different world.”

Yorba Linda Public Library is a place filled with amazing books to get this journey started. This library has so many possibilities of books to start and get your brain ready to explore new ideas beyond your phone. 

Patchwork designs 

Creating different designs using fabrics sewn onto a shirt is also a popular hobby seen on social media. To make a patchwork design you need a piece of clothing to sew your design onto, fabric for your design, scissors, needle, and thread.

Start with cutting your design using your fabric of choice, then lay the fabric onto the clothing, and proceed to sew the design onto your t-shirt or hoodie. When doing crafts like these Harper Mclure (11) becomes “more focused on the task in front of [her] instead of being on [her] phone” Finding a craft to take up your attention can create a way for yourself to forget about needing to post on social media and focus on expressing your creativity and enjoying the moment. 

Scrapbooking

To start scrapbooking all you need is paper, glue, scissors, and colored pens. Scrapbooking is a fun and exciting way to capture memories made in your life. Next time you go out or do something exciting save a receipt, napkin, or even a coaster! Use these memorable items to glue into your new scrapbook and add drawing, stickers, or notes to make each page personal to you. Scrapbooks are such fun to make, and they are great to look back at in the future. Scrapbooking with friends is also a great way to make long lasting memories.

Walks and Hikes 

Going on walks and hikes isn’t just good for your health, but it’s also a beautiful way to slow down and truly experience the nature around you. Whether it’s a quick walk around your neighborhood or a longer hike on a nearby trail, being outside helps clear your mind and gives you a break from constant notifications. Without the distraction of your phone, you can focus on the beauty of the nature around you, focusing on the sounds, sights, and fresh air surrounding. Going with your friends or family can also make these walks and hikes more memorable, creating real life memories aside from the digital ones. 

In a world full of constant buzzing and dings from pockets, and endless scrolling, taking time to step away from your phone can make an impactful difference in your everyday life. Whether you are crafting, reading, or spending time outside, finding something you enjoy can help you build healthier habits and create meaningful memories that last far beyond a screen.