20 things I’d rather do than be on my phone

Hello.

I’ve been sick this past weekend, bed rotting.

Now that my head doesn’t feel like it’s under water, I can write again.

Today’s letter is short and sweet. Simple, but significant.

We’re talking about ways to entertain yourself that don’t involve your phone or social media. (In my world, substack is not social media. It’s a treasure trove of girl bloggers who I love and adore, so this platform will always be a comfort outlet).

I encourage you to make a little list, too.

20 things I’d rather do than be on my phone (thanks

jordan santos

for the inspo):

•volunteer at my church with the babies:

At my local church (I’m not religious), I go in every weekend and take care of newborns and infants while their parents go and listen to the sermon. There are several services and it gives me a solid 3 hours + to cure my baby fever. It’s perfect. I don’t have to participate in church activities or listen to the pastor. All I do is go in, hold tiny little babies, feed them, rock them to sleep, sing to them, play with them, then their parents come back and take them home. Now… if I was a parent to a newborn, and I had an hour and a half of free daycare and solitude for me and my partner, I would strategically use this time to take the most luxurious nap. Or… you know <3 On a somewhat related note, I want like, three more kids one day.

•cook a meal from my family cookbook:

My grandma wrote a cookbook with all of her girlfriends while my grandpa was in dental school. I grew up in a very Seventh Day Adventist household and my family all went to Loma Linda University, so this meant we grew up on a vegetarian diet. There are specific dishes that are quintessentially SDA, like haystacks and casseroles that look like dog food but are actually delicious. It brings me so much comfort to cook and eat the way I did when I was a child.

•go to the farm to pet baby cows and chickens and lambs:

This goes without saying, yes? You all know my affinity and love for baby farm animals, so this is the perfect way to spark immense joy in your day and it serves as a healthy distraction from your phone.  

•go strawberry picking:

This is another favorite activity of mine. I love U-Pick farms and picking fruits and vegetables as the seasons change. Strawberry picking, because it’s spring, is the perfect way to celebrate the seasons and eat a snack and touch grass and do something that makes you feel closer to nature.

•call my grandparents:

I’m very close with my grandparents and they’re still alive and well. My grandpa still power walks a mile+ a day. Better than most of us, right? My grandma would do no such thing as she is a queen and would rather stay home reading a book drinking tea and eating strawberry sugar wafers. As I’ve gotten older and realized how precious the gift of time is, it’s so important to me to feel connected with my grandparents while they’re still here.  

•write in my journal- pen to paper: 

I’m terrible at journaling. This is my journal. But inevitably, writing publicly does not give the same therapeutic release we all need whenever we write for ourselves and no one else. I will try to be better at this.

•visit a museum:

I’ve grown to love museums over the past several years and it’s the perfect activity to do on a rainy day or on a really hot day. Art, science, nature museums- I love them all.  

•read a book or magazine:

If I’m feeling really anxious, I will not read a book. I gravitate towards magazines because there’s lots of pictures and I don’t have to think about anything and it’s a lot more comforting, especially food magazines. But, if I’m in a good headspace, I’ll grab a book on my TBR and dissociate from the world.

•write for substack (because I love you):

As I mentioned above, I don’t consider substack social media, and I find it quite therapeutic to write to all of you. I also enjoy reading others’ posts. It’s still a screen-time activity, which I don’t love, but if that’s the only option I have at the moment, I’m going on substack.

•take a trip to the farmers market:

This is another favorite activity of mine. Anything seasonal, outdoors, involving food, etc- I’m all about it. I love going to the farmer’s market and making a little list and bringing a big tote bag and talking to the vendors and trying samples of fresh fruit and other artisanal snacks.  

•start growing a little garden:

Some of us don’t have a backyard, some of us have small spaces, etc, etc. Growing a garden doesn’t require you to have either of those things. There are a lot of indoor garden options, too. If you have indoor space, there’s this thing called a tower garden. I’ve owned one of these before. I’m not sponsored by them. I can honestly say, this is one of the coolest things I’ve ever owned and it was so fun to do with my daughter. If you need something smaller, there are always herb gardens you can put on your countertop.

•take a walk in my favorite park and feed the ducks:

Do you have a favorite park, too? This is such an easy way to decompress and do something healthy for your mind and body.

•invite my best friend over, cuddle on the couch, read our favorite books, watch our favorite movies, eat snacks:

A friend that you feel comfortable sitting in silence with. Does that make sense? 

•take a nap:

The easiest, simplest, best way to literally reset your brain and body. Criminally underrated.

 

•take *extra* time doing my skincare routine:

Do you also enjoy your skincare routine? Sometimes when I’m in a rush, it’s not fun, but when I’m in the mood to go all out, it’s so calming and comforting. 

•have a picnic and bring cute little snacks, my favorite books, a little treat, and tea:

It’s spring. The sun is out. The weather is warmer, begging for more picnics. Go solo, or with friends, or with your partner and I promise it will be the most wholesome activity.  

•color and heal my inner child:

Another underrated activity. Yes there are painting classes and pottery wheel activities and those are great but they’re also expensive and being able to whip out a coloring book and colors at home while watching your favorite childhood film or listening to music is the ultimate way to heal your inner child. I love the Bobbie Goods coloring books. Have you seen those?

•host an intimate jazzy dinner party:

If you’re in the mood to host, this is the perfect way to build your community and connect with friends and eat good food and drink wine and feel a little fancy.  

•bake a seasonal pie:

The reason pie is one of my favorite desserts is because there are endless options to fill a pie during each season. It’s spring now, so you can make strawberry pie, or blueberry.

Okay, that’s all for today.

I hope you like pictures as much as I do.

Bye <3