I was down at the church potluck last Sunday, and Sister Mary Agnes was telling us how her nephew, a bright young fella in his twenties, spent an entire holiday dinner with his family… scrolling through his phone.
Not talking. Not listening to Grandma’s story about that time she saw Elvis. Just staring into that little glowing rectangle like it held the secrets of the universe. I looked around at the other folks – some shaking their heads, some trying not to be offended – and thought to myself, “Something ain’t right here.”
We’ve traded conversation for comments, face-to-face connection for faceless feeds. Our hands, once skilled in crafting and building, are now just pointers and swipers on a glass surface. And our minds? They’re running a dozen different programs at once, never truly present anywhere.
So today, I want to talk about something that might seem a little old-fashioned. Something that feels like taking a deep breath of fresh country air after being stuck in a stuffy room for too long.
We need more offline hobbies. 🛠️🎨📖
Not just because it’s good for your eyes (though, it is), but because it’s good for your soul. It’s about fostering the kind of creativity and spiritual growth that you just can’t get from a viral video or an endless scrolling feed. Let’s dive in.
The Ghost in the Machine: What Screen Time Is Really Doing to You
Let me be clear, I’m not against technology. My hardware store had a website, for heaven’s sake! But we have to be honest about what it’s doing to us. It’s designed to keep you hooked, to make you come back for more.
Think of it like this: A screen is like a sugar cookie. Tastes great in the moment, but if that’s all you eat, your body… and your spirit… starts to feel weak and listless. You’re not getting any real substance.
Here’s the hard truth from folks who study this stuff:
It’s Shrinking Your Brain: Seriously! Research from the University of Oxford found that heavy social media use can lead to a smaller hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for memory and learning.
It’s Killing Your Focus: All those notifications, all that jumping from one app to another? It trains your brain to have an attention span shorter than a gnat. You lose the ability to sit down with a problem and really wrestle it into submission.
It’s Making You Lonely: This is the big one. We think we’re connecting with people, but we’re often just performing for an audience of strangers. A study by the University of Maryland showed that more screen time correlates directly with less social interaction and higher rates of depression.
This isn’t just about being sad or distracted. It’s a spiritual malnourishment. Saint Augustine wrote that our hearts are restless until they rest in God, but how can we find that peace when our hearts are constantly racing down a digital highway?
Rebuilding Your World, One Project at a Time
So what do we do? We don’t just throw our phones into the river (though sometimes I’m tempted). We rebuild. We re-engage with the real world… the world of wood grain and clay, of books with pages you can smell, of plants that grow under your own two hands.
This is where the magic happens. This is where creativity blooms. And this is where you start to reconnect with God’s creation in a way you just can’t on a screen.
Here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing again:
1. Get Your Hands Dirty: The Tinkerers’ Guide
Remember that wobbly chair in the kitchen? That leaky faucet? Instead of just calling someone, grab a toolbox and give it a try.
The Challenge: Pick one simple “fix-it” project this week. A squeaky hinge, a clogged drain, re-caulking a bathtub.
Why It Works: You’re solving problems with your own two hands. There’s no algorithm to help you; there’s just good old-fashioned ingenuity and the satisfaction of seeing something you broke actually work again.
2. Become a Maker: Crafts for the Soul
It doesn’t have to be big. A simple birdhouse, a carved wooden spoon, or even learning to knit.
The Challenge: Buy one simple craft kit. Something like woodburning tools or a beginner’s pottery set, and spend a Saturday afternoon making something ugly… at first. We all start somewhere!
Why It Works: You’re engaging your fine motor skills and your imagination in a way that’s tactile and real. There’s no “undo” button, just the beautiful mess of creation.
3. Return to the Story: The Power of the Physical Book
I’m not against an e-book, but there’s something sacred about holding a book.
The Challenge: Go to a used bookstore or library and pull a classic novel off the shelf… something like Treasure Island or Little Women. Read one chapter without any other distractions.
* Why It Works: You’re slowing down. You’re engaging with another human being’s imagination on their terms, not yours. It’s a form of prayer in its own right—a quiet conversation.
Fostering Spiritual Growth in the Real World
This isn’t just about hobbies for fun. This is about cultivating your soul for eternity.
When you build something with your hands, you’re partnering with God the Creator. You’re using the gifts He gave you your intellect, your strength to make beauty and order out of chaos. That’s holy work! Saint Joseph wasn’t a digital saint; he was a carpenter who built a home for the Holy Family.
When you read a book, you’re opening your mind to new ideas and perspectives that can draw you closer to truth and goodness. You’re exercising your mind in the same way you exercise your body, so it’s strong enough to carry the weight of faith.
And when you sit down to talk with someone instead of texting them? That’s where grace happens. That’s how we become the Body of Christ, by being physically present to one another.
Making It Stick: Your Personal Action Plan
Alright, let’s not just talk about it. Let’s do something.
Step 1: The Digital Sabbath.
Pick one day a week. Sunday is traditional for a reason! Turn off the Wi-Fi. Put your phone in another room (or better yet, in a drawer). Spend that time with family, at church, or working on your new hobby. It’ll be hard at first, like quitting sugar. But oh, the sweetness you’ll find.
Step 2: Choose Your “One Thing.”
Pick one offline hobby from the list above (or another one that calls to you). Don’t overthink it. Just commit to giving it a solid hour every week for the next month. Buy the supplies. Make the time. Protect this appointment with yourself like your life depends on it… because, in a way, your soul does.
Step 3: Find Your “Accountability Partner.”
Tell another person what you’re doing. A friend from church, your spouse, your kid. Ask them to check in on you. It’s easier to stay the course when someone else is rooting for you.
Unplugged and Unburdened
The world will keep pushing screens into our hands. They’ll make ’em brighter, faster, more addictive. But we don’t have to play their game.
We can choose a different path. A path of calloused hands, messy workshops, and quiet afternoons with a good book. A path where we build things that last – not just projects, but stronger relationships with God and with each other.
Your soul is craving something real. Something tangible. It’s time to give it what it’s asking for. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a wobbly bookshelf to fix. And I promise you, it’s going to feel better than any ‘like’ I ever could have gotten online.
Blessings and happy making! 🙏✨