Top 5 Analog Hobbies that People in the Tech Industry can Use to Escape

Featured article by Russell Emmental, Independent Technology Author

Working in the tech industry can be exhausting. Staring at screens all day is draining, and after a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is look at more screens.

So more and more often, people in digital industries are finding an escape from computers in things they can touch and feel.

Let’s look at 5 hobbies that will get you to shut off your laptop and think beyond 1s and 0s.

1. CB Radio

Popular among tech enthusiasts, Citizens Band Radio is a land mobile radio system. You may think of CB radios as a relic only found in a truck driver’s cab, but CB Radio has been making a comeback. You can find all the equipment you’ll need on Moonraker and get started faster than you’d expect.

Once you set up your personalized station you’ll start to make contact with others “on-air” and be a part of the community. Unlike HAM Radio you don’t need a license, so you can start operating as soon as you install your antenna.

CB Radio is a fun way to learn about frequencies and join a club that only exists in the airwaves!

2. Astronomy

For thousands of years, mankind has stared at the heavens in awe, but when was the last time you looked up at the night sky?

Don’t get turned off by the idea that you need an expensive telescope to appreciate celestial bodies. You can learn constellations with an unaided eye, and you can see craters on the moon with just binoculars.

This hobby also forces you to get outside, breathe fresh air, and find a dark quiet place away from light pollution.

Astronomy is the ideal hobby for those who want to add math and science to their nature time. Ponder galaxies light-years away and consider your place in the universe while feeling the breeze on your face down on Earth.

3. Gardening

Speaking of earth, gardening will force you to get down and dirty!

If you are a beginner and don’t know your perennials from your annuals — you’ll have fun categorizing the endless flora you can bring to life. Gardening also is relaxing as you follow the daily routines of keeping healthy soil and bountiful plants.

Once you start gardening you’ll realize you are responsible for the well-being of these living things, and you’ve created something larger than yourself. A garden is its own mini-ecosystem and the gardener is in charge of its survival.

4. Sewing

When you need something for your hands to do once they get off the keyboard, sewing might be just the right thing. Slow and focused, this hobby makes you take deep breaths and keep the big picture in mind while making tiny bits of progress at a time.

Once you master sewing you can start to make alterations to your clothes and customize your wardrobe in new ways. There is endless room to grow in the world of sewing; you are only limited by your imagination.

5. Cooking

Are you tired of reheating 3-day old leftovers again? Well, cooking will both save you money and taste better than most dishes you can buy.

You can get as nerdy as you want to, monitoring how food changes with different times and temperatures, learning about the Maillard Reaction, and studying countless cookbooks.

But the kitchen can also be a place to take it easy. Try no-recipe cooking for a relaxing experience — throw some things together and keep tasting and altering until you’ve got it just right.