Here's something kind of wild: we have access to more inspiration than any generation in human history—and yet we've never felt more creatively stuck. 

Pinterest boards with thousands of pins, Instagram saves we never look at again, and screenshots piling up and gathering dust…sound familiar? We are drowning in possibility, but somehow, moving from seeking inspiration to actual creation feels more difficult than ever.

If that hits a little too close to home, hi, same. And that's why I've become obsessed with the analog bag.

What Is an Analog Bag?

An analog bag is exactly what it sounds like: a bag stocked with hands-on, screen-free activities that keep you engaged in the real world. Think of it as your doom-scrolling antidote that lives in a tote or backpack, ready to deploy whenever you've got a spare minute and that habitual itch to reach for your phone.

The analog movement has been picking up steam lately, and at Zollie, we’re here for it! There's a hunger for things we can hold in our hands and creative practices that don't require a WiFi connection. The analog bag is one of the most practical (and playful!) expressions of this collective desire.

What to Put in Your Analog Bag

The specific contents of an analog bag will be totally personal to you, but here's what I'm currently carrying in mine:

1. Watercolors & Sketchbook

I loved watercolors as a kid, but convinced myself I “wasn’t a painter” as I got older. Getting back into them has been so fulfilling. By letting go of control, I’ve learned that I don’t need to create a masterpiece in order to enjoy the playful process of creation. 

2. Palette Scout + the Palette Scout Sticker Pack

Okay, these are the real MVPs. Palette Scout is a color palette tool designed for real-life use. I use it to identify and build color combinations pulled from what I encounter in the actual world, not on a screen. I’ve pulled palettes from houses, mossy walls, old buildings, and flower gardens, truly everywhere. With Palette Scout, I’m looking at the world from a more active place, seeking out combinations that feel interesting, surprising, and alive. It's a small shift that has made everything feel more inspiring. I cannot recommend them enough.

The Palette Scout Sticker Pack is a perfect companion. It holds two of every Palette Scout color in sticker form. You can stick all your favorite palettes directly into your sketchbook, building your own tactile color archive as you go. I love to add a few notes next to my sticker palettes about where I was and what I saw, like a mini journal entry.

3. A Film Camera

My film camera does two things: it lets me document life without picking up my phone, and it forces patience. Since I can’t instantly review the photos, when the scans come back, every image feels like a little gift.

4. A Book

Right now I'm reading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, which is an excellent analog bag book. The short insights on creativity are perfect for a three or thirty minute reading session, and since there isn’t a narrative arc to follow, I can pick it up and put it down nearly as often as I used to pick up my phone.  

5. A Physical Planner

There’s just something about a paper planner that can’t be beat. Writing things down by hand, physically crossing tasks off a list, seeing my week laid out on paper feels different (and better) in my body than viewing blocks on a screen. I'm currently using a planner from Art Problems Studio which has a customizable weekly spread, to-do list, notes section, and a habit tracker.

How to Build Your Own Analog Bag

Here's the truth: there is no universal analog bag. Mine is going to look different from yours, because what lights me up is different from what lights you up.

The questions worth asking yourself as you start to load your tote:

• What made you feel creative as a kid, before you decided you weren't creative anymore?

• What do you find yourself gravitating toward when you're genuinely relaxed? Drawing? Writing? Knitting? 

• What would be interesting enough to make you put your phone down?

The goal of the analog bag isn't productivity—it’s presence. It's about remembering to be a person in the physical world, who makes things with their hands, and pays attention to what's beautiful and interesting around them.

Inspiration is everywhere. We just need to put down our phones long enough to notice it.

Ready to start building your analog bag? Explore Palette Scout, the Palette Scout Sticker Pack, and more creative tools here.