Write a card, read a poem, take fewer photos: how to feel more human in 2026
While ‘touch grass’ has become a popular prescription for a less digital life, choosing social friction over efficiency can also feel curative
TL;DR
- Increased screen time has led to decreased in-person social interaction, with individuals checking phones hundreds of times a day.
- AI chatbots are increasingly used for advice and comfort, further endangering social connections.
- Choosing the human over the technological can be achieved through everyday decisions.
- Removing headphones in public can open opportunities for casual interactions and self-reflection.
- Making thoughtful, detailed introductions creates stronger foundations for genuine connection.
- Intergenerational conversations offer valuable insights and combat age segregation in digital spaces.
- Handwritten communication engages more of the brain and fosters emotional benefits.
- Reading and sharing poetry can create space for emotional honesty and reduce feelings of anxiety.
- Avoiding technological shortcuts like self-checkouts and QR codes preserves opportunities for social interaction.
- Taking fewer photos can lead to deeper memory retention of experiences.