Life in the Slow Lane: Nine months post-social media and the radical art of analogue living

It is now nigh on nine months since staging a dramatic jailbreak from the digital panopticon. Back in October 2025, I finally called time on the endless, soul-sapping scroll and stepped away from social media.

I’m happy to report that the experiment hasn’t just succeeded - it has completely rewired my day-to-day existence. In fact, I’ve recently taken the final step and completely deactivated my Facebook account. Along with it, I purged the apps of pure mind destruction, specifically the BBC News app and various other mainstream outlets. Let’s be honest: they did nothing but feed my inner anger at the world and the absolute idiots currently thriving in it.

I do still maintain a minimal presence on Instagram, but the dreaded 'Doom-Scroll' has been completely cured. It is now strictly a digital noticeboard - a place to highlight shifts in the photography business, point people toward the Man of 2 Worlds YouTube channel, and advertise posts from my various blogs. Beyond that? Silence. And it is beautiful.

Instead of chasing cheap dopamine hits from strangers, I’ve spent the last nine months leaning heavily into a much more grounded, analogue way of living. And the results have been nothing short of transformative.

The Analogue Resurgence: Trading Pixels for Reality

When you stop filling every spare microsecond with a screen, you suddenly realise how much room you have to actually live. My digital detox didn't leave a void; it created space for things with weight, texture, and meaning.

• Time on the Wrist: I’ve traded smart notifications for the quiet, reassuring sweep of the beautiful Accurist analogue wrist-watch that Ebony bought me as a wedding gift three years ago. It doesn't buzz, it doesn't demand my attention, and it doesn't track my heart rate - it just tells the time and reminds me of what matters.

• Ink and Paper: Instead of shouting into the void of a comment section, I now write my thoughts, feelings, opinions, and creative ideas into a series of little paper notebooks. There is a distinct, tactile therapy in physically scratching out a thought with a pen.

• Books, Beats, and Culture: I’ve returned to reading real, physical books and listening to actual CDs, properly immersing myself in the music rather than treating it as background noise. I’ve been diving deep into Scottish history, studying the works of legendary 1930s and 40s Hollywood portrait photographers to lay the groundwork for a new branch of my photography business, and dipping my toes into the world of deadpan photography.

• Metaphysical Exploration: With a clear mind, I’ve found myself drawn to studying various metaphysical subjects. I’ve been exploring tarot and oracle cards and their place in modern society, alongside spiritual movements outside the boundaries of organised religion - delving into Buddhism, shamanism, and the rich cultures of Native American traditions.
  

  

Perspective, Family, and What Truly Matters

Stepping back from the noise hasn't just changed my hobbies; it has profoundly altered how I show up for the people who matter most.

Recently, I became a grandfather. My little grandson is currently undergoing extensive, serious treatment down at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for a defective heart. It’s the kind of situation that testing your resolve, but having the mental space away from digital distractions, has allowed me to fully focus on the reality of the situation. I have deeply relished the bond I’m building with the Wee One, and it has allowed me to reconnect with his father - my son - in a completely new and delightfully different way.

Without the constant, low-level anxiety of the online world humming in the background, I’ve had the emotional bandwidth to be genuinely present for my family when it matters most.

The Verdict: A Clear Mind and a Calmer Life

If you had told me a year ago how much my health would improve just by dropping the apps, I might have been sceptical. But the physical and mental shifts are undeniable.

My mind is the clearest it has ever been. I am sleeping significantly better, my focus has sharpened, and my general demeanour is far more relaxed and calm. I’m no longer carrying the collective, agitated weight of the internet around in my pocket.

There’s still plenty of general nonsense to contend with - usually involving unpredictable Scottish weather or waiting with tactical patience for video files to render - but my outlook has fundamentally shifted. This wasn't just a temporary digital detox; it’s a permanent lifestyle choice. Life is simply too good to spend it staring at a five-inch screen.

Here’s to the slow web, real books, film cameras, and keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the world right in front of us.

All images in this post created by Google Gemini ;-)