The more AI is shoved in my face, the more I crave handmade art, handwritten letters, physical media, and real human connection. There was a brief moment in time when I thought generative AI and tools like ChatGPT might be helpful to businesses and artists, but that time has long past as I’ve learned how much harm it’s causing creators and authors (stolen designs and words) and our environment (look up the water and electricity usage of AI and data centers).

There’s also a real detriment to our collective mental health happening. Some users of ChatGPT are experiencing actual psychosis, but also think of the long-term harm of disconnecting from our own thoughts and creativity…

There’s so much to say on this topic, but what I really want to focus on is how we can unplug ourselves from a virtual society and live a more “offline” analog life while still feeling connected to one another.

Here are 6 suggestions that don’t involve going completely off the grid:

Write to loved ones and pen pals

When I was 11 years old, I moved from West Virginia to Ohio. At the time (the 90s!), long distance phone calls were expensive, so the best way for me to keep in touch with friends and family was to write letters back and forth. My friend Leigh Anne and I have written to each other for more than 30 years now.

Letter writing helped me form deeper (and lifelong) connections and it’s one of the main reasons I started this business. Sending and receiving handwritten notes is a million times better than an email or text message. You get to see your pen pal’s handwriting and connect with each other more thoughtfully.

When my sister died in 2020, I was surprised to see that she kept every card or letter anyone had ever sent to her. It brought back a flood of memories and reminded me that people truly appreciate receiving these little pieces of love and they hold on to them.

If you’re new to snail mail, know that you don’t have to write long letters. A few lines in a notecard is all it takes to improve your mood and brighten someone else’s day. Might I suggest joining the Alison Rose Vintage Monthly Card Club? For $6.50, you’ll receive one card per month that you can write inside and mail to someone special. There’s also a 5 card option if you really want to commit or stock up on cards. If you need a pen pal, you can write to me anytime!

Another option is my friend Laura’s Letters to Remember project. You can write to her with a cherished memory and she will respond with a dialogue poem (and maybe a piece of art!).

I saw this in a post the other day and have to agree: “The only AI I want is in the word MAIL!”

Read more books or magazines

One of the best ways to feel more connected to human experience and gain more empathy and understanding is to read more books. For years, I mostly only read non-fiction, either memoirs or books focused on social justice. I wrote about one of my all-time favorite books, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, if you’re interested.

But for the last couple of years, I was in a reading slump and could barely get through one book every couple of months. This year, I decided to switch it up and read almost all fiction and romance (I credit Heated Rivalry for getting me into romance novels) and now I’ve read 40+ books so far this year. For my snail mail lovers, one of my favorite books this year was The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

If you think you’re not a reader, reconsider. There are so many different types of books, graphic novels, magazines, or just short poems or essays. You can also give audiobooks a try, maybe while walking outside, enjoying your morning coffee, or commuting to work. And many of my friends have found awesome online and in-person book clubs that make them feel even more connected.             

Enjoy more physical media

In this era of subscriptions and streaming, have you noticed that we don’t really own anything anymore? Even if you buy or download a movie, book, or album, it goes away if the subscription or streaming service ends.

For my birthday, I asked my parents to buy me a record player. There’s something so fun about collecting records and I find myself relaxing more as I pause to listen to needle on vinyl.