As spring 2026 approaches, TikTok has declared physical media back in! This decline in digital media has come with many questioning why we ever left physical media behind in the first place. We’ve spent so long trying to get rid of our collections of CDs, DVDs and books — anything that took up space in our lives felt out of place. Many of our beloved physical copies began to disappear in the rise of minimalism. Today, we create physical media to fill our lives with new memories and to capture what seems like a plastic world.
Here are six ways that you can embrace physical media:
The Scrapbook: The first form of physical media that you can engage with is a scrapbook. It is a valuable way to keep a physical catalog of photos. You can print out your pictures at CVS or Walgreens for a low price. Buy a scrapbook from Michaels, along with stickers, markers and some fun scissors. Decorate your scrapbook in a way that represents you and your achievement of photos. Play some music, watch your favorite comfort show or try scrapbooking with your friends. It can be as whimsical as you like with layering, drawing photos or simply attempting to create a 2000s magazine. You can take pictures from your phone, a digital camera, any little paper stub, program, animation, drawing or graphic that you come across in your daily life to add dimension to the life you are trying to curate in your scrapbook.
Letters: When was the last time you received a letter in the mail? For me, I was around 7 years old. I know it is a little old-fashioned, but here is my second idea: ditch emails and messages and embrace the distance between you and your loved one. Write letters about your life, what you ate, what you wonder and describe how much you miss the person you’re writing to, and then send it! We all love receiving letters, yet how can we expect them if we don’t send them anymore? It’s nice to have a physical letter to remember someone’s thinking, writing, penmanship and the overall idea that someone was thinking of you. We took letter writing for granted and today, we don’t support the United States Postal Service as much as we once did, and it’s a shame. You can add a special touch by purchasing personal stationery, creating your own cards, sending pictures or stickers and adding a wax seal.
Journaling: My third idea that embraces physical media involves forgetting your notes app exists and carrying a journal around again. Elena Gilbert did it, and so did many of our favorite TV and movie characters. It was good for them, so why did we forget about how powerful it is to have a place where we can brain dump? A journal is nice to keep around for to-do lists, writing goals, writing fears and getting everything out. This past year, I exchanged my notes app for a journal, and it’s been perfect to let out my worries and frustrations while writing down my visions for the future.
Magazines: My next idea is to read magazines again! We don’t talk about magazines enough and how amazing it was to collect them. Now we cut them up and forget about them. It’s time that we take a trip to our local libraries to look through their magazine section, maybe you can find a picture of Justin Bieber or find something that fits your new interests. Regardless of what you do, it is fun to flip through the pages and find something new or thought-provoking. Which brings me to my next idea, we have to ditch the kindles and sign up for a membership at the library.
Books: We have so many physical books that get left behind. I like to think of going to the library like thrifting. You never know what you can find and you might surprise yourself. You can take pictures, support the library and take time to browse all while finding the book at your fingertips. Even if you go shopping at Barnes and Noble or locally sourced book stores, bringing back physical books is beneficial. You get to rest your eyes from staring at a screen all day, you can take a break, relax your mind and most importantly, be more aesthetic.
CDs and DVDs: My last and final idea is a return to CDs and DVDs. Whether you want to go through the hassle of burning the CDs and personalizing them, or buying them, it’s time we return to collecting CDs like we used to. I also believe that DVDS need to make a comeback because what do you mean we pay for Hulu, Disney+, Netflix, HBO, Paramount and Peacock, just to not physically own a copy of those movies and shows. We do the same with Apple Music and Spotify! It’s time we go back to our roots and find enjoyment in the scavenger hunt of collecting what interests us.
Whether this is a trend or something officially coming back, this new fascination with physical media is a reminder to limit the brainrot. Let’s stop scrolling and start spending more time in the real world.