With summer upon us and AI taking over, people are looking for an escape. We are so close to the finish line, and it’s time to end the spring semester with a bang. After tirelessly getting through exams, the thought of what’s to come during the summer starts to glitter throughout our brains. Three months of pure bliss from the noise and chaos, not only from school, but AI as well. AI has grown so much over the last couple of months, and not only are students starting to become burnt out from assignments, but AI is also taking a toll.
During this time a new trend has taken over. Analog bags have been trending on TikTok as a way to escape our newfound reality. People are filling up bags with non-digital activities, whether it’s reading, puzzles, crafting, or writing. It’s basically a first aid kit to help cure “brain rot,” and all of the extra stress electronics give from excessive use.Â
As we enter this new era of AI overuse, people are clawing for a way to escape. Even though this is a trend, it shows how desperate people are, and maybe it is the start of something new. It makes me hopeful for a future where we can find joy outside of things like social media, where everything is overly saturated — so let’s start now.
As college students, summer is a crucial time to rejuvenate by participating in what I like to call an “analog summer,” building up our own bags of bliss. Not only will this help us de-stress, but participating will also help prepare us for fall semester. We need to be able to take care of ourselves, and fully heal from the burnout that has left a mark. This can become the first step of taking care of ourselves.Â
As we finish off these last couple of weeks, build your own analog bag. It might end up being just what you need after working hard throughout these last two semesters, by letting you be in control of your own escape.