Who else was forced to leave your phone charging in the kitchen at night back in middle school?
The emphasis on getting off your electronics and going outside was heavily put onto us as children desperate for our parasocial relationships. All childhood long, whatever headache stomach ache or anxiety you had, it was because you were on your phone too much. And it was annoying! Every child longed for the day when they weren’t nagged to get off their phone and do something fun.
Now it’s here, the day when we don’t get nagged anymore. And guess what… everyone is on their phone, All. Day. Long! VALLEY is not here to be the nagging mom that’s yelling at you, VALLEY’s a cool mom, so we are here to politely inspire some ways to switch your technologically based entertainment to a more physical one.
Puzzles
Puzzles are not only stimulating activity but they can be the perfect way to have some downtime. Spread it out on your floor, or your kitchen table, crank some music, and zone out while looking at pretty colors and shapes.
Murder Mystery Games
Instead of turning to a horror movie or going down the depths of a 100-part TikTok thread about a murder, buy a murder mystery game when you’re in the mood to spook yourself. This can be the perfect activity when you and your roommates are desperate for a night in and is rewarding.
Legos
We talk about iPad babies, but what about Lego adults? Legos are officially being deemed slept on in 2024 and VALLEY is here to bring them back. They are a great tangible piece of entertainment that helps you focus and think. Not to mention, a good Valentine’s day gift for any retired Lego kid in your life, cough cough.
Coloring book
If Anthropologie has adult coloring books, then you probably should too. Search under your bed for those colored pencils you packed freshmen year and never looked at again and brush the dust off of them. Coloring is a great self-care act that you can do pretty much whenever. You can even keep it in your backpack and pull it out when the professors are five minutes late instead of going on your phone (trust us, you’ll look cool).
Bringing back physical entertainment into your life can be truly beneficial. Purchase any of these listed products or think of your own and let @VALLEYmag know how you will be spending your downtime from here on out. And don’t worry, we won’t tell your parents that they are right.
