Video summary

the hobbies i love after 3 months of no scrollingđź“– weekly vlog

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Key lifestyle tips & routines (no-scrolling journey)

  • After ~3.5 months of no scrolling, the creator says they’re:
    • “Surviving” and thriving
    • Getting more done with better focus and efficiency
    • Using the freed time for analog, off-screen hobbies instead of scrolling between tasks
  • Suggested mindset:
    • If you have the capacity to get through the rough adjustment period, it can be worth it.
    • Don’t aim to do everything perfectly—use hobbies to decompress, have fun, and get lost in the process.

Travel / outings / highlights

  • Park time (nostalgic outing):
    • Bring both analog and digital hobbies to the park
    • Do reading
    • Include some gaming park time
    • Feels like a return to childhood hangouts
  • Plant nursery trip:
    • Previously, they had to clear an area because of honeysuckle/shrub growth infested with rat nests (linked to living near a nature preserve and strawberry attractants).
    • They now switch to lower-profile California native plants that are:
      • More water-sustainable
      • Better at attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds
    • They visit local nurseries (not just chain stores) to find niche natives.

Plant/nursery shopping + garden staging (steps)

  • Choose plants suited for sustainability (water-wise) and local wildlife attraction.
  • Visit a local nursery with native-specialist inventory for better selection and pricing.
  • Stage/position plants before planting:
    • Put plants along a planned area to decide where they’ll go
    • Mix colors (orangeish + blue/purple) so placement isn’t all one color in one zone
  • Example haul notes:
    • One nursery purchase: $155 for the plants
    • Another nursery option included some plumerias (Hawaiian flowers), plus snake plants
    • One plant was discounted for being “a little grimy”

Health / food & recipes (what they made)

  • Protein ice cream experiments (corn + ube variations)
    • They make and freeze “corn protein ice cream.”
    • They experiment with ube flavoring:
      • They added too much ube, but it ended up delicious
      • Next time, they suggest it “only needs a few drops”
    • Ingredients mentioned:
      • During decompressing, they use rain sounds, but the cooking includes protein and ube/cake batter flavor components
      • Protein: used around half a scoop
      • Liquid measure: 180 ml (noted during mixing)

Creative hobbies (analog focus)

  • “Nook time” decompress routine
    • Sit on the nook after a stressful work day
    • Do journaling and sketching
    • Add ambiance/rain sounds
  • Watercolor catch-up + technique philosophy
    • Watercolor is framed as a forgiving medium
    • It encourages experimentation—learning how water amount/order changes effects
    • Beginner advice: if painting feels intimidating, watercolor is recommended
      • Imperfections (non-perfect lines, splotchiness) are part of watercolor’s style
    • They also mention oil pastels as beginner-friendly because they’re messier and less intimidating
  • Painting themes / hobby direction
    • 2026 theme: returning to favorites and nurturing what feels comforting
    • Ongoing interests: gaming and reading
    • Current painting subject: olives (with an “olives/pears” progress update)

Books & learning highlights

  • Panel / book-industry event
    • Panel with Boutique Book Society (Lauren and Tina mentioned)
    • Topic: marketing and social media
    • The creator says they used to hate public speaking but now enjoy it
  • Book recs and commentary
    • Strong recommendation: The Door by Magda SzabĂł
      • Described as a character study focused on a housekeeper/main character relationship over time
      • Praised for being beautifully written, slightly fantastical/surreal, and told through a character’s perspective (unreliable/less absolute clarity)
      • Notes on critical reception: some readers dislike characters for not being “good people,” but the creator argues that often misses the point
      • Mentions the book’s use of a dog as a foil to different characters
    • Other reading:
      • Finished North and South
        • Plans to watch the BBC mini-series
      • Reading:
        • Middlemarch
        • Chrysalids (New York Review Books edition; sci-fi context + post-war England nostalgia discussion)

Notable locations / products / people (end)

  • Locations: park; plant nurseries (local and “in the middle of nowhere” native plant nursery); office; “nook”
  • Product/Sponsor: Quince (European linen sheets, brown throw blanket; clothing, cookware, bedding)
  • Books: The Door (Magda SzabĂł), North and South, Middlemarch, Chrysalids, Call Me By Your Name, The Goldfinch (also mentions Monte Cristo)
  • Organizations/People: Boutique Book Society (Lauren and Tina); narrator/references to “Ryan” and “Kennedy” during recipe-making

Original video