Why We Want to Change Our Screen Habits… but Don’t (Yet). And why Analogue April is stepping in to help

If you have ever caught yourself scrolling without meaning to, only to look up and wonder where the last 20 minutes went, you are not alone.

Almost everyone knows they are on their phone more than they would like. And almost everyone has an intention to do something about it. Yet very few of us manage to make lasting changes. 

The tension between what we want and what we actually do is where most people get stuck.

Our recent Analogue April survey revealed just how common this gap really is and why it matters.

We Know Screen Time Gets in the Way and We Feel It

When asked how often screen habits interfere with being present, 63.5 percent of respondents said it happens often or very often. Another 22 percent said it happens sometimes.

That means over 85 percent of people regularly feel pulled away from real life by their devices.

Not in a dramatic, throw-your-phone-in-the-sea sort of way.

In the small ways that add up: the half-listened conversation, the evening that slips away, the nagging sense of mental clutter.

People Want Change but They Just Cannot Sustain It

Here is where it gets interesting:

When asked whether they have tried to cut down screen use before, 73 percent said yes, but the majority could not make it stick.

Only 22 percent succeeded long-term.

This is the heart of the problem.

We are not dealing with a lack of awareness.

We are dealing with a lack of support, structure, and shared momentum.

People are trying to change alone in an environment designed to keep them scrolling.

And Yet People Strongly Believe Life Would Feel Better with Less Screen Time

A striking 82.9 percent believe reducing screen use would have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Only 17.1 percent were unsure, and no one said it would not help.

When asked what they would want to do with more non-screen time, the answers were simple and grounded in everyday joy:

- 58.5 percent would do something creative

- 56.1 percent would relax or switch off

- 51.2 percent would spend time with loved ones

- 48.8 percent would be outdoors

- 46.3 percent would exercise

People are not dreaming of major life changes.

They just want small, meaningful moments back.

Analogue April: A Reset That Meets People Where They Are

Analogue April exists because the modern digital environment is powerful, too powerful for willpower alone. The goal is not to shame anyone for scrolling. The goal is to help people reconnect with the parts of life that often get pushed aside.

Not by going completely offline. Not by deleting every app.

But by carving out one month a year to rethink our relationship with screens and build healthier habits that last.

And the appetite is already here:

90.3 percent of survey participants said the Analogue April concept is appealing, and almost 95 percent said they would consider taking part.

Those numbers tell us we are solving a real problem and people want support in solving it.

Why Your Input Matters Right Now

Analogue April is a global grassroots movement, and like any movement, it works best when people shape it together.

We are currently conducting ongoing research to understand:

- How people around the world truly feel about their screen habits

- What gets in the way of change

- What tools, community, and guidance would genuinely help

- How a global month of reflection and behaviour change should be designed

Your voice directly influences what the movement becomes.

Every response helps us build something useful, kind, and grounded in real human behaviour rather than assumptions.

If You Have Ever Wanted to Rethink Your Screen Time, This Is Your Invitation.

You do not need to be perfect. You do not need to give up your phone.

You do not need to have the answers. That is what the research is for.

You just need to care enough to share your perspective.

Take 2 minutes to complete the survey and help shape Analogue April.

Your honesty will help create a movement that supports millions of people trying to live a little more intentionally, online and off.

Take the survey here: https://www.analogueapril.com/survey

Thank you for lending this movement a moment of your scrolling time.