The time that we collectively accrue with our faces in our phones is preeeeetty terrifying: According to Ofcom data released earlier this year, nearly a fifth of people aged between 16 and 24 spend more than seven hours a day online... What? The* Bleep!

So, in a desperate bid to be more conscious of how and where we use our precious few moments on earth – and, as we set our resolutions for the year ahead – we got to thinking about the numerous ways that we could best use the time that we would have spent being glued to our devices. 



Master a New Craft
It might seem like all good things are digitised these days, however nothing beats putting pen to paper (à la calligraphy at Quill London), or getting hands-on and mastering a new craft.

From potting a terrarium and learning the art of bottled gardens, to crocheting or showing-up Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze with your very own honed pottery skills, there are workshops aplenty right on our doorsteps... And you’re missing a trick if you’re yet to scope them out!

Our advice? Check out the London Craft Club for unique experiences – like the art of pyrography, how to make a mirror hanging, and creating your own neon-style artwork – plus the Kiln Rooms in Peckham for a range of ceramics classes, in which you’ll cook up a creative storm.


Whip-up Something Tasty
If you’re anything like us, your daily diet may well follow a similar pattern to your wardrobe rotation: The same staples continue to crop up, week-on-week. However, there’s no time like the present to get yourself out of a foodie rut…

Whether you’re vegan, veggie or an avid carnivore, vast cuisine and cultural inspiration awaits you via coffee table tomes from the likes of The Little Swedish Kitchen by Rachel Khoo, Jasmine Hemsley’s East by West, and Two Kitchens: Family Recipes from Sicily and Rome by Rachel Roddy. In fact, there’s no excuse not to shake things up this phone-free season!



Stick your Nose in a Book
Much like a poolside holibobs, the Christmas period is a rare moment that you can read, unapologetically, to your heart’s content.

Stuck for ideas? Take your bookworm cues from Caroline, Abigail and Josephine, who last week singled out the titles that were topping their festive reading lists. Or, failing that, make your way to your local bookstore to choose the titles which most pique your curiosity – and support small and independent businesses while you're at it! 



Also on Because Magazine:

Do you have the guts to wear these bright-as-can-be prints?

+ If you're wondering what to do with the rest of your December, look no further...

+ Say 'I do!' to ethical diamonds.


Tags: Mindfulness