Additional Coverage:
- My husband and I started doing adult paint-by-numbers to get off our phones. The hobby’s benefited us more than we expected. (businessinsider.com)
Local Couple Ditches Doomscrolling for Dabbling in Paint-by-Numbers
A local couple is trading endless phone scrolls for colorful canvases, discovering a refreshing way to reconnect and unwind through the seemingly simple act of paint-by-numbers.
In a world increasingly tethered to screens, one local woman found herself caught in the familiar trap of “doomscrolling,” a seemingly endless cycle of online content that often leaves more anxiety than enlightenment. Witnessing a burgeoning online trend of “going analog” and embracing screen-free activities, she – with a healthy dose of irony – found herself drawn to the idea.
“I’m not naive enough to think this movement is new or will last in any meaningful way,” she shared, “but participating seems like a nice way to take a breath and find some good in the rubble.”
The seed of an idea began to sprout: what if she and her husband embarked on a new, offline hobby together?
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone, Brush in Hand
When she floated the idea to her husband, he suggested adult paint-by-number kits. This concept, admittedly “far out of our comfort zone,” quickly became a reality.
Before they could second-guess themselves, the couple ventured to an art store, emerging $30 lighter with two large canvases in hand – a Brooklyn streetscape for him, a London skyscape for her. Their primary goal: a long-term project, not necessarily a masterpiece.
Back home, a folding table, water, brushes, and paper towels became the centerpiece of their loveseat-side art studio. With reruns of “New Girl” playing in the background, reading glasses donned, they began to fill in the numbered sections, each quietly hoping their finished pieces would be worthy of a spot on their bedroom wall.
A Lighter Connection, Reminiscent of Early Marriage
The painting sessions quickly revealed their distinct approaches. She tackled larger areas, meticulously avoiding mistakes, while her husband, having read all the instructions (hers were promptly recycled), focused on smaller details with darker colors. These differences, she observed, mirrored their broader personalities: her tendency to “catastrophize before building a plan” versus his “logical with a more black-and-white way of thinking.”
Despite moments of frustration and self-doubt (“My sky looks terrible!”), the couple persisted, night after night. Progress was slow, and completion seemed a distant dream. Yet, something profound began to unfold.
“Our home is kinder. We talk.
We laugh,” she recounted. The gentle “stress of getting the strokes within the lines” felt like a lighter, more nostalgic kind of stress, reminiscent of the early days of their marriage.
Each night, before bed, they would assess their progress, comment on each other’s work, and find themselves sleeping a little easier. They were rediscovering the simple joy of engaging in an activity without a goal or agenda, simply enjoying each other’s company offline.
Perhaps, when their canvases are finally complete, she’ll share a picture, “mistakes on full display – a little analog badge to celebrating remembering how to live.”