We’re sick of the AI age. Or at least some of us are.
Content slop divides us into the anxious and the exhausted. The anxious see the “AI revolution” and shift towards hyper-connectivity, Claude-maxxing, and hustle culture. They think they’re engaged and connected — but they’re just thin and distracted.
The fatigued, however, are sick of the rat race and future-proofing. They crave depth and human connection — they’re pushed toward the Renaissance Man. But it’s not exactly the one you’re thinking of.
The new Renaissance Man stays deep on whats important. He cuts the digital distractions, enriches his life, and maintains the space for growth. Still, this doesn’t happen overnight.
Stage 1: Quitting Social Media
People see the cracks in social media use. We don’t know exactly how, but we know its bad. Trends like the “Digital Detox” and the rise of using “Do Not Disturb” mode show that becoming inaccessible is now acceptable. What happened to the age of connectivity? The Renaissance Man unplugged. The targeted ads, doom scrolling, and outrage bait — none of it made him smarter or better. He removed the noise, but the silence felt empty.
Stage 2: Embracing Literature, Arts, & Crafts
He wants to fill the space, but now with something meaningful. Painting, composing, writing — they’re what make him feel human. Without social media, activities that once felt unstimulating now hold his attention. Creative and physical endeavors are so back — doing hard things feels good.
And even the data backs it up. Most Gen Z Americans have at least one “grandma hobby”1. They journal, read, and garden — while spending ~$60 a month to support it. People are craving depth in their lives, and they’ll pay for it. But rediscovering depth revealed something else: the phone itself was still a problem for the Renaissance Man.
Stage 3: Adopting Analog Minimalism
The hobbies stuck. But notifications still fractured his attention, pulling him out mid-brushstroke. He wanted to be present with his grandma hobbies. Thus, his phone transformed:
- Messaging ⇒ dumb phone
- Notes app ⇒ journal
- Camera app ⇒ digital camera
- Timer ⇒ analog timer/watch
- Music library ⇒ MP3 player
Splitting the phone into its analog counterparts guts the distractions. You only have what you need. Plus, tactile experiences — like writing in a journal — activate far more parts of the brain2. Accordingly, the analog minimalists are finding greater success.
Endgame
They’re trading exhaustion from AI slop for fulfillment in real work. These people become more focused through Creating and maintaining a monoideal state. They understand that Leisure is active contemplation — they become more creative. When applied sustainably through A simple schedule, they are more productive. Figures like Naval Ravikant and Cal Newport champion Deep Work, digital minimalism, and leisure. They make disconnection desirable. Suddenly what looked like digital-resistance now looks like discipline. The New Renaissance Man is back.
Further Reading
- Deep Work - Cal Newport
- Essentialism - Greg McKeown
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant - Eric Jorgenson