We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A pack of kinetic sand that'll instantly capture your attention with the first touch. You'll love how smooth the sand feels as it oozes through your fingers. Scrolling through social media can be mindless anyway — switch things up with this and the sensory satisfaction you'll experience will have you hooked in no time.
Recommended for ages three and up.
Promising reviews: "I'll admit that I'm an adult who plays with kinetic sand. I have a very stressful job and this sand is very therapeutic for me. The sound as you slice through the sand is calming but the real stress relief comes from slowly letting it fall out of your hands. It is sooooo relaxing. I can spend hours decompressing with this sand." —Vonner
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
2. A classic game of Uno for you to grab a couple of friends and have a no-phone party. Take a break form the blue light from your screen and spend some time bonding. Between the skip, reverse, draw four, and wild cards, you all will be sure to have several laughs and bitter players.
In Uno you race to get rid of the seven cards in your hand. You match one of the cards in your hand with the current card on top of the deck by color or number. There are special action cards that you can use to sabotage your competition like draw two, draw four, color changing wild cards, skips, and reverses. Once you're down to one card be sure to yell "UNO!" Whoever gets rid of their cards first is the winner! Recommended for ages seven and up!
Promising reviews: "I admit I haven't played Uno in years but my son wanted it for Christmas after playing it in line at a store. We played for three hours, we haven't done that in years." —Sonya S.
"My 10-year-old bought with his allowance and we have all enjoyed playing the game. Super fun, easy to learn, and great for a family game night." —Jeanette E.
Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in eight styles).
3. A 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that'll make you forget all about your phone. This puzzle is a wonderful distraction from the anxiety-ridden world that is social media. Just turn off your phone, dump out all of the pieces, and take your time putting the pieces together — you'll be glad you did!
Promising review: "Challenging but delightful! Love jigsaw puzzles. I am still working on this one. It is challenging but fun to see all the old familiar book titles. Wish I could have a shop like this for real! I have found many parts, and now I need to connect it all!" —Jean Doran
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
4. Or this 500-piece puzzle full of pups, if little fur babies just steal your heart.
Badge Bomb is a small business based in Portland, Oregon, that makes the most adorable buttons, magnets, and more. The puzzle's art is designed by Gemma Correll, an artist, writer, and cartoonist who's originally from England but now lives in Orange, California, with her pug pups Mr. Pickles and Zander.
Promising review: "This is a fun puzzle and it is very good quality. The pieces are sturdy and do not bend. The colors are bright and sharp. The pieces fit well together without issues. This puzzle will give you a very fun experience and it's so cute you may even want to frame it to hang on the wall." —Mari N.
Get it from Badge Bomb for $20.
5. A Paint by Numbers kit because you'll have no choice but to concentrate on filling in each number with the correct color. It comes with a pre-printed canvas sheet with over 2,000 numbered sections, 31 acrylic numbered paint pots, four synthetic bristle brushes, an instruction sheet, a reference sheet, and a wooden display hanger. Once your painting is finished, it'll be like you've gifted yourself a masterpiece.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Ciera Velarde shares:
"That's my in-progress Paint by Numbers on the right!! Compared to the example photo on the left, I'm going to take a moment to toot my own horn and admit how good it's looking (which is shocking because I have zero artistic skills). I will say — this baby is time-consuming, but in the best way possible. In the winter, I always feel like I spend all day on my computer working and then all night watching TV or scrolling TikTok, so I wanted to work on a just-for-fun project that forced me to put the phone down, zone the rest of the world out, and just relax. And it works!! I pop on my headphones, listen to an audiobook or a podcast, and just paint away for hours. It's so satisfying to see your work go from a whole bunch of meaningless blobs to a beautiful piece of art! This kit comes with plenty of paint, a simple frame to hang it up when you're done, and four brushes. However, I recommend buying an extra fine point brush to do all that detail work. I also use a goose neck reading light to help me see all the lines better."
Get it from Michaels for $14.99, or check out other Paint by Number kits here.
6. A classic Mad Libs book that's hilariously cat-themed. Each page lets you create your own story by filling in each line with silly adjectives. You can even try this with a couple of friends and act out the silly stories you all come up with.
There's also a dog version for those dog lovers out there!
Promising review: "A purrfect gift! Bought this as a Christmas gift for my father in law and we all played it throughout the day. As we drank some sangria it became harder to come up with witty words, but it was so much fun. The cat theme is great!" —A Wife and Mother
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
7. A 100 Things To Do scratch-off bucket list so you'll literally have no time to scroll and simply live in the moment. It features activities such as riding in a hot air balloon, scuba diving, riding a zipline, making a snowman, and more! Now you have the opportunity to try something new and make memories that'll last a lifetime.
It also contains a bit more big idea bucket list items, like run a marathon, but ya know, maybe one day you'll be able to cross them all over over time!!
Promising review: "The recipients of this poster loved the idea. They are an outgoing and adventurous couple. They said they would be hanging this in their office space and scratching them off as they complete them. They commented that moving to another country might not ever be scratched off but they are looking forward to doing as many as they can." —VLR
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
8. A pack of Crayola Globbles if you're looking for a cost-effective mechanism that'll keep you busy as you squish them, stick them to the wall, and stretch them. Even though they come in vibrant colors, you can bet that they wont stain your walls, or any surfaces. They also won't leave behind any sticky residue, so have a blast with them!
Watch this mom explain why Globbles are her "new favorite thing ever" on TikTok.
Promising review: "My 15-year-old asked for these after seeing them on TikTok. I got them as a stocking stuffer thinking they’d be tossed aside. Unbelievably he and his 17-year-old brother have spent time laying in the floor, tossing them up to the ceiling, and waiting for them to fall so they can catch them. I never expected them to get this much use. Bonus is they’re off their phones and in the family room with us." —Amazon Customer
Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a pack of 16).
9. A DIY crochet dinosaur kit small enough to hold your attention for a few hours. It even comes with a pre-started crochet piece, so even beginners can learn. With each stitch, you'll find yourself more and more invested in finishing this cute little dino — might as well leave your phone on DND.
This Asian-owned small business was co-founded by Justine Tiu and is based in NYC. The shop is known for their *fab* educational customer service and their adorable crochet kits.
Promising review: "I have never tried crochet before and wanted to try a new hobby to lower my screen time on my phone! I started with the shark and then ordered four more and I absolutely love them!! The directions are super easy to follow and I have a newfound hobby!!!" —K.O.
Get the dinosaur crochet kit from The Woobles for $25+ (available with or without a crochet hook).
10. A Rubik's Cube that'll make you use both sides of your brain to get all of the colors on the same side. It should take some deep breaths, patience, and a few of hours to solve the puzzle. If you're a Rubik's Cube master, then keep scrolling — you'll most likely solve this in under a minute.
This one is made from 100% recycled plastic!
Promising review: "The dimensions in the description had me worried this Rubik's Cube would be too small but it's actually perfect. I imagine if it were bigger it'd be uncomfortable to hold and manipulate. I love that it's got plastic tiles instead of those stickers that eventually fall off. Nothing worse than a Rubik's Cube with missing colors. OK, there's actually a lot worse than that. But you know it's annoying. Definitely an improvement from the cubes of years ago." —a customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.07.
11. A soy candle making kit so you can use your hands for something more creative than watching hours worth of TikTok videos. The kit includes soy wax, cotton wicks, a pouring pot, tea light tins, candle tins, color blocks, and enchanting essential oils. So now you can spend time away from your phone and make your home smell delightful.
Promising review: "I was so impressed with this candle making kit. I've been disappointed in the past with some DIY kids' crafts kits, but this kit is quality. Everything came packaged really well. The box is medium sized, but they used every inch of space inside. My kids can't wait to make their very own candles and I'm so excited to have a quality craft to do with them." —Kristen Miller
Get it from Amazon for $59.95.
12. The Sushi Go! card game you can gather up to four of your best friends and spend some quality time. The way the game works: divide the stack of cards evenly between all players, pick a card and pass your hand to the person on the left, pair matching cards to earn points, the person with the most points within three rounds is the winner! Keep screen time low, and quality time on the rise.
Promising review: "I ordered this as a Christmas gift for my family after playing it at my in-law’s. First off, the cards come in a metal tin which keeps the cards super protected and great for traveling. This game is super easy to learn and teach, my 11-year-old sister picked it up in no time. The game is played in three short rounds, making it a great game for kids with shorter attention spans and adults who may not love games, such as my husband. My in-laws love to whip this one out when we’re trying to kill some time before Sunday dinner. Having the short rounds makes it super easy to pause and come back to it later. This has easily become one of my favorite games." —Kristy
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
13. A spiral-bound collection of the best New York Times crosswords because you need something to help you exercise your brain. All you'll need is a pencil and a can-do attitude to enjoy time away from your phone.
Promising review: "Best Christmas gift my dad ever received. About five years ago, my dad randomly asked if I could stop by the bookstore and see if there were any 'New York Times crossword books, but only the Mondays (because they're the easiest)!' My bookstore trip was unsuccessful, so imagine my surprise when I saw that this book DID exist! My dad, who is impossible to buy gifts for, is blowing through this book and back on his crossword game! He's already bought the Tuesday book." —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $11.49 (also available for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — but they get harder as the week goes on, FYI).
14. A DIY bath bomb kit that comes with pink Himalayan salt, citric acid, Epsom salt, baking soda, and lavender vanilla essential oil. Now you can make your own bath bombs to make your bubble baths even more relaxing and enjoyable — it'll help you feel calm and take your attention away from your phone.
This kit comes with food-grade citric acid, baking soda, Himalayan salt, essential-oil blends, grapeseed oil, a spray bottle, aluminum bath bomb molds, bath bomb stickers and wrapping paper, and step-by-step instructions. Yields about 12 bath bombs!
Urban Kangaroo is a woman-owned business that sells DIY beauty and personal care kits.
Promising review: "I really enjoyed this product. They use good ingredients that don't dry out your skin. This was a fun way to spend an afternoon and I look forward to trying other DIY products from this company. I would recommend this to family and friends!" —jewell getson
Get it from Urban Kangaroo on Amazon for $45.95.
15. A deck of monochrome playing cards if you want to play a game of Crazy Eights, Texas Hold 'Em, Go Fish, or solitaire in style. This would be perfect for the next time you and your besties hangout.
16. Or, a deck of Gryffindor playing cards you'll surely love if you wish you could've practiced magic at Hogwarts, but instead you're just a muggle who's pretty much addicted to their phone. Revisit your childhood when you play your favorite card games with nostalgic characters: Harry Potter (duh), Hermione, Albus Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Tom Riddle (IYKYK), and more!
Promising review: "We bought this for our son's birthday as we've introduced him to Harry Potter recently. He loved this set so much he carries it around even when he won't be playing. He'll occasionally pull out the cards for his favorite characters and just admire them. When we actually play with them, they feel like quality cards and I really like their texture. While they have sets for each Hogwarts house, the only difference is the box. The cards within are exactly the same, except for the color of the back of the card. So there's no need to get the other sets, just pick your favorite house unless you're collecting it for the boxes and different back color." —My favorite Things
Get it from Amazon for $12.63 (also available in Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw houses).
Editor's Note: BuzzFeed does not support discriminatory or hateful speech in any form. We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and all fans who found a home in the Harry Potter series and will work to provide a safe space for fans. If you, like us, feel impassioned about trans rights, learn more or donate here.
17. A calligraphy guidebook so you can trade your phone for a new hobby. This book contains five different alphabet styles, upper- and lower-case letters, detailed instructions, and 15 beautiful lettering projects. Impress yourself and others with your newfound penmanship.
Be sure to grab some brush pens to add some texture with your new calligraphy skills!
Promising review: "I LOVE this book!! It's soo great for beginners! I’ve wanted to improve my penmanship and learn modern calligraphy and lettering for a long time. I thought I’d give this book a try and I’m so confident in my lettering now. I’m excited to create my own projects and show off my new skills!!" —KHenderson
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
18. A unicorn slime kit to make your own sparkly, bead-filled slime. The kit includes soft clay, slime activator, clear glue, glitter, snow powder, bottles of dye, and more. Enjoy hours of sensory fun away from screens as you make DIY slime with this super fun slime kit!
Promising review: "This is the best slime kit I’ve come across. I saw it last minute before my daughter’s birthday (11) and thought I’d get it as an add-on to her presents. It ended up being her favorite gift! Her brother (8) joined in and made slime with her and she still has enough to make more of all types." —Elizabeth & Rick
Get it from Amazon for $16.91+ (available in three styles).
19. The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, because making Disney-themed treats beats doom scrolling any day of the week. This cookbook features over 100 movie-inspired recipes you can enjoy in real life. If you could use a little Disney magic in your home, give these tasty recipes a try.
Promising review: "Beautiful hardcover cookbook with so many yummy Disney recipes from the parks! There is lots of Disney foodie history in it, plus recipes that look easy to follow with high quality ingredients. There are fun maps of each of the parks inside where the food is located from which makes it fun. As an avid Disney fan, I have never seen a cookbook like this." —Nicole
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (also available in a spiral bound copy).
20. A silicone bread maker because you're always watching baking shows on your phone and talking about how obsessed you are with them. Give yourself the gift of never-ending bread loaves. Plus, who doesn't love warm, pillowy, homemade bread?
This is both microwave- and dishwasher safe. It's capable of withstanding temperatures up to 428 degrees.
Promising review: "I love this. It's very easy to use and to clean. I have been trying to make fresh bread every week and this is much easier than using my Dutch oven. I have been trying different recipes with this bread maker and so far all have come out great!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $20.
21. A copy of Wreck This Journal, an easy way to ignite your creative side and pass the time if you've decided to take a break from social media. This book will literally force you to tap into your imagination with several exercises: sewing a pattern on a page, scribbling on the edge of the pages, coloring outside of the lines, and more!
Promising review: "I seriously love this journal! It is the most fun I’ve had with any journal or sketchbook and has really stretched my creativity. I bought two so my friend could do one too and she brings it over for our weekly get-togethers. We drink wine and do a page or two and have a blast." —S. Johnson
Get it from Amazon for $9.59 (available in two binding options).
22. Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy, a cookbook that'll allow you to explore the rich culinary history of Italy with simple and authentic recipes. Invite a few friends over for an Italian dinner party — it'll force you all to actually enjoy the food and each other's company.
23. An acupressure and pillow mat set if you're always complaining about your neck or your back hurting from slouching when you're lost in your phone. The set has spikes that are designed to target sore muscles in common pressure point spots, and help release built-up tension. Hopefully you'll take some time for yourself to enjoy a little self-care.
Read more about acupressure and stress at Cleveland Clinic.
Promising review: "I have constant lower backaches and muscle pain in my neck from sitting at my computer at work. I been prescribed muscle relaxers but I hate taking them because of drowsy they make me feel, read the reviews on this and decided to try it out. This helps my pain so much! I can feel the difference after using it for 30 minutes before going to sleep, especially in my neck!" —Julie
Get it from Amazon for $23.48+ (available in 12 colors and three sizes).
24. A beginner embroidery kit to give you a hobby that'll keep you relaxed and too busy to be anything other than focused on your new project. This kit comes with a patterned cloth, a hoop, instructions, a floss thread set, and needles for a foolproof activity that'll also result in something you might want to have framed.
Promising review: "I truly loved everything about this set of three different designs. Each was packaged separately, all arrived in a large zip bag, which is convenient for gifting or sharing. I appreciated only receiving one hoop in this set, as well as that each design had clear directions, the threads separated neatly, and it came with several needles. It’s perfect for those new to needlepoint or who might be picking up the craft anew. Not too challenging, but a nice variety of different types of stitches are involved with each pattern, which makes it (for me) more engaging and fun. I highly recommend this!!" —Anna M.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in nine designs).
25. A skin care kit ready to use anytime you need some TLC in the form of an at-home spa day. Nourishing goodies like face creams, clay masks, eye masks, soaps, bath bombs, and many more can be found in each of these kits. Trust me when I say — nothing is going untouched!
26. A face mask maker that allows you to be in control of what ingredients you put on your skin. Just fill with water, then add in your favorite liquid ingredients, push a button, and watch the machine fill the mold with liquid. Once it cools down, you'll be ready to wear your customized face mask.
Promising review: "This was by far the best purchase I've made in a while. I got it for my wife and daughter who are obsessed with face masks. [They love] the ability to put your own ingredients in it, [and can make the masks] without any harsh chemicals. The masks are thicker, staying on their faces longer and more securely than store-bought ones. Definitely recommend." —darwin paul
Get it from Amazon for $58.59.
27. A tea steeper for all of the crystal lovers who also enjoy a good cup of loose leaf tea when they need a chill moment. Just unlatch the infuser ball, add in you favorite tea blend, close the latch, and submerge it in your cup of hot water. In my opinion, the gems add the cutest touch!
New Moon Beginnings is a small business located in Pennsylvania that sells healing crystals, jewelry, and energy and aromatherapy items.
Promising review: "This is so beautiful! My pictures don't even do it justice. It has beautiful flash. I was worried that it would be too heavy once I was letting it sleep, but it is perfect." —Davona
Get it from New Moon Beginnings on Etsy for $11.39+ (originally $11.99+; available in 28 stone selections).
28. A whopping 15 rolls of lanyard string that'll have you feeling nostalgic if you made these as a kid. You can mix and match any colors to create super cool patterns. Take a trip down memory lane and reflect back to when times were simpler and you weren't obsessed with social media or your cell phone.
Promising reviews: "I loved the price for what I received in the package, it brings me back to when I was young making key chains and now I can make them with my children. You receive a lot of colors and key chains as well as jewelry clips." —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six styles).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.