We need adult hobbies now more than ever
life is short, prioritize creative expression!
There’s something profoundly grounding about turning to creativity in times of global uncertainty, when the news feels overwhelming and the pressures of daily life seem heavier than usual. I’ve noticed that whenever the world feels like it’s spinning a little too fast, I instinctively crave an outlet that allows me to connect with my inner child. Something tangible, something that lets me step away from the chaos and immerse myself in the simple joy of making and being.
Adult hobbies, to me, are little vacations from reality. Hobbies allow us the opportunity to explore and get to know ourselves, without booking a flight to a far-flung land.
Through watercolor painting, writing, film photography, and scrapbooking, I’ve reconnected with myself and found new understanding of myself in a way that feels both soothing and purposeful. Hobbies are not just distractions, they’re a form of healthy escapism, offering a space where I can slow down, breathe, and focus on the process rather than the outcome. And right now, I truly believe we all need some healthy escapism in our lives, something to put us in a flow state and let us forget for awhile.
In a world increasingly dominated by screens + social media, building something with two hands feels revolutionary. It feels sexy! There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from creating something physical, something tangible, something I can be proud of. It helps me appreciate the small, intricate details of the universe. I can’t control everything happening in the world, but I can still shape, craft, and nurture something beautiful.
You can too! As adults, we don’t tend to prioritize time for hobbies, but the good news is, you have free will! You can decide today that creation is important to you, and I promise, it’ll make a difference in your life to honor that commitment (can you tell I’ve been reading The Artist’s Way?). I’ve noticed a MASSIVE boost in my mood, and I feel like this happiness has trickled over to other parts of my life that felt lacking. I’ve noticed creativity striking at unexpected times, and I’ve felt so energized recently.
I know trying new things can seem daunting, but here are five hobbies I’ve recently taken up. They’re not too time consuming, not too expensive, and are rather accessible to all.
Watercolor painting 🎨
I have this portable set, and I’ve really enjoyed taking up watercolor and knowing that I can travel with it — I have no excuses not to paint. It’s a nice way to kill an hour, and it’s very beginner friendly! I’m shooting to set aside even 30 minutes once a week to just paint whatever. I’ve found a ton of inspiration on Pinterest, and I’ve been looking up techniques on YouTube to learn. My goal is to be the woman in the park painting her surroundings this summer. Join me!
Start sending your long distance friends fun snail mail 🐌
It doesn’t have to be gorgeous, but make it into an art project if you want to. I have a lot of long distance friends, and last month, I made a collage for everyone in one of my group chats and sent them with hand-written letters. Small gestures like this make people feel so seen and go a really long way to keep long distance friendships and relationships alive. A phone call is great, but a letter is timeless. I plan on starting to collect postcards + hotel stationery from my upcoming travels to use as snail mail.
P.S. - Don’t have a snail mail buddy in your life but want to get in on the fun? I’m starting a snail mail group! Join my chat for more info.
Start romanticizing your life through scrapbook journaling or collaging 📓
Last year, I pledged that this year I was going to take up scrapbook journaling as a way to document my travels for the year. I started this last month, and immediately fell so in love with it that I began to do it for my everyday life, too.
When I started romanticizing my Mondays as much as my vacations, it made me appreciate all of the dinners I had been to with friends and all of the date nights I had been on with my husband. I now feel like a magpie, eyes wide open looking for things that are shiny to me — restaurant receipts to remember meals by, stickers and business cards from places I love, ticket stubs, photo booth strips with my son, fortune cookie fortunes — all of it gets saved for my scrapbook journal!
P.S. — I’m starting a Brooklyn based scrapbook/collage club! Join my chat for details.
Start a collection 🖇️
It can be matchbooks from restaurants you’ve tried and loved, postcards from far flung destinations, or fridge magnets from family vacations. It doesn’t matter, but it’s another fun way to make memories and display them, if you’d like. I’ve framed matchbooks from special restaurant moments in my life, and if my fridge doors were magnetic, you better believe I’d have an insanely embarrassing kitschy collection of surf shop magnets all over it. Honestly, my family is lucky that the fridge is wood paneled!
Get into flower arranging
Stop by your bodega or Trader Joes, pick up a few stems, and make something out of them! I used to run by the farmer’s market and pick out pre-arranged flowers, but I find doing it myself to be a cathartic, creative outlet. It’s also much, much cheaper than going to a florist — I can usually make myself a stunning, massive bouquet for less than $40, and have enough stems left over to make a small arrangement for my guest bathroom. It forces me to think about what would and wouldn’t go together, and how certain colors and textures play with one another. I usually arrange based off how how I feel more than anything, but when I started out, I heavily relied on Pinterest as inspiration.
Where I go for inspiration
Stores
The Analog Stationer in Prospect Heights has lovely greeting cards, stationery, writing utensils, starter watercolor sets, and more! This spot just opened up and I’ve already bought some lovely cards there.
Yours Truly, Brooklyn in Fort Greene is my go-to whenever I need a new notebook or a last minute birthday card. They also sell gorgeous blank cards that would be perfect for snail mail correspondence.
Goods for the Study in Nolita carries everything one could ever need to send gorgeous snail mail, and they also carry starter watercolors and pens in every thickness and color.
Yoseka Stationery in Greenpoint has a hugeeeee ink wall if you’re looking to get into calligraphy! If you want to come test out some new pens before you buy, this is the place to do it. This place is legendary and started in Taiwan in the 80s before setting up shop in NYC.
If you’re not in NYC and want inspiration in person, Blick is a classic for art supplies, and they have stores in most states/major cities. I prefer to shop from independent stores, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Studios in NYC
Happy Medium is a truly excellent place to go on a friend date. It’s an art cafe, but instead of ordering food you order art experiences. You can choose from collaging, paint-a-pot, friendship bracelets, beading, clay, watercolors, nude figure drawing, and more. Reservations required.
BKLYN Clay has pottery wheel and hand building classes for beginners, and rents studio space to seasoned veterans.
Art Shack offers beginner wheel and ceramics classes to adults, and is in the cutest space ever. I send my son here for summer camp sometimes and he adores the instructors.
Lucky Pig in Fort Greene opened recently, so I haven’t checked it out yet, but they offer one-time beginner pottery classes and they have pottery studio memberships.
xx,
Bella
Amen!! I feel like everyone in my life right now has a similar sentiment. We're all a little weary with the information overload of 24/7 scroll time. Let 2025 be the year of the hobby!
I just ordered a junk journal from the queen herself Martina Martin - cannot wait for it to arrive and get started!! Hobbies are the best :)