11 Creative Hobbies to Try When You are Totally Stressed

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Do you remember the last time you did something just for fun? An activity you enjoyed?

Just last year, my church was gearing up to host our bi-annual 3-day crafting event for those interested in scrapbooking, sewing, and all other creative hobbies. I used to scrapbook and already had all the supplies to join in.

My growing to-do list reminded the logical part of my brain that I didn't really have time to take a break…especially not for a craft project.

At the last minute, I decided to go for a few hours, just to see what it was like.

To my surprise, I finished one card, then another, then another, and the hours flew by as I lost myself in pretty paper, stickers, stamps, and markers.

By the time I left to go home, I had six handmade cards that I didn't have to buy {$4.99 a card at Target is pretty steep in my opinion!}, but more importantly, I left with a full heart and a mind brimming with inspiration.

Turns out, that much needed break was just the thing to give me long-lasting energy for everything else I needed to do that day. I could think more clearly because I gave my brain a few hours off rather than force it to power through at minimal capacity.

Are Hobbies Really That Important?

When the busyness of life takes over everything else, it's only natural to allow our passions to fall by the wayside.

Hobbies are one of the first things to go when our schedules get tight because they don't seem all that necessary. No one needs to crochet a blanket or sew a tote bag, unless they are selling those items as part of a business, right?

Except…I would argue hobbies are essential to a well-balanced life. Here's why:

1. Hobbies give you something do other than engage in screen time by watching TV or playing on your smartphone. Instead of being entertained, which drains energy rather than gives it, choose an activity to entertain yourself that engages a different part of your brain. See how you feel after 40 minutes of doing that activity versus 40 minutes watching a TV show.

2. Hobbies refuel the creative part of your soul. The opportunity to physically and mentally recharge your mind sparks new ways of thinking when you do resume normal, everyday activities. You'll feel more relaxed and in control.

3. Hobbies provide a short escape from your responsibilities. The change to your normal, everyday routine helps you “switch off” your mind and let go of stress. That hobby becomes something you look forward to and keeps life exciting!

Most importantly, the accomplishments you achieve through your hobby will help you gain confidence in yourself.

You might even decide to turn your hobby into a business!

11 Creative Hobbies to Bring More Balance into Your Life

While a hobby can really be anything you enjoy doing, these ones specifically nurture your creativity. Choose one you already love and want to improve upon, or one you've considered learning but haven't made time for yet.

• Hand Lettering – Fall in love with the art of fancy lettering to embellish a favorite quote or to add creative flair to your bullet journal. Although I have not personally used this book, my friend Jackie can't get enough of Hand Lettering for Relaxation.

• Adult Coloring – If you're hesitant to doodle or hand-letter on a blank page and would rather have a starting point, you can still get the full benefits of creative expression with an adult coloring book. Grab a pack of Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils for coloring tools that don't ever need to be sharpened!

• Cake or Cookie Decorating – You can enroll in classes at Michael's like I did or start with my simple celebration cake, cookie icing, or cupcake frosting tutorials to see if this is something you want to pursue further. Fun fact: I had my own cake business at one time!

• Photography – Dig out your fancy camera, or learn how to take your smartphone's abilities to the next level. I highly recommend Click. Love. Grow. photography classes. I enrolled in the Business course to improve the photos on my blog, and it made a huge difference.

• Cross-stitch or Embroidery – Cross-stitch and embroidery seem to be one of those lost arts, but I find them very soothing and fun to do. It's also not very hard to learn. Grab a cute kit on Amazon with all the materials included. If you want to make it easy, choose one with a pattern already stamped on the fabric piece.

• Soap Making – If you prefer soap made natural ingredients, why not experiment with your own? A quick search on Pinterest results in hundreds of tutorials—from invigorating lemon soap to deliciously smelling vanilla lotion bars. Don't forget to grab a cute soap mold!

• Crocheting or Knitting – Stitch patterns are much easier to understand when you have an actual instructor, which is why I head to Craftsy whenever I want to learn something new. Try Learn to Knit: Essential Skills for Beginning Knitters or Crochet: Basics and Beyond, and get instant access to step-by-step video tutorials.

• Baking – When was the last time you baked something, just for fun? Pick a tantalizing recipe from the hundreds you've saved on Pinterest, shop for the ingredients, and let yourself get lost in the kitchen with your favorite playlist on repeat.

• Writing – Writing doesn't have to be something you dread because of boring high school research papers. It can be really fun! Says, the writer in the room. 🙂 Whether you have an imaginative story you'd love to put on paper or want to share your thoughts through a blog, snag a copy of Everybody Writes by Ann Handley and practice her techniques in a cute journal.

• Sewing -Whether you want to make a pretty wallet or piece together a more complicated quilt, Craftsy offers classes for every project imaginable in this creative category. I'm also a big fan of the blog Make It & Love It. Not because I can sew—I just enjoy living vicariously through her projects!

• Craft/DIY Projects – Do you have hundreds of ideas saved on Pinterest like I do? Choose one to work on next! Gather the materials now so when you have a lazy Saturday afternoon at home, you don't have an excuse to put it off.

Ever since that crafting event at church, I've realized just how much hobbies need to be a non-negotiable in my life.  

I'm still tempted to pass them off as an “extra” I don't have time for {old habits are hard to break!} which is why one of my friends and I now get together for “crafternoons.” We'll spend an afternoon creating, chatting, and filling up our souls with a little self-care, which always turns an exhausting week into a much more doable one.

I want this for you too.

Pick back up a beloved past time or start something completely new. Find a friend to join in on the fun and serve as a creative accountability partner. All it takes is an activity you enjoy to rediscover yourself again and find more balance in the midst of a jam-packed schedule.

It won't take long before you realize investing in yourself is always time well-spent.

What is a current hobby of yours?

Is there one you would love to learn?

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