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In an era defined by information overload and screen fatigue, analog activities (including the wonderfully dubbed “grandma hobbies”) have been riding a wave of renewed popularity. An increasing number of us are realizing our spare time can offer a respite from the digital onslaught, an opportunity to “switch off,” literally and figuratively, and become fully immersed in the physical world — whether it be with a block of wood, a book, or the birds in our backyards.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of quietly compelling hobbies that are great for dabbling in at any age and skill level, so whenever you find yourself wanting to scroll, you have a whole list of joyful things to occupy your time with instead. Because as much as we may romanticize the before-screens times, when entertainment often involved playing card games or making crafts, those simple joys haven’t gone anywhere.
Watercolor Painting
Cast your mind back to the last time you had a paintbrush in your hand. Whether that was yesterday or first grade, it can be wildly soothing to swirl colors onto a canvas and create a scene of any kind — maybe circles, fruit, or flowers inspired by shadows. Aside from being a creative outlet, watercolor painting is also a practice in letting go of control, as your work may bloom and streak in beautiful ways you didn’t expect — a lovely metaphor for life.
A friend of mine turns her watercolor creations into the loveliest greeting cards and gift wrap. But regardless of if you feel your results are greeting card-worthy, the process has been shown to lower stress and reduce anxiety.
Supplies: Watercolor paint set with brushes or all-in-one mini watercolor travel kit, watercolor workbook, watercolor paper
Build a Birdhouse
Have you ever seen a birdhouse while out and about and thought, “I’d love to make that”? This is your sign to go for it! You don’t need to be a skilled woodworker to build an awesome house for feathered friends — plenty of kits come with everything you need to DIY. (Prefer to watch squirrels? Make a darling squirrel playground feeder instead.) It’s also a two-for-one hobby, as you’ll reap the rewards of more birds swinging by your neck of the woods for longer stints, and birdwatching has its own set of benefits.
Supplies: Mid-century modern birdhouse kit, Lincoln log birdhouse kit, or classic birdhouse kit, non-toxic wood varnish
Air-Dry Clay
You can create whatever your heart desires with air-dry clay, from painted pots and ornaments to candlestick holders and trinket dishes — or, in the spirit of screen-free hobbies, a “do not disturb” phone stand. Bonus: Working with clay may be an especially helpful hobby for those wanting to improve their strength and joint flexibility. A small study even found that when patients with Parkinson’s participated in clay art therapy, their hand dexterity, mood, and quality of life improved.
Supplies: DAS clay, tools, and acrylic paint and brushes, or this Sculp’d pottery kit. Pro supplies: UV resin and a UV light to make your creations extra shiny (just be sure to wear a mask and gloves — check out a tutorial)
Creeking
If you’re lucky enough to live by a creek, you’re lucky enough to make creeking your new hobby. Just like it sounds, creeking involves heading to a creek and wading through the water to look for aquatic life, rocks, or fossils, and simply feel the elements under your feet. It’s a great activity to do as a family, but solo exploring is an equally wonderful way to commune with nature — just be ready to get more than your toes wet.
Supplies: Water shoes, a towel, sunscreen, and a waterproof bag
Crosswords
Crosswords are ideal for those looking to relax while still getting some mental stimulation. The cognitive workout may enhance vocabulary, strengthen memory, and improve thinking skills. They also come in a range of difficulties, from mini puzzles to large grids with 21-by-21 squares, depending on how much of a challenge you want.
Fun fact: You can find a weekly crossword in our Nice News Sunday Edition, and daily through our sister brand Crossword Club.
Supplies: A good old-fashioned pencil with an eraser (though, if you’re a real daredevil, you can use a pen), a pencil sharpener, and The New York Times Ultimate Crossword Omnibus, featuring 1,001 puzzles ranging from easy to hard
Bake Three-Tiered Mini Cakes
@chefkristea Mini Tiered Cakes!!! These were soooo cute and baked perfectly in this new cake pan. (This exact cake pan is linked in my Amazon Storefront, just click the link in my bio to get to it) Now these pans were a bit bigger than I expected and my #whitecake recipe was just enough to fill all four cake cavities. Give these pans a try and let me know what you think 🎂🎂🎂 #minicake #minicakes #minitieredcake #minitieredcakes #amazon #amazonstorefront #cakepan #cakepans #cake #cakedecorating #fyp #explore #explorepage #kristys #chefkristea
♬ Encore – Cheryl Lynn
For all my fellow bakers out there, consider adding three-tiered mini cakes to your recipe repertoire. Any type of baking will suffice for a screen-free hobby, of course, but these delights are too whimsical not to encourage. Essentially a fancy twist on cupcakes, the itty-bitty layer cakes look more complicated to make than they actually are.
You can either bake one sheet cake and use cookie cutters or the bottoms of drinking glasses to cut the layers — or opt for ready-to-go three-tiered mini cake molds. Then, decorate your creations as extravagantly as you like. I personally love having a signature baked good for birthday parties and just-because get-togethers and can’t think of a cuter one than these.
Supplies: Three-tiered mini cake molds, apron, cake mix (or gluten-free), frosting, and a cake decorating kit
Grow Sprouts
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of eating something you’ve grown yourself — and you don’t need a sprawling backyard or even natural light to do it. Sprouts are one of the simplest plants to tend, requiring only a few supplies and a dark space, according to this very thorough beginner’s guide.
Beyond the joy of getting to nurture your green thumb, sprouts are also packed with vitamins, and they add a good crunch to sandwiches and salads. Plus, when you grow them at home, you can reduce the bacterial risk that can come from outside handling and harvesting.
Supplies: Mason jars, sprouting seeds, cheesecloth and rubber bands or mesh sprouting lids, and medium bowls or sprout jar stands — or an all-in-one sprouting kit
Rockhounding (and Tumbling)
Love pretty rocks (like Liz from Shrinking)? Rockhounding can be as simple as collecting pebbles that catch your eye on neighborhood walks or as in-depth as trekking to riverbeds and using special tools to identify geological treasures, all done legally and responsibly, of course — be sure to check your local laws. The key is to not be afraid to get your hands a little dirty or of what creepy crawlies you might encounter when you turn rocks over.
Before heading out, watch the above video filled with tricks and tips, like what to look for and where to go. If you can bear the noise or have a garage, you can try tumbling your finds after bringing them home.
Supplies: Rock pick, a durable bag for stashing finds, The Rockhounding Field Guide, a sun hat (more options here), sunscreen, and, optionally, a rock tumbler
Immersion Reading
If you’re looking to get out of a reading rut or want to get as close as you can to the world inside a book, try immersion reading. It’s the practice of reading a physical book while simultaneously listening to its audiobook, which you can check out from your local library using Libby or purchase on Libro.fm to support local booksellers.
One TikTok user described immersion reading (also called immersive reading) as watching a movie in your head. I read All the Light We Cannot See this way and found it helped me tune out distractions better and read faster.
Supplies: A book and and its accompanying audiobook, headphones, reading light, and a pair of reading glasses if you need ’em
Play Mahjong
Much of the world has been swept up by mahjong, including my mother! The four-person Chinese tile game originated in China in the mid-1800s, but has lately been popping up everywhere from mom groups to neighborhood bars. The goal is to be the first person to match their tiles to one of the permitted winning combinations, but win or lose, it’s an outlet for those looking to improve cognitive function, boost hand-eye coordination, and connect with people offline.
Learn the rules with this beginner’s guide — and once you feel ready to start clacking tiles, find a mahjong event in your area.
Supplies: American mahjong set and Mahjong: House Rules From Across the Asian Diaspora
Ikebana
Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arranging, is a centuries-old practice often translated to “giving life to flowers.” Unlike many of the bouquets found in supermarkets, often featuring a medley of bold colors and textures, Ikebana tends toward more minimalist, asymmetrical shapes in which the space between stems is as important as the flowers themselves. You may find ikebana classes offered through Airbnb Experiences, community centers, and botanical gardens, but there are also plenty of online tutorials.
Supplies: Flower frog, flower scissors, vase (this one comes with a flower frog), and flowers of your choosing from your local florist
Kite Flying
This enduring hobby goes back over 2,000 years and remains a timeless activity that’s practically synonymous with hope and wholesomeness. As simple as it seems, though, there’s an art to getting a kite to go up and stay up. So before you head to a local park (ideally one with plenty of room to run), consider watching an online tutorial on the basics. Whether your kite flies for two seconds or 20 minutes, you’ll feel good knowing your face is turned toward the sky — and you’ll likely be inspiring others to look up too.
Supplies: Prism Kite pocket-sized flyer or full-size kite
La Passeggiata (Going for an Afternoon Stroll)
If you’re in the creative humdrums or feeling overwhelmed by the options on this list, “la passeggiata” might be more your speed. It literally means “the walk,” but the term means more than just putting one foot in front of the other. La passeggiata is the ritual of taking a stroll in the late afternoon or early evening to get out of the house and simply amble with “no destination,” according to Tourissimo Travel.
Supplies: Comfortable shoes
RELATED: On the Hunt for a Hobby? Here Are 31 Activities to Try
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