10 Creative Outlets – Need a hobby but don’t know where to start?

Ten creative outlets

There is a saying – find three hobbies you love: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape, and one to be creative.  Did you read yesterday’s post and think – yes – I need a creative outlet!  But were you unsure where to go from there?  Here are ten different suggestions for a hobby to get you started exploring about what sparks your creativity.

And remember – these don’t have to be things you typically think of a hobby!  I love the definition from the Chopra Center of creativity: “any time we take raw materials, physical or mental, and transform them into something new, we are using our creative energy”.  Here are just a few suggestions of hobbies you might enjoy exploring:   

Knitting (or crochet)

If you don’t know how to knit or need a refresher, ask around – you would be surprised at how many of your friends and family members might know and be able to teach you.  Can’t find anyone near you for lessons – there are tons of videos on YouTube or you can visit your local yarn store.

Already a knitter and need inspiration – if you aren’t familiar already, check out Ravelry.  And follow my knitting Pinterest board for what sparks my interest!

Knitting supplies can be purchased at a local yarn store, online, or from a big box craft store.  Also, always check your thrift stores as people regularly take up a hobby and later decide it isn’t the right creative outlet for them.  You can often find yarn, knitting needles and other supplies for a fraction of the cost of purchasing them new.

Sewing

Clothing, quilts, home decor, toys, and so much more.  Think about everything you use on a daily basis that is made from fabric.  Then realize you could make all of it! Some projects are best suited to hand sewing, others to using a machine.  You can use new fabric from a store or upcycle materials (from your closet or a thrift store) for your projects.  

Need inspiration, check out my Pinterest page for all types of sewing projects.  Interested in refashioning your wardrobe – I get endless inspiration from the Refashionista, it is so worth it to go back through her entire post history for different creative upcycles.

If you are in the market for a sewing machine on a budget, check places like Craigslist and Offer Up for someone selling a used machine.  Also always look in thrift stores. As long as the machine still runs, you can usually get it tuned up (check for a sew and vac repair store near you) for a fraction of the cost of a newer machine.  While I have a (slightly) newer sewing machine, my go to machine is a Singer from the 1940’s. I picked it up in a thrift store for under $20 when I was in college. It has been professionally serviced a few times over the years (around $40-50 each time), and that machine is way more durable and reliable than anything else I have ever used.

Bullet or Art Journal

These projects can be as simple as starting with a blank journal and a pen. You can also get creative with stencils, markers of all colors, stickers, paint, collage, and so much more.

A bullet journal in case you are not familiar is a really cool planner you create yourself.  Want to have a spot to track how much water you drink each day? Add it in. What about a place for meal planning, the online classes you are taking, and a way to separate your personal and work tasks?  Not a problem – you create the bullet journal that works for you!  

Many bullet journals are beautiful decorated with creative lettering, doodles, and even more involved full page painting spreads.  But you don’t need to be an artist to create a bullet journal! There is a ton of information online, you can get started by checking my Pinterest board, and then searching for #bujo on Instagram to get endless inspiration!

While you also create an art journal from a blank book, it differs from a bullet journal in that it is more of a personal reflection than a life planning tool.  Again, you don’t need to be an artist, you simply need to be ready to allow your voice to flow through your art. Art journals can be in any medium you like – line drawings, paint, colored pencils, mixed-media collage – if you can fit it between two book covers, it will work!

Art journals are an incredible tool for self-work (read more about why self-work is important here).  Using a journal prompt or exploring something which is spinning around in your mind, you can express your view point through your art.  And at the end of the day, you have an amazing journal to look back at in the future – a beautiful snapshot of a point in your life.  You can get more ideas and inspiration starting with this Pinterest board.

Play an instrument or sing

If you are musically inclined this is a great way to express your creativity.  You can explore music in private lessons or at home by yourself, but it becomes a totally different experience in a group.

If you are looking to bring a sense of community to your creative outlet, music is a great way to go.  Check for a community chorus in your area – you might be surprised to learn there is one in your town or neighborhood which welcomes anyone (regardless of talent or experience).  Play an instrument? Ask around, you might have friends who want to play with you. For both vocal and instrumental music options check places like meet-up for activities in your area.

Needlepoint/Cross Stitch

Does your creative outlet need to fit into a shoe box?  Needlepoint or cross stitch might be the right option for you!  Starting with nothing more than a piece of canvas or fabric, a wooden hoop, a needle and a few skeins of floss, you can create a masterpiece.  If you are thinking of the plastic canvas with that shoelace like yarn you might have seen covering a tissue box a few decades ago, think again.

There are more types of needlework than I could ever list.  Hop over to Pinterest and search for “needlepoint”.  Scroll through the first couple dozen images and you will start to get an idea of the variety.  This is another one where you will want to check the thrift stores for supplies – if you hit the right store on the right day, you might be able to get started with a needlework project for just a few dollars.

Needlepoint projects are usually compact, small enough to be easily stored in even the smallest of homes, and easy to transport making this a great creative outlet if you are looking for something to do on long commutes or if you travel a lot and like to bring a project along.

Writing

Do you have the next great American novel in your head (or brewing in your sacral chakra)?  Maybe you need to get your life story onto paper? If you feel driven to write, fiction or non-fiction, this is a great creative outlet.  Writing is another one which requires very little in terms of financial investment (any device that can access Google Docs will give you a platform to write – or you can take pen or pencil to paper and go old school) and takes up only minimal physical space.

You can write just for yourself – it might be in the form of a journal (another great self-work activity) or just a book you never intend to share.  Or you can write to share with the world – a blog, articles you submit to magazines, or a book you send off in the hopes of getting published.

No matter what you intend to do with your writing, make sure you are using this outlet to let your creativity speak – the reader will be able to “hear” the passion in your written voice!

One more thought on writing.  No writer ever published their first draft.  What you write will not be perfect in its first form.  Even this article will be revised at least three or four times before being published, and even then it won’t be perfect.

Painting/Drawing

So many choices including: watercolors, oils, acrylics, mixed-media, pastel, markers, colored pencils, and more.  You can create on canvas, paper, wood, metal, or any other surface which will hold the medium of your choice. What I am not talking about is changing the color of your living room (although if you decide you want to create a mural feature wall that is an awesome exception).

Like with writing, your intent might be to create something which is never seen by anyone but you and simply is an outlet for your creative voice.  You might also want to share your paintings or drawings, framing them to hang in your own home or to gift to others.  

This is a creative outlet you can pursue simply by following your own intuition.  If you want guidance to get you started, you can take classes at your local art store or art gallery or follow lessons and tutorials on YouTube and in art books.  I don’t say this often, but you probably don’t want to purchase supplies from a thrift store – many of these items have a shelf-life and/or are ruined by exposure to air. An art supply shop or big box craft store – online or in person is your best bet for purchasing supplies.

Woodwork

This can run a very wide gamut.  From whittling a fallen branch from your yard with a pocket knife to building all the cabinets for your own kitchen, woodworking covers the spectrum.  If you are interested in woodwork, ask around – does anyone you know do woodworking so you can get help in learning? Even better, would they teach you using their tools so you don’t have to invest money until you are sure it is the right creative outlet for you?

If you don’t have access to a woodworker in your friends and family, look for community organizations (I know there are woodturner associations around the country).  You can also find countless videos on YouTube, just search for the topic or subject that interests you. Finally, if you are interested in larger woodworking projects (think make your own furniture), I find Ana White incredibly inspirational.

Cooking

Yes, cooking counts as a creative outlet!  You may notice that in several of my recipes I list options to change the recipe and make it your own.  I actually think some of them include a sentence along the lines of – “the only limit is your creativity”.  

If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, this is a great way to be creative.  I would encourage you to be sure you bring a mindfulness to your cooking to get the greatest depth of impact.  And check out my post here on cooking with love to learn more about investing and expressing yourself through your cooking.

What to know what is sparking my interest in the kitchen?  You can check out my Pinterest boards full of recipes here and here.

Jewelry Making

There are so many different materials you can use in making jewelry.  Among just the first few projects on my Pinterest board is a ring made from a coin, beads made from wood, clay, and thread tassels.  You can use leather, elastic, metal, or thread to create necklaces and bracelets. Supplies can be inexpensive or precious metal and gemstones.  

You can create something purely because you believe it to be beautiful, or you can research a stone’s energetic properties and incorporate it into jewelry in a way that supports your self-care and self-work.  If you need help getting started, there are so many tutorials on YouTube, just search for the technique you are looking to learn.  

Depending on the materials you choose to use, checking thrift stores for jewelry to upcycle is a great option if you are on a budget.  There are so many great ways to reimagine old jewelry, but my favorite is to pick up inexpensive beaded necklaces made with gemstone and/or wood beads to mix and match with other beads, turning them into totally new pieces.  

Ok – you’ve inspired me – now what?

Are you really excited to get started on a dozen things?  Remember you do not need to limit yourself to just one creative outlet.  I actively express my creativity through several of these as well as several more that didn’t make the list.  

Check around the house for supplies to get you started.  Send out a message to your friends and family looking for someone who can help teach you (and/or provide supplies).  Research your chosen creative outlet on Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.  Follow your passion, and explore what lights a spark in you!

If you are still not sure you have seen the right hobby for you, check out my Pinterest boards with tons of additional ideas.

Wishing you enjoyment in expressing your authentic creativity!