How to Break the Scroll Cycle: Creative Hobbies for Inner Calm and Happiness

Everyday responsibilities often leave us feeling drained and unable to do much more than mindlessly scroll through social media. But that just makes things worse because then we are left with feelings of overwhelm, unhappiness and anxiety. To break this cycle, we've started incorporating activities that inspire creativity and bring a sense of calm. Below are some of our favorite creative hobbies that can be enjoyed in a group or solo.

Watercoloring

While strolling through Belgrade one day, we stumbled upon a charming little art supply store, a paradise for any art lover, filled with every color and type of paper imaginable. We picked up two small paper blocks and a travel-sized watercolor kit. The kit is compact enough to bring along on trips or toss in a tote for impromptu painting sessions. It’s also convenient to keep at home and perfect for those moments when you feel the urge to reach for your phone, but instead you can grab your paints and start creating.

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a budget-friendly and fun way to preserve memories. You can collect tickets, sugar packets, coasters or anything that reminds you of your travels. There is something nice about going back and reliving the memories instead of scrolling through the photos on your phone. For inspiration, check out Martina Calvi (@martinamartian), she’s made scrapbooking cool again.

Creating Your Own Cookbook

If you enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, making your own cookbook could be a fun project. While writing recipes in a notebook works, why not take it a step further and illustrate the dishes too? It's a great way to preserve the recipes and it would also make it a nice gift.

Sewing

Ok, this one requires more time and skill, plus you have to invest in a sewing machine, but it’s worth it. You can join a sewing class or follow free online tutorial. To save money, you can get your sewing machine on ebay. Once you get a hang of it, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as wearing something you made yourself.

Jewelry Making

If you’re patient and love jewelry, this hobby is a great creative outlet. You can experiment with different materials and designs, using whatever you have at hand. Many successful small businesses began as simple jewelry-making hobbies, and while that doesn’t have to be the goal, it’s a rewarding activity that could even turn into a passion.

Mood Boards

We have a monthly ritual where at the start of each month we create a mood board in Canva to visualize what we want the next few weeks to look like. Everything from the clothes we want to wear and the places we’d like to visit, to the books we plan to read. You can also use Pinterest to gather inspiration and create a collage with the Shuffle app, or go the old-fashioned route by cutting pictures from magazines. It’s a fun group activity too—invite friends over, make mood boards, enjoy some drinks, and at the end of the night, everyone gets to present their vision.

Embroidery

We’re not suggesting you turn into a Bridgerton lady, but embroidery is so relaxing and can be done almost anywhere. To get started, you can pick up a beginner embroidery kit from Etsy and go from there. If you enjoy it, you can use your newfound skills to embroider clothes or create personalized Christmas gifts.