We need hobbies as much as we need a purpose in life. The best creative hobbies give us things to do to help us express ourselves and create things, and that… is a primal instinct. In a Japanese research study, author Kimiko Tomioka states “… having hobbies and PIL (Purpose in Life) may extend not only longevity but also healthy life expectancy among community-dwelling older adults”.
If there’s ever a reason to consider Japanese crafts for adults, that’s it right there. Hobbies alone don’t lead to a fulfilling life, but they certainly help soothe and relax the mind, letting you recharge your internal batteries and come at challenges with increased levels of focus and clarity. Provided you have hobbies that help you develop singular-focused attention. With technology, focus is split and almost always involves multi-tasking. For that reason, you’ll find listed below, ten creative hobbies that require no technology at all.
10 No-Tech Creative Hobbies That May Make You Smarter!
1. Scale modeling
Scale modeling ties into specific interests. Aviation enthusiasts can build model airplanes, trainspotters would be more inclined to build model trains, and those interested in militaria could build their own scale tanks, fighter jets, and battleships. You don’t need a specific interest either. Even if your thing in life is traveling the world to take in different cultures, scale modeling can be used to build model cities, such as our
Tokyo Alley book nook. Constructing kits builds your skills too. It requires attention to detail, reading, and following instructions, and diagrams, and observing the intricacies of the design. By the time the kit is completed, there’s an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction.
2. Gardening or Raising Houseplants
Gardening is a magnificent stress buster. It’s good for exercise too. What’s more is once you learn the basics of gardening, raising different plants, and vegetables, perhaps designing hanging baskets, you can progress into landscape design projects. You could create a cozy reading nook in the corner of your garden. Imagine strolling under a garden arch into a reading nook complete with lush bamboo privacy screens. Even for those without a garden, or just a balcony, houseplants can bring tremendous air purification qualities. As a
gift for bookworms, houseplants are up there with the best!
3. Tabletop Gaming
Tabletop gaming can be board games and card games. There are solo games in both categories, but there are many more family board and card games. Family favorites include Monopoly, Connect Four, Chess, and Checkers. Games that have been around for decades. In recent times, board games have become more artistic, better designed, and far more immersive with awesome miniatures. Games like ‘
World of Warcraft: Wrath of The Lich King’ are popular among WoW fans. Others include
'Twilight Imperium', '
War of the Ring', and of course, the
'Cthulhu Wars board game that’s sure to go down a treat among fans of H.P. Lovecrafts’ YA fantasy books. A true master of the dark fantasy and gothic horror genres.
4. Word and puzzle games
The gamut of word games is extremely diverse. From the simple family fun game of Hangman to the solo puzzles of word searches, anagrams, and the more complex and cryptic crosswords. These are part of the brain-training genre of hobbies, but for the most benefits and enjoyment, stick with the traditional method. No apps allowed! Use good old-fashioned pencil and paper - a pen if you’re confident. On smartphones, the answers are only a tap of an app away. Where's the satisfaction in that?
5. Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is creative, and every time you open the book, you’re invited on a trip down memory lane. Within your book is anything but scrap. It’s a collection of ephemera - defined as something that wasn’t meant to be kept around. Like paper crafts created, pressed flowers, doodles, stickers, and quirky photos, all creatively compiled in artful form, pressed between pages.
6. Learn to play a musical instrument
There is a correlation between playing a musical instrument and intellect. In one
study, it was revealed that those who learned to play a musical instrument, increased their IQ by an average of 10 points over just 6 months. Consistently, music and academia have been linked. To make it more enjoyable, learn to play something unique that means a little more than making music. For those who love to travel to Japan, for instance, you could learn to play the sanshin, the shamisen, or the iconic Shakuhachi. The authentic sound of a musical instrument can instantly transport your mind to a specific destination.
7. Yoga
Yoga, for some, is a lifestyle, but it can be your hobby. The slow motions combined with deep breathing exercises calm the mind, strengthen the body, and improve mental health. Don’t stress if you can’t manage complex poses like the downward-facing dog or the cobra pose. There are variations like chair yoga for seniors, yin yoga geared toward beginners, and for the more athletic, there's Vinyasa yoga.
8. Cooking
Cooking is a life skill, for sure, but you can get creative with it. You don’t need to travel to Italy to experience an authentic Mediterranean dish. Blend any country’s cuisine with the Japanese cooking rule of five, and you’ll be serving up a dish that tingles all five senses. Something that tastes good, looks delicious, smells lush, and is eaten with fine-dining cutlery to satisfy the sense of touch, then served and enjoyed with good music humming in the background to satisfy your auditory senses.
9. Drawing
Deep down, we all have an innate desire to create something. Drawing is the simplest way to satisfy that urge. It can be as simple as line drawing, or doodling, or for something more challenging, consider anamorphic drawing, which is creating a 2D drawing with the illusion of 3D, or go old-school with cel animation.
10. Macramé
If you can tie a knot, you know how to macramé! That’s all it is. Learn the different types of knots, then weave them together with whatever style of textile you fancy. If you like the boho home d
écor, macramé is for you. You can use it to make hanging baskets, or wall décor, or even craft together hammocks to hang beneath your shelves.
