On Creativity & Analog Hobbies
This time of year, you’ll find me working in my garden, walking in the metro park by my house, grilling anything I can, and reading outside.
I believe the summer months are the perfect time to try a new analog hobby or to make something by hand. To me, this time feels a little lighter, a little looser, and a little more fun. Routines are changing for many, so why not use this time to think outside the box? If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try, I encourage you to go do it, without putting any pressure on yourself to make it good. Simply start.
Creative acts and analog hobbies are vast. Cook a meal out of that cookbook you got for Christmas. Pick a new paint color for the bathroom. Write a short story for your kid. Color with markers. Make a bouquet. Send a letter. There are nearly endless ways to be creative in your everyday life.
I encourage you to find what lights you up, put down the phone, and pick up a spatula, pen, or garden trowel.
Let’s do it by hand.
Be well,
Annette Furio
Founder, Season Journals
Write It
Journal Prompts
- What is one of my creative outlets? (Even if you haven’t done it in a while)
- How does it make me feel? During? After?
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What have I been wanting to try or get back into?
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When was the last time I lost track of time during an offline experience? Describe.
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Who can I encourage to join me in exploring a creative or analog practice?
Say It
Affirmations
I create simply because.
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I am capable of making something by hand.
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Creative play is good for my mind and soul.
Try It
Action Ideas
Weaving creativity and analog hobbies into your life can be just the thing you need for your otherwise screen-filled days. And it doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. Like many things, making the time and breaking out of the habit of reaching for the phone can be the hardest parts. Below are 5 ideas to make analog hobbies, creativity, working with your hands, and offline experiences part of your life as we head into the summer.
Go to your local craft store or summer craft market and see what catches your eye. Think puzzles, journals, paint sets, or starter kits.
Schedule an analog afternoon with your friends, family, or kids. Think board games, lego building, planting an herb garden, or reading in hammocks.
Research local creative classes, workshops, or craft nights in your area. Many libraries, community centers, bookstores and even breweries host these types of events. In-person events are also a good way to give yourself that extra accountability boost.
Start a summer sketchbook or junk journal. Think pressed flowers, scraps from summer adventures, watercolor sketches, printed photos, and little bits of writing and reflection.
Take an analog photo walk. Dig out your digital or film camera and head out on a walk around your neighborhood or somewhere you’re visiting. Looking through the lens gives you a different perspective. Take photos of anything that seems interesting to you!
Explore It
Resources & Links
The Creative Act: A Way of Being (Book) — Rick Rubin
How to Become More Creative (Blog) — Jenna Rainey
A small list of analog habits for 2026 (Instagram) — Laura Giraud
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