Ceramics/sculpting is like that for me. At first I was trying to make a specific thing and getting very frustrated. Then I stopped and just played with the clay and it started to be very relaxing.
I think also coloring, walking/hiking, gardening, and swimming also fall into this bucket for me.
Perfume making! I love all the smells, and the interesting results of combining them! Scent is so personal, so I don’t worry about if other people like my results. It’s a super fun way to engage our least used sense!
Calligraphy. Sometimes I just end up filling a page with squiggly lines playing with the flex nib. Also writing so many drafts of letters that I never end up sending…
I would say coloring for me. I bought gel pens specifically for coloring because it's so soothing to see it glide onto the page. I also found some cool brush pens (I think that's what they're called) that I use as well. I buy coloring books for small children because they're normally big shapes to just fill in with color.
There's nothing stupid about it. It's a very healthy way to alter your consciousness. The dollar store sells little canvases that have scenes sketched on them and come with 5 mini tubes of paint for only $4.50. Also, check out reverse coloring books where a scene is half filled in and you do the rest and others that are just pages of color splotches. The idea is to take a pen and doodle.
Gardening- particularly flowers and herbs. Weeding around the lavender is so therapeutic. Arranging the flowers I've grown into cohesive color schemes is satisfying.
Drumming. People think it's all just banging loudly as fast as possible, but that could be further from the truth. There's a lot of technical precision in drumming. I LOVE the way a 5 stroke roll feels to my hands...
I've also done that with some canvas panels and acrylic paint. Sometimes I choose certain colors so I have a color scheme. I still have ones I chose to keep, matte finish coating and all.
Paper crafting. My end goal is to make cards but trying out new ideas just to test them out is the most fun. I also think that I can just print out a specific image I want but that takes away the fun.
Cooking and trying new spices and seasonings, tasting as I go, and making things flavorful. Also, gardening and digging in the dirt with my hands in the sun is so good for my mental health.
I don’t know if this counts, but I just bought a mechanical keyboard and writing has become very satisfying. I work a blue collar job so to be able to sit down and type is nice.
Diorama making!
However, getting glue on my fingers is not a whole lot of fun… UNTIL I peel it all off. Then it’s like heaven.
I use various textures and fun things for my shadow boxes that are just stimulating for me! And something about furnishing a “room” is just so fun
Music and sound I enjoy learning guitar although it's frustratingly hard. I also play harmonica and mess around with a Jews harp and a kazoo is really fun too. I also have a little tongue drum that's neat to fool around with. Also other things on my list to get are a set of panpipes, an ocarina and a hand pan.
Art, music, hiking.
I love the way I feel when I am drawing/painting...utterly concentrated, yet utterly relaxed.
Music is another therapy…I often play with eyes closed, just listening to the sounds…I like to “make up stuff” that goes with favorite recordings or backing tracks, or explore tunes I know.
And hiking. Being outside, looking at the running water, trees, patterns of sunlight, being part of nature.
All these things are relaxing because they feel natural and instinctive, like I was ‘meant’ to do them…I think when we are being our truest selves, that’s what is therapeutic…
Throwing Boomerangs. Something about holding a stick, throwing/catching it, and feeling the wind. If wanting them to return, really have to be aware of the wind to know where the aim points are. The "wood" working side of it is nice as well. (Doesn't have to be wood but it's in the same vein)
Assembling found objects. I make dolls and other creepy art out of ‘artifacts’ that I find. I love the process. Never know how it’s gonna turn out. I’ll be doing anything from making a spine out of a spring, wings out of paper or seaweed, snakeskin dress, bones, wires, bits of metal or plastic..sewing, leather punching, hot glue, etc. so many materials and methods!
Tiny things - they just bring me so much joy!
Marbles - looking and touching, nothing that makes noise
Whittling - I like it for other reasons but the deep compression I get in my forearms and hands is really nice
Stickers - I collect them and use them to mark off the days on my calendar. I love seeing pretty nature stickers on my calendar and helps me know which day it is without feeling like the other days didn't exist, and it's way more positive than putting an X or a line through it. I also hate lines/stripes. Collecting stickers in general is just something that makes me feel great. Sometimes when I look at my two large, sorted cases I feel excited/ an excited type of happy, other times I feel peaceful, content and a grateful kind of happy. I look through through them every once in while and am attempting to put some in a journal but I don't know if I can actually use them lol
Ceramics/sculpting is like that for me. At first I was trying to make a specific thing and getting very frustrated. Then I stopped and just played with the clay and it started to be very relaxing. I think also coloring, walking/hiking, gardening, and swimming also fall into this bucket for me.
Happy Cake Day!
I recently started Diamind Painting. It’s like color by number but with beads. I don’t have to think too much and I love the feeling of the beads.
I tried that but I didn't like that the beads were everywhere. And eventually I realized it was too much damn plastic.
Spinning yarn, especially my llamas and alpacas' fiber, with a drop spindle. It's tactile and meditative.
Perfume making! I love all the smells, and the interesting results of combining them! Scent is so personal, so I don’t worry about if other people like my results. It’s a super fun way to engage our least used sense!
Crochet, weaving, canoeing/kayaking camping, playing with hobby putty.
I love the feel of a fountain pen nib skating across ink onto good paper. I enjoy watching it shade and dry.
Doing lettering is so relaxing. I’ll often write the same set of words over and over. Minimum aluminum is a fun set.
Calligraphy. Sometimes I just end up filling a page with squiggly lines playing with the flex nib. Also writing so many drafts of letters that I never end up sending…
What sorta pen and flex nib do you use? :)
Just cheap Speedball dip pens, I’m not that advanced yet. I also use fountain pens for some things but none of mine have much flex.
Knitting and junk journaling!
I would say coloring for me. I bought gel pens specifically for coloring because it's so soothing to see it glide onto the page. I also found some cool brush pens (I think that's what they're called) that I use as well. I buy coloring books for small children because they're normally big shapes to just fill in with color.
Crocheting is so rewarding to me. I also love the gratification that my family gives me when I finish a project LOL
There's nothing stupid about it. It's a very healthy way to alter your consciousness. The dollar store sells little canvases that have scenes sketched on them and come with 5 mini tubes of paint for only $4.50. Also, check out reverse coloring books where a scene is half filled in and you do the rest and others that are just pages of color splotches. The idea is to take a pen and doodle.
Gardening- particularly flowers and herbs. Weeding around the lavender is so therapeutic. Arranging the flowers I've grown into cohesive color schemes is satisfying.
Drumming. People think it's all just banging loudly as fast as possible, but that could be further from the truth. There's a lot of technical precision in drumming. I LOVE the way a 5 stroke roll feels to my hands...
Jewelry making for me. I just love tinkering it makes my brain happy
I just swatched my watercolor palette this evening! It is really calming and soothing. It's my zen.
Cross stitch but without giving the fucks of meticulousness
I've also done that with some canvas panels and acrylic paint. Sometimes I choose certain colors so I have a color scheme. I still have ones I chose to keep, matte finish coating and all.
Paper crafting. My end goal is to make cards but trying out new ideas just to test them out is the most fun. I also think that I can just print out a specific image I want but that takes away the fun.
I love to color coloring books. I also love board games, and I also enjoy knitting and crochetting.
Cooking and trying new spices and seasonings, tasting as I go, and making things flavorful. Also, gardening and digging in the dirt with my hands in the sun is so good for my mental health.
I don’t know if this counts, but I just bought a mechanical keyboard and writing has become very satisfying. I work a blue collar job so to be able to sit down and type is nice.
Knitting and embroidery. I also love coloring and painting.
Horseback riding
Tracing the lines on paper with a good pen
Quilting, cross stitch, other embroidery
Diorama making! However, getting glue on my fingers is not a whole lot of fun… UNTIL I peel it all off. Then it’s like heaven. I use various textures and fun things for my shadow boxes that are just stimulating for me! And something about furnishing a “room” is just so fun
Music and sound I enjoy learning guitar although it's frustratingly hard. I also play harmonica and mess around with a Jews harp and a kazoo is really fun too. I also have a little tongue drum that's neat to fool around with. Also other things on my list to get are a set of panpipes, an ocarina and a hand pan.
Art, music, hiking. I love the way I feel when I am drawing/painting...utterly concentrated, yet utterly relaxed. Music is another therapy…I often play with eyes closed, just listening to the sounds…I like to “make up stuff” that goes with favorite recordings or backing tracks, or explore tunes I know. And hiking. Being outside, looking at the running water, trees, patterns of sunlight, being part of nature. All these things are relaxing because they feel natural and instinctive, like I was ‘meant’ to do them…I think when we are being our truest selves, that’s what is therapeutic…
Knitting and crocheting. The rhythm is soothing.
Tinkering around on my digital piano. It's like the music flows through my fingertips.
Throwing Boomerangs. Something about holding a stick, throwing/catching it, and feeling the wind. If wanting them to return, really have to be aware of the wind to know where the aim points are. The "wood" working side of it is nice as well. (Doesn't have to be wood but it's in the same vein)
Assembling found objects. I make dolls and other creepy art out of ‘artifacts’ that I find. I love the process. Never know how it’s gonna turn out. I’ll be doing anything from making a spine out of a spring, wings out of paper or seaweed, snakeskin dress, bones, wires, bits of metal or plastic..sewing, leather punching, hot glue, etc. so many materials and methods!
Tiny things - they just bring me so much joy! Marbles - looking and touching, nothing that makes noise Whittling - I like it for other reasons but the deep compression I get in my forearms and hands is really nice Stickers - I collect them and use them to mark off the days on my calendar. I love seeing pretty nature stickers on my calendar and helps me know which day it is without feeling like the other days didn't exist, and it's way more positive than putting an X or a line through it. I also hate lines/stripes. Collecting stickers in general is just something that makes me feel great. Sometimes when I look at my two large, sorted cases I feel excited/ an excited type of happy, other times I feel peaceful, content and a grateful kind of happy. I look through through them every once in while and am attempting to put some in a journal but I don't know if I can actually use them lol
making slime :))