39 Creative Hobbies for Women Who Want Joy & Fun

Creative hobbies for women are absolutely not frivolous side projects or ways to “keep busy”. They’re portals back to vitality, agency, play, and meaning in lives that are often over-structured and under-nourished. In a world that rewards productivity over presence, creativity becomes a subtle, radical act.

Hobbies deeply nourish the body, mind, and spirit. Some are tactile, some expressive, some playful, and some gently mind-altering. None require perfection, talent, or monetisation to be worthwhile.

Live your life like it’s your art, finding beauty and small rituals everywhere. These hobbies are invitations to do exactly that.

Why Every Woman Needs Hobbies

Creative hobbies for women are essential practices for improving wellbeing. Without them, life can become narrowed to obligation, performance, and heavy responsibilities.

To the detriment of women, many grow up learning to shape themselves around what others need. Hobbies create a space where there’s no audience to please and no outcome to optimise. They allow creativity to exist for the process, not the result. Self-expression for the sake of self-expression.

And scientific research consistently links regularly engaging in creative activities with reduced stress, improved mood, and more happiness. But beyond science, there’s something older and truer at work. Being present and using our minds to create reminds us that we’re alive, not just useful.

A hobby can become a ritual.
A weekly return to yourself. Time dedicated just to your nourishment.
A place where beauty is noticed, not rushed past.

How to Choose the Right Hobby for YOU

Trying to choose just one activity from a long list of creative hobbies can feel overwhelming. The goal is not to pick the best one. The goal is to notice which ones soften you, energise you, or make you curious to explore.

The magic of hobbies is that they’re purely unequivocally for you! Not for anyone else. That’s why I recommend shaking off any prejudices, biases, or pre-judgments you may have about different creative activities, and instead approach this list of hobbies with an open mind. Hobbies meet you where you are, not where you think you should be or where anyone else is.

What activities did you most enjoy as a kid?

Before creativity was judged or compared, it was instinctive. Many women already know what lights them up if they listen carefully. Think back to which activities you naturally did (or wanted to do) as a child without being asked or prompted.

Ask yourself::

• Did you love making up stories or songs?

• Were you happiest with your hands in soil, paint, or dough?

• Did you enjoy movement, costumes, or world-building?

These early pleasures often point to creative threads still waiting to be picked up. For example, if you were obsessed with handpainting or playdoh, then perhaps trying a more tactile hobby now would bring you the most joy.

What types of hobbies would best fit into your lifestyle?

A hobby should support your life, not become another source of pressure or stress. Some possible creative hobbies for busy women fit into small pockets of time, around pets, a full-time job, and/or young children. Others ask for longer stretches and deeper immersion like long weekends or extended evening hours.

Consider:

• Your available energy, not just your time

• Whether you prefer solitary or shared activities

• Whether you want something grounding, expressive, or playful

I recommend trying a new mode of self-expression for the process, not to become perfect at it. Let the hobby serve your nervous system, not your ego. It’s OK to be bad at something you’re trying for the first time.

1. Poetry

What it is: Writing short, expressive pieces that capture emotion, imagery, or insight.
Cost to start: £0–£15 (notebook or notes app).
Best for: Reflective, sensitive, or introspective women.

Getting started:

• Write without rereading or editing at first.

• Start with sensory prompts (sound, texture, memory).

• Read poets whose work feels spacious rather than intimidating.

• Follow or don’t follow traditional conventions (such as rhyming).

2. Gardening

What it is: Growing plants, herbs, or vegetables in soil or containers.
Cost to start: £10–£50.
Best for: Women craving grounding, patience, and connection to cycles.

Getting started:

• Begin with herbs or hardy plants.

• Educate yourself on the plants you want to grow so that you know how to keep them healthy.

• Set reminders to water and/or feed your new plant (apps like Planta may be helpful).

Gardening reminds us that growth can’t be rushed. Highly recommend!

3. Knitting, Crocheting, Embroidering, or Sewing

What it is: Creating textiles with yarn, thread, or fabric.
Cost to start: £15–£40.
Best for: Women who find calm in detail and repetition.

Getting started:

• Choose one technique or stitch and learn it well before moving on.

• Choose a simple, beginner-friendly pattern or design.

• Watch how-to YouTube videos to continue learning.

• Let unevenness be part of your first piece.

4. Pottery

What it is: Shaping clay by hand or wheel into functional or sculptural forms.
Cost to start: £30-£80 (or studio class).
Best for: Women open to learning through touch and failure.

Getting started:

• Take a beginner workshop.

• Focus on feel, not outcome.

• Expect collapse and destruction - it’s part of the process.

Into pottery? You’ll love our online self-paced Get Grounded workshop, designed to help you slow down, sink into presence, and reconnect with the steadiness of our Earth (using clay!).

5. Jewellery Making

What it is: Designing and assembling wearable pieces using beads, wire, or metal.
Cost to start: £20–£60.
Best for: Detail-oriented or symbolic thinkers.

Getting started:

• Start with beading or wire wrapping.

• Choose materials you love touching.

• Create for yourself first.

6. Calligraphy

What it is: Decorative handwriting using pens or brushes.
Cost to start: £10–£30.
Best for: Women who enjoy slowness and focus.

Getting started:

• Practice basic strokes.

• Use printable guides.

• Let handwriting become meditative.

• Practice the alphabet before attempting words.

7. Soap Making

What it is: Creating soaps from oils, lye, or melt-and-pour bases.
Cost to start: £25–£70.
Best for: Sensory-loving, practical creatives.

Getting started:

• Begin with beginner-friendly melt-and-pour kits.

• Keep recipes simple.

• Treat it as a ritual, not a production line.

• Make sure to practice safety as making soap involves high temperatures.

• Experiment with scents to your liking.

8. Candle Making

What it is: Crafting candles using wax, wicks, and scent.
Cost to start: £20–£50.
Best for: Women drawn to warmth and ritual.

Getting started:

• Start with non-toxic soy wax.

• Keep scents minimal and airy.

• Light what you make and appreciate your effort.

9. Irish Dancing

What it is: A rhythmic dance style with strong footwork and posture.
Cost to start: £0–£40 (online or local class).
Best for: Women who enjoy structure and vitality.

Getting started:

• Try slow beginner tutorials first.

• Focus on joy and the process of learning, not speed or technique.

• Let your body learn gradually.

10. Wildcrafting

What it is: Ethically gathering wild plants for food, tea, art, or tinctures.
Cost to start: £0–£25 (guidebook).
Best for: Nature-connected, observant women.

Getting started:

• Learn a few plants to start with.

• Follow ethical collecting guidelines.

• Build relationship with place and presence.

If nature is your thing, check out our self-paced 6-week Nature Speaks sensory immersion into nature program. We’ll allow the Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether) that exist both in nature and within ourselves to guide the art-making journey.

11. Ballet

What it is: A classical movement practice focused on alignment and flow.
Cost to start: £0–£50.
Best for: Women wanting embodied grace without competition.

Getting started:

• Sign up to adult beginner classes.

• Try to follow beginner YouTube videos.

• Ignore mirrors if needed.

• Wear what’s comfortable.

• Don’t compare yourself to others.

Excited to try ballet? You’ll love our online self-paced Dance Your Purpose workshop, designed to help support you in moving towards the future you envision, tune into what your contributions are, and what it feels like to step into your power.

12. Bake & Decorate Cakes

What it is: Baking and visually decorating cakes.
Cost to start: £15–£40.
Best for: Women who enjoy design and sweet treats.

Getting started:

• Choose simple cake recipes.

• Practice one decoration technique at a time.

• Share imperfect results (maybe give your cakes to neighbors).

• Enjoy eating cake!

13. Legos

What it is: Open-ended building with modular bricks.
Cost to start: £20–£60.
Best for: Problem-solvers and playful thinkers.

Getting started:

• Choose a fun design that’ll motivate you to keep going.

• Follow curiosity and flexibility.

• Rebuild as necessary without self-judgment.

14. Short Story Writing

What it is: Writing fictional narratives under 5,000 words.
Cost to start: £0.
Best for: Imaginative, reflective women.

Getting started:

• Write one scene.

• Don’t overplan.

• Write freely, then go back and edit.

If you’re a writer at heart, join our live 10-week Writing With Flow program. Showing up to write can be hard sometimes, and that’s why you’d benefit from no-judgment support and community.

15. Creating & Editing Videos

What it is: Filming and shaping visual stories.
Cost to start: £0–£40.
Best for: Visual storytellers.

Getting started:

• Use your phone to get started with what you have.

• Focus on pacing and directing.

• Edit with beginner-friendly software like iMovie or Canva.

16. Smoothie & Juice Making

What it is: Creating blended drinks from fruits and vegetables.
Cost to start: £0–£50.
Best for: Women curious about nourishment and health.

Getting started:

• Start with 5 ingredients.

• Notice how you feel during and afterwards.

• Keep it playful and exciting, not high-pressure (there’s no such thing as ‘right’ recipes).

17. DIY Skin Care

What it is: Making non-toxic skincare products.
Cost to start: £20–£60.
Best for: Women wanting safe, embodied skin care.

Getting started:

• Learn ingredient combination basics.

• Patch test always.

• Keep formulas simple.

18. Direct a Short Film

What it is: Leading a small creative film project.
Cost to start: £0–£50.
Best for: Vision-holders and collaborators.

Getting started:

• Keep it under 3 minutes.

• Gather friends.

• Focus on story, not perfection.

19. DIY Nail Art

What it is: Decorating nails with colour and design.
Cost to start: £10–£30.
Best for: Detail-oriented, playful creatives.

Getting started:

• Use toothpicks or small brushes.

• Keep designs simple.

• Don’t be afraid to re-start.

20. Air Dry Clay

What it is: Sculpting with non-kiln clay.
Cost to start: £10–£25.
Best for: Intuitive, tactile women.

Getting started:

• Work slowly.

• Let pieces crack.

• Start by knowing what you want to build.

21. Paint By Numbers

What it is: Guided painting using numbered sections.
Cost to start: £10–£25.
Best for: Women wanting rest without decisions.

Getting started:

• Choose calming images.

• Paint in short sessions.

• Enjoy the predictable repetition.

22. Stained Glass Making

What it is: Cutting and assembling coloured glass.
Cost to start: £60–£150.
Best for: Patient, detail-loving creatives.

Getting started:

• Take a beginner’s workshop.

• Start small.

• Respect important safety rules.

23. Mosaic Making

What it is: Creating images and designs from broken pieces.
Cost to start: £20–£50.
Best for: Women drawn to symbolism.

Getting started:

• Start with a simple design.

• Embrace imperfection.

• Let meaning emerge.

24. Bead Making

What it is: Creating beads from clay, glass, or paper mache.
Cost to start: £15–£40.
Best for: Focused, patient women.

Getting started:

• Try polymer clay.

• Keep shapes simple.

• Work in small batches.

25. DIY Tea Blends

What it is: Blending herbs and teas intentionally.
Cost to start: £10–£30.
Best for: Sensory, ritual-oriented women.

Getting started:

• Learn one herb at a time, and then effects of combinations. 

• Share with others.

• Drink mindfully.

26. Friendship Bracelet Making

What it is: Knotting threads into symbolic bracelets.
Cost to start: £5–£15.
Best for: Relational, nostalgic creatives.

Getting started:

• Learn basic patterns.

• Make a bracelet for someone you love.

• Enjoy the repetition and meaning.

27. Write Original Songs

What it is: Writing lyrics and melodies.
Cost to start: £0.
Best for: Emotionally expressive women.

Getting started:

• Hum a melody first.

• Write badly, then edit.

• Don’t perform unless you want to.

28. Experiment With Sourdough

What it is: Baking with fermented starter.
Cost to start: £10–£30.
Best for: Patient, curious women.

Getting started:

• Expect failure with the first couple of tries.

• Feed your starter consistently.

• Try fun, unusual flavor combinations!

29. Diamond Painting

What it is: Placing resin “diamonds” onto an adhesive canvas.
Cost to start: £10–£25.
Best for: Women seeking flow and shine.

Getting started:

• Work in sections.

• Listen to calming music.

• Let time disappear and immerse yourself in the repetition.

Want to deepen your new creative hobby (and actually stick with it)? Join us for a year-round creative practice membership filled with helpful workshops, creativity practices, discounts, community, and more!

30. Marionette Making

What it is: Creating and animating puppets.
Cost to start: £20–£60.
Best for: Imaginative storytellers.

Getting started:

• Keep designs simple.

• Explore movement techniques.

• Play for fun before trying to refine.

31. Woodworking

What it is: Shaping wood into objects or furniture.
Cost to start: £40–£100.
Best for: Hands-on, practical women.

Getting started:

• Take a beginner’s class or workshop.

• Begin with hand tools.

• Learn safety basics.

• Respect the materials.

32. Colouring

What it is: Filling pre-drawn designs with colour.
Cost to start: £5–£20.
Best for: Overstimulated minds.

Getting started:

• Choose calming palettes.

• Know that there’s no pressure to finish.

• Colour intuitively (there’s no rules!).

33. Photography

What it is: Capturing images intentionally.
Cost to start: £0–£50.
Best for: Observant, reflective women.

Getting started:

• Use your phone to begin with.

• Focus on how light changes the feeling of photos.

• Walk slowly outside to capture things you might otherwise miss.

34. Scrapbook Journaling

What it is: Combining writing, images, and memories.
Cost to start: £15–£40.
Best for: Memory-keepers.

Getting started:

• Collect scraps of magazines, paper, and newspapers.

• Add to your journal to your heart’s delight.

• Let pages evolve over time.

35. Stand-Up Comedy

What it is: Performing personal humour.
Cost to start: £0–£30.
Best for: Brave, truth-telling women.

Getting started:

• Write from lived experience.

• Try open mics when you feel confident and comfortable speaking in front of others.

• Laugh at and with yourself (it’s ok to mess up and it’s ok to learn!).

36. DIY Stamp Making

What it is: Carving reusable stamps.
Cost to start: £10–£25.
Best for: Pattern-loving creatives.

Getting started:

• Use soft carving blocks.

• Keep designs bold so they stand out.

• Experiment freely.

37. Kombucha Making

What it is: Brewing fermented tea.
Cost to start: £15–£30.
Best for: Curious, patient tea-lovers.

Getting started:

• Learn hygiene basics.

• Flavour lightly.

• Observe fermentation behaviours.

38. Dismantling the Patriarchy (Creatively)

What it is: Imagining and practising alternatives to oppressive norms.
Cost to start: £0.
Best for: Women craving liberation, equality, and meaning.

Getting started:

• Question inherited norms, expectations, and societal rules.

• Create new rituals.

• Share your ideas.

39. DJing

What it is: Curating and mixing music live.
Cost to start: £0–£100.
Best for: Rhythm-oriented women.

Getting started:

• Learn beat-matching.

• Practise alone first.

• Feel the energy, not ego.

Creativity Is Not a Side Project

Creative hobbies for women are essential ways of tending to your inner well. They help us stay human in complex times. And, importantly, they don’t demand productivity or perfection.

If one of these hobbies sparked your curiosity, follow it. While it may be difficult to start practising something new in life, the joy your new hobby brings you will keep you going back to it. Remember: start small, and let it become a nourishing ritual you start looking forward to. Best of luck, and enjoy!

Hi there, so lovely that you're here! Looking forward to connecting with you. - Nora