I recently purchased an Oura Ring, hoping to learn more about my body’s current health, sleep patterns, and stress levels so I can improve them. I know stress is incredibly detrimental to a person’s health, but unfortunately, I’m also someone who tends to carry a good deal of stress in ways I can physically feel: tight shoulders, shallow breathing, trouble falling asleep. I’m sure this isn’t unfamiliar to many of you.
From all the reading and podcast listening I’ve done about reducing stress, I’m pretty sure one of the biggest changes I (and so many others) need to make is to spend less time mindlessly scrolling on my phone and more time being present, actually developing and engaging in hobbies. Other than exploring great new (and standby) places in Fresno, making different kinds of coffee, and taking occasional walks and hikes with friends, I realized I don’t have a lot of hobbies, and I needed to change that.
This summer, I’m embarking on a journey to develop more “analogue” (non-screen-based) hobbies to enjoy during my free time. So far, I’ve discovered several activities I’m really enjoying, and I wanted to share them for anyone else looking to have a more analogue summer, quiet the stress, and enjoy a slower pace during their off hours.
1. Playing cozy, small group, and partner games
This year, my husband and I became empty-nesters for the first time, as our son is attending college out of town. I read advice in a Facebook group from others who’d already been through that stage of parenting (and lived to tell the story) that stockpiling a few fun games you can play with just one other person is a great way to enjoy quieter evenings. I jotted down and purchased some of the most popular choices, and three of the most recommended two-person or small group games were Splendor Duel, Codenames Duet, and That’s Pretty Clever.
That’s Pretty Clever has become a favorite in my household. My husband and I love to play it, and when my son is home visiting, all three of us enjoy it together. It’s a dice strategy game, kind of like Yahtzee, but a bit more complex, since what your opponents roll can also help you toward your own scoring goals, which keeps your brain constantly engaged. Highly recommend!
2. Dot by Letter pads
I like making art, but I struggle with being a bit of a perfectionist, so I gravitate toward art projects that offer a lot of structure and are hard to mess up. (I hate spending money on art supplies, only to have my project come out badly and wish I’d bought a finished piece instead, from someone with more skill at the craft than I possess. Maybe others can relate.)
Dot by Letter designs are simple, repetitive, and fast to create. You pick a page, choose a color of marker (provided) to assign to each letter using the key at the top of the page, then place the corresponding color on the letters printed below. Whatever colors you choose, a design begins to appear, and the repetitive dot-making process is very relaxing. It’s a great “craft” for the non-crafty. I found mine at TJ Maxx for $7.50, but they’re also available on Amazon for about $10 each.
3. Watercolor workbooks
In the same vein of art that’s harder to mess up, watercolor workbooks guide you step-by-step through recreating themed designs, so you can experience success along the way. If you want, you can recreate the same designs on a larger piece as you gain skill, or simply complete each design in the book and call it a win. Either way, watercolor art is a relaxing and fun hobby, and you can even turn finished pages into cards or tiny framed art pieces.
4. Small paint by number projects
Speaking of painting, I’ve also found a lot of joy in small paint by number projects, specifically the Artist’s Loft line sold for $10 at Michael’s, which comes with a gold frame for displaying your finished piece. They’re small enough to complete in one sitting, but pretty enough to look great on display afterward. The frames come with a stand or a magnet option on the back, so I’ve been decorating my fridge with them as I finish, and they look super cute in my kitchen. Larger paint by number pieces can be fun too, but it depends on your patience level. The smaller pieces offer quicker gratification, which keeps you motivated to paint more, in my opinion.
5. Murdle logic puzzle books
If you enjoy crossword puzzles, Sudoku, logic games, or mysteries, you’ll love the Murdle mystery puzzle books. My husband loves Sudoku, and I’ve bought him countless puzzle books over the years, but he’s found the Murdle line to be challenging enough to keep him engaged while still being solvable enough to stay enjoyable.
6. Coloring Fresno landmarks
Fellow Fresno-lover Cassie of Cassie’s Compass has turned her love for all things Fresno into a coloring book honoring our city. Coloring the Downtown Fresno Water Tower or the iconic Security Bank Building skyline is a fun way to unwind, and you might even learn about new places in Fresno while you do it!
To make sure I keep engaging in the analogue hobbies I want to cultivate this summer, instead of falling back into old patterns of scrolling and zoning out on social media, I’ve placed all my analogue hobby supplies in a basket on my kitchen table so they’re easy to reach for whenever I have free time. I’d encourage anyone trying to spend more time on hobbies to try the same, it really helps!
I hope you enjoyed my list of favorite analogue hobbies so far, and I’d love to hear yours too. Drop your suggestions in the comments!
- My Analogue Summer: 6 Screen-Free Hobbies Quieting My Stress - July 23, 2026
- My Fresno Summer Bucket List - July 17, 2026
- Meet the Fresno Cleaner Going Viral for Keeping It Real: Suhaila Mendoza’s Pure Essence Story - July 8, 2026
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