1. A jewelry-making kit, because creating your own interesting pieces > being influenced to buy something someone else likes. This 1,587-piece kit has beads, jewelry pliers, beading wire, and earring hooks — pretty much everything you need to get started!
Promising review: “I bought this while on vacation and was very impressed. It comes with all the components you need to make many pieces of jewelry. Satisfied and in my glory.” —Beth Suckiel
Get it from Amazon for $23.98.
2. A box of tarot cards that you color in yourself before using the included guide to help you read your card pulls. So it’s calming AND brings clarity? This deck is stacked in your favor.
Anthropologie
Get it from Anthropologie for $23.
3. A stargazing kit with a stellarscope and a guide to the sky and stars, because there’s a lot more going on at night than just doomscrolling in the dark. You’re awake anyway — might as well get out there and feel a sense of wonder!
Bespoke Post
Promising review: “This gadget turned looking at the stars from my backyard into a real hobby. Easy to use, easy to follow instructions, and if you get the book with it, you get some help getting started with identifying any stars you see. I’m probably gonna get a couple for gifts now!!” —Ryan P.
Get it from Bespoke Post for $74.
4. A tie-dye party kit to make the time spent away from your phone totally groovy. With enough supplies for six people, and 18 bottles to cover up to 36 projects, you might just *have* to make matching T-shirts for you and your friends.
5. A padel racket, because padel is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, and you love to be on the ball when it comes to trends. Sorry, pickleball!
Promising review: “I’m a beginner in Padel, and after two months using this racket, I can say it was a great choice. I didn’t want to spend too much on a racket, and I was impressed by how durable and high-quality this one is. It’s absolutely a no-brainer for a beginner, and honestly, I’m going to stick to it for a very long time.” —Diego B.
Get it from Amazon for $56.99 (available in five colors and sets of one or two).
6. A pen pal kit if you’re a bit of a wordsmith and ready to show your prose game is as good as your GIF game. We all know that getting a letter in the mail is so much more rewarding and meaningful than a text message or a like on someone’s post. Writing a good letter is such an art — it’s time to bring it back!
Urban Outfitters
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $14.99 (originally $21).
7. A hot sauce–making kit, because your personal collection is so extensive that it’s time for you to try your hand at making the spicy stuff at home. Is this the start of your own YouTube talk show empire? Could be.
8. A Spikeball set you can play with at home, but it’s practically begging you to bring it to the beach. All you need is the net, the ball, your hands, and your friends, and you will have hours of spirited competition.
Promising review: “Spikeball rocks! We set up the game in the garage, and now it’s called the Spikedome! The kids love it, and it’s fun for the whole family. 🙂” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $69.99.
9. A Storybook DIY kit to add some whimsy to any bookshelf. Each kit takes anywhere from two to seven hours to complete, so you’re not just getting the cutest shelf-styling decor, you’re also getting an experience.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: “I’ve gotten these kits as gifts and also for myself… They are just SO cool when they’re finished, and it’s always fun to put something together where everything works, everything fits, everything makes sense, nothing’s missing. An excellent alternative to flat puzzles and popular building-block sets. ;)” —Kari
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $44 (available in seven designs)
10. A Book of the Month subscription, because you appreciate the finer things in life — and that includes reading the latest book club hit. Treat yourself to a real page turner each month, because snuggling up with a fresh hardcover is the best of the best… in your book.
Book of the Month
Get a 3-, 6- or 12-month subscription from Book of the Month for $59.99+.
11. A CS8 point-and-shoot video camera to take you from a fan to a filmmaker. Get your ideas out of your brain and into the world. You never know where the hobby will take you — action!
Bespoke Post
Promising review: “People don’t believe it works; younger people don’t know what it is; older people laugh at it. I’m having a ball with it. I have gotten used to the different settings, so that makes it even more fun to play around with. One thing I have noticed is that people will ‘talk to it’ more than they do when they’re holding a smartphone. I say, get one, you’ll enjoy it.” —David P.
Get it from Bespoke Post for $199.
12. An origami kit with an excellent instruction booklet, so you can let a lovely afternoon unfold while you spend time folding.
What’s included: 300 origami square sheets, 50 Japanese pattern sheets, and an illustrated instruction book.
Promising review: “Great assortment of colors and high-quality paper. Have made several origami designs now. The book has simple designs, nothing too complex, so I actually went online to YouTube to find more complex projects (a crane, fox, elephant, things like that). But the book of designs is great for kids and beginners. I love that you get so much paper with this, and in so many great colors, including the patterned paper, and it’s all high quality. Recommend!” —Carissa C.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two kit sizes).
13. A metal detector, because as a kid, you always had dreams of finding buried treasure. Sure, most of those treasures might be old hardware and cans… but you could find some beautiful jewelry, too!
What’s included: One detector, a digger shovel, comfortable headphones, and two batteries.
Promising review: “This metal detector is an absolute gem for beginners like me. It feels sturdy in hand but very lightweight, and it’s super comfortable to use for extended periods. For the price, I think this metal detector offers exceptional value. It even includes a small compact shovel, great for small digs, even an emergency shovel for firepit making! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable, high-performing metal detector. You won’t be disappointed!” —Xingchen L.
Get it from Amazon for $69.99.
14. A three-hole BucketGolf set so you can practice your chipping game, but in your own backyard, and in a fun way with friends — no polo or golf outfit required.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Get it from Dick’s Sporting Goods for $99.
15. A 10-piece fairy garden set that will add some extra whimsy to your life. Bonus points if you put it in your front yard and leave the neighborhood kids little surprises “from the fairies.” Think: shiny coins, little notes, and so on. You can show them how much fun it is to explore the world without a screen in front of them, too!
Michaels
Get it from Michaels for $21.49.
16. A karaoke machine so you can finally figure out your go-to song. Practice at home and then bring down the house at the bar.
Nordstrom
Get it from Nordstrom for $99.99.
17. A copy of Murdle, Volume 1, to prove to yourself that you absolutely could solve crimes if you found yourself in a quaint British town with a colorful cast of characters — exactly like all the protagonists in those cozy murder books you can’t get enough of.
Promising review: “If you are looking to expand your list of go-to analog activities, this is for you! Combines murder mysteries and puzzle books into a great brain-teaser activity. Murdle has 100 puzzles that range in difficulty. I’ve been having so much fun with this. I even bought some as gifts, and my friends and family love them, too.” —Caroline Astrella
Get it from Amazon for $12.48.
18. A Moon Ball with a wrist strap so you can throw a ball in the house and practice your hand-eye coordination without getting in trouble. Wait a minute… you’re an adult, and you can do what you want, but you can admit your mama was right about most stuff. This is the perfect solution!
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Get it from Dick’s for $12.99 (available in three colors).
19. A beautiful birthday month paint-by-number flower kit to nurture the budding artist within you. This one will be a total framer!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: “This paint-by-numbers set is a joy to work with! The design of the daffodils is beautiful, and the quality of the materials is excellent. The paint colors are vibrant and well chosen, creating a stunning result that feels professional. The canvas comes with clear lines and numbers, making it easy to follow and fun to work on, whether you’re an experienced painter or a beginner. It’s a relaxing and rewarding way to spend time, and the finished piece is perfect for display. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to get creative and unwind!” —MikeShee
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $32 (available in 12 months/designs).
20. A guitar exercises for beginners book, because that guitar you’ve had for years should be more than just décor. Put the phone down for just 10 minutes a day, and you might become the next singer-songwriter megastar.
Promising review: “Great book — tells you everything you need to know about learning guitar from bottom to top. Loaded with excellent exercises to get you up to speed. You are learning guitar, though, so truthfully, it will take more than 10 minutes a day. I would say a good starting point would be a half hour and build on that if you wish.” —Leon Griffin
Get it from Amazon for $17.87.
21. A microwave flower press kit so that you can make heirloom-quality pieces… literally at the touch of a button.
22. A soy wax candle–making kit, because you really just need to light a flame under it to get off your phone, and this is the perfect way to start.
Promising review: “This kit comes with everything a beginner hobbyist needs to make custom candles for gifts or for yourself. I’ve been having so much fun mixing different scents and colors to create my perfect custom candle. Easy to use (with a little practice and some instruction reading) and comes with everything you need. I am really enjoying this new hobby and think I may have finally found one I can stick with, simply because of the joy it brings to make and then use my creation!” —Lauren R.
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in five styles).
23. A Woobles crochet kit that will keep your hands busy, teach you a new skill, and leave you with the sweetest little plushie. Trust us, you’ll be hooked on crocheting.
Promising review: “This is what started my love of crochet! The instructions are so clear that it took me a few days to do Pierre in about 20-minute chunks, but it might have taken an hour and a half if I sat and knocked it out. Such a great product or gift for anyone looking to start a new hobby or have grandkids learn how to crochet with you!” —Katie
Get it from Amazon for $29.96+ (available in seven styles and two quantities).
24. A mega-size Rainbow Loom bracelet-making kit, which will lead to a lot of good times with a serious side of nostalgia. Turns out, this activity still holds up.
25. A 3D pen set, because it’s always been your dream to bring your doodles to life. Your desk needs some new decor, right? Get ready for a few, um, conversation pieces.
Nordstrom
Get it from Nordstrom for $59.99.
26. A Lego botanicals pretty pink flower bouquet, which is a bloomin’ good time to build, and it’ll blossom forever.
LEGO
Promising review: “This was the first flower set I have built, and what can I say other than WOW!! The colors are just beautiful, they go so well together, what a beautiful gift to get someone or yourself. I think it’s fabulous that when you build a flower, it tells you about the flower and its origin. If you love the botanical collection, get this set, you will love it.” —DuchessStrongBrainstein
Get it from Lego for $59.99.
27. A sun printing kit so you can create botanical art using the plants in your own yard or on your go-to nature trail. This helps you avoid blue light and make good use of sunlight!
Anthropologie
Get it from Anthropologie for $34.
28. A Paint By Sticker ’90s edition, because so many of these images are already stuck in your brain forever. Put on an old BSB album and get to work!
29. A standing planter for those of us who want to get into gardening but don’t necessarily have the space for it. Start small, but meaningful, and get your hands dirty.
Walmart
Promising review: “I am very picky and REALLY like this item. I bought it for my Dad, who can’t get around like he used to, but wants to garden. We put 2-inch casters on it so it would roll, and it’s still the perfect height for him. When first putting in the soil, it holds two 50-pound bags (the liner comes with it, so the soil won’t run through). Get a third bag to add when the dirt has settled from watering, rain, etc. It’s made of cedar and is nice. Not an eyesore at all. Easy to put together: just a rubber hammer to help get pieces in place, and the only tools required would be if you added casters, too. If anyone is on the fence, don’t wait another minute… you will really enjoy this.” —Lisa
Get it from Walmart for $49.99+ (available in three colors).
30. A seven-piece yoga set so you can switch from scrolling thumb pose to warrior pose. Plus, we can absolutely guarantee you’ll be much more zen after yoga than after doomscrolling.
Macy’s
Get it from Macy’s for $45.99.
31. A Lego version of the iconic The Great Wave woodblock print by Hokusai, because you aren’t necessarily up for cleaning up paint, but you still want to create art for your walls.
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Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
