Knitting. Wood whittling. Cross-stitching. This list of Victorian-era hobbies doubles as a menu of analog activities that occupy the hands and quiet the minds of kinetic and sometimes overstimulated people with ADHD.

We asked ADDitude readers about their favorite analog hobbies, and the responses were as diverse as our community members themselves. That said, the favorite activities shared key characteristics: They engage the mind, but because they’re typically repetitive, the mental load is light. They usually involve the creation of something, whether that’s a puzzle or a sprout of basil. And the progress made — from pages read to rows knitted — is easily observable.

Cross-stitch by stitch, puzzle piece by piece, brush stroke by stroke, these analog hobbies help ADHD minds find calm, gratification and peace.

“Gardening has the benefit of getting me outside and moving. Plus, there’s the tactile piece of getting my hands in the dirt and the dopamine hit of seeing my plants grow and eating my veggies. It has become one of my favorite parts of summer!” — Cami, Wisconsin

“I make leather bags. It’s so satisfying to make something that will last for decades and to do it well enough that people don’t guess it’s homemade.” — An ADDitude Reader

[Read: How Do I Reduce Stress? Gardening. Wordle. Crochet…]

“I love to build LEGO sets! Big ones are my favorite, but any set will do! I like that building them keeps my hands engaged and that I don’t have to think really hard about them. Over time, I’ve come up with a whole setup for organizing while I build; little bins to sort out each packet so that I don’t lose any pieces. It’s soothing for my sometimes disorganized brain.” — Melyssa, Texas

“I make soaps, candles, room sprays, cuticle oil, and lotions. I love it because I can make things that are useful and smell the way I like them. Also, with all my skin sensitivity I know what is in the products, which keeps me from being itchy.” — Cecily, Idaho

“I sit in front of the TV at night and make theater props at a table. I love to make props using what most people consider junk. I get great joy out of creating something that looks incredibly lifelike, such as a fake moldy sandwich. I need to be creative; sharing ideas with other creatives is soul food.” — Sally, Australia

[Read: “I Cultivate My Garden – and My Inner Peace”]

“Reading fiction is very helpful. My overpowered brain can go on overdrive, and sometimes instead of calming it, the best I can do is redirect it to a fictional set of problems. I really do get the benefit of disengaging from my own problems, but I’m not dealing with the anxiety of trying not to think about something.” — Maria, North Carolina

“I play piano. It’s very hard to ruminate about things when you’re focusing on a difficult piece of music.” — An ADDitude Reader

“Watching TV in the evening is our family’s way of winding down, but I find that my body is still restless. Knitting or working on a cross-stitch project helps calm my physical restlessness while watching TV helps calm my mind.”  — Amber, California

“Putting together jigsaw puzzles is one of the most relaxing activities that I can do. My brain just tunes into the shapes and colors, and I can get lost in working on and finishing a puzzle. I don’t have to think about anything in particular while doing this, and I end up with a creative masterpiece!” — Ann Elizabeth, California

“I like whittling — usually with music in the background. Making wooden decorations and ornaments is very relaxing.” — Amelia, England

“Lately, I’ve been making custom-painted Chuck Taylors for friends and family. Painting puts me into my meditative space. I like to play music and think about the person I’m painting the sneakers for while I’m doing it.” — Karin, South Carolina

“The analog hobbies of ADHD members of my household include Diamond Dots, crochet, playing a musical instrument, and jigsaw puzzles. Each of these activities has a certain amount of repetition, but none of them requires significant mental effort to accomplish and there’s tangible progress very quickly.” — An ADDitude Reader

“Swimming just gets me in the zone; I could do it for hours. Something about the feeling of floating around in the water and the freedom of movement really helps me enjoy the present.” — George, Wisconsin

“Knitting is great for me! Very calming. But only ‘straight’ things like scarves and blankets so I don’t have to think about adding or dropping stitches. Easy.” — An ADDitude Reader, Illinois

“My two kids and I have ADHD. We have several analog hobbies that we do every day. Having a variety of activities keeps things ‘new’ and boredom-free. We craft with melty beads, draw, cross-stitch, and do puzzles, Diamond Dots, and LEGOs. I also knit, sew, and hand embroider. Usually, we’re working on our projects in the same room and enjoy being together. We usually feel recharged and better connected afterward. Oh, and when we do them before bedtime, the kids are more relaxed and fall asleep easier!” — Marjorie, Virginia

“I read novels from the library. It’s beyond wonderful to escape into the lives of characters who have families, partners, elders, etc. — all the things in life I long for.” — An ADDitude Reader, Canada

Analog Hobbies for ADHD: Next Steps

• Read: “Upcycling – My (Guilt-Free) ADHD Obsession”
• Watch: “Some Kind of Wonderful – How Music Affects the ADHD Brain”
• Read: “Diary of My ADHD Hyperfixations – My Brief-But-Intense Obsession with Pressure Washing”

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