Creating > Consuming (and Here’s Why)
Photo by Katie Lam (feat. her friends’ creations)
Ever since I was little, I have loved learning new things. Whether it was discovering how the solar system worked in science class or figuring out how to braid and style my hair, I always found joy in taking a new skill and making it my own. Over time, that curiosity poured into discovering hobbies.
What’s cool about hobbies is that even if two people share the same one, their creativity and authenticity make it completely unique. I’ve seen this firsthand with my own friends. Some of us overlap in what we do, but the way each person adds their own twist is what makes their personality shine through.
That’s why I think creating is so powerful. Instead of spending hours scrolling, we can actually make something—something that lasts longer than a swipe and brings joy not only to us, but to the people around us too.
So today, I want to switch things up and share some of the hobbies my friends have that I think are seriously inspiring examples of creativity in action.
The first is a baker at heart. She’s always experimenting in the kitchen, whether it’s matcha cookies, strawberry tart cookies, or lemon crinkle cookies. In fact, she puts so much thought and care into her baked goods that she decorates each package for her treats by hand, designing and decorating the labels with different themes. But it’s not just about baking for herself—she shares it. She’s known for handing out her famous toffee bars every Christmas to staff and classmates, and honestly, I look forward to them every single year.
Then, there’s my friend who loves building things. From Legos to model robots, they’re all about detail. Their room is filled with creations they’ve spent hours on, from intricate Lego cars to all sorts of model builds. Although a lot of these types of builds are typically instruction based, the creative side in them stimulates when picking out certain themes in sets or even when they get to hand-paint their model robots after putting them together! You can tell it’s not just a hobby—it’s something that fuels them.
And my third friend is the definition of crafty. She’s an incredible artist, but she doesn’t stop there. She crochets, sews, and even did the seamstress work on her own prom dress—which, if you didn’t know, can sometimes cost just as much as the dress itself. Seeing how she can turn creativity into something so practical and beautiful in multitudes of ways is honestly inspiring.
Here’s the cool thing about all this: creativity doesn’t just feel good, it’s actually good for your brain. Our brains have two hemispheres—the left side is more logical and analytical, while the right side is more creative and imaginative. When we engage in creative work, we’re lighting up that right hemisphere, but we’re also strengthening the way both sides communicate. That connection improves problem-solving, memory, and even lowers stress. Basically, creativity helps stimulate our brain functioning.
So whether it’s baking, building, painting, or your own gigs and interests, choosing to create over consuming is such a powerful way to spend our time. It gives us something meaningful to share with others, strengthens our minds, and reminds us that joy doesn’t have to come from a screen.
Maybe this month is your chance to pick up that old hobby, or finally get into that project you’ve been putting off. Who knows—you might just surprise yourself with what you can make.
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