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Why analogue hobbies can be good for your mind and wallet

Craft enthusiast Melissa Matheson shares how screen-free activities have helped both her budget and her mental health.

  • Analogue hobbies are on the rise among younger Australians who are looking for creative ways to disconnect from the online world. 
  • From sewing and knitting to journaling and gardening, analogue hobbies can boost self-esteem and be great cost-saving activities. 

It’s no secret our phones can be a source of great distraction. One tap on social media can turn into hours of mindless doomscrolling. Now, younger Australians are making an effort to put down the screens and pick up analogue hobbies – tactile, offline activities – instead.

From knitting and scrapbooking to gardening and journaling, analogue hobbies are a great way to slow down and disconnect from online culture. 

Ahead, Australian journalist and passionate fan of analogue hobbies, Melissa Matheson, shares how activities like knitting and gardening are more than a source of pride for her; they help thread a sense of calm into her everyday. 

'There's something really nice about the tactile nature of it,' Melissa says about needlework.

Learn to sew, knit or crochet

Whether it’s crafting your own clothes, mending old pieces or upcycling fabrics into new creations, sewing and knitting are some of the most practical analogue hobbies to try. For journalist Melissa Matheson, knitting first came into her life during her stressful university years. “It’s a good way of regulating my emotions and it gives me something to do that’s not scrolling on my phone.”

Melissa now knits, sews and crochets. The best part? It gives her a sense of accomplishment. “I look at each pattern like I’ve learnt a new skill and there’s something really nice about the tactile nature of it. Your time is valuable and this way it’s not going into the emptiness of the internet.”

Try junk journaling

Journaling is one of the most affordable hobbies; all you need is a pen and paper. Writing regularly can also be great for encouraging you to take stock of your life and reflect on what’s important to you.

Want to level up your journaling skills? Try “junk journaling”. Think of it as a classic journal or scrapbook but filled with pieces of “junk” you might have otherwise thrown away. Old receipt? Concert tickets? Bits of ripped paper from a magazine? Paste it in your journal, throw on some stickers and write a reflection and now it’s a memento of a memory you otherwise wouldn’t have thought twice about.

Not only is junk journaling a cost-effective hobby, it also reduces waste. 

Tending to her fruit trees gives Melissa a sense of accomplishment.

Create an edible garden

Spending time outside is a great way to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life. And gardening is both an affordable hobby and a great way to cut back on your grocery bills. Melissa doesn’t plant something in her garden unless it has a purpose. “I like growing fruit. I’m not good at pretty stuff. It has to be edible.” 

Although it took a bit of Melissa’s time and money to initially get her fruit trees in order, gardening – like knitting – gives her a real sense of accomplishment. Especially when she can use her produce instead of buying from the supermarket. “It’s much more rewarding and it tastes better if you’ve grown the ingredients yourself.” 

Check out  Money Plan in the CommBank app to help you keep track of your spending and saving, and see how your hobbies may be making a difference.

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Published: 13 March 2026

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