Quick question. When was the last time you made something just because you felt like it? Not a school lunch, not a costume at 9pm the night before book week, not a spreadsheet for the P&C. Something that was just for you.
If you had to think about it for a while, you're in very good company. Most of the mums we meet can rattle off every one of their kids' activities, but go a bit quiet when we ask what they do for fun.
So this one's for you. Not your kids. You.
Somewhere along the way, the hobbies disappeared
It doesn't happen all at once. First the baby arrives and there's no time. Then there's a bit of time, but you're too tired. Then the kids are at school and every spare hour gets swallowed by washing, pick-ups, work and the group chat.
Before you know it, "me time" means scrolling in the car outside swimming lessons. And look, we've all been there. But scrolling isn't rest, and it definitely isn't joy.
Hobbies aren't a luxury you earn once the house is clean. The house is never clean. They're part of what keeps you feeling like a person, not just the household manager.
Why making something with your hands feels so good
There's a reason an hour of making can leave you feeling lighter. When you're mixing colours or figuring out what to do with a lump of clay, your brain gets a break from the to-do list. You're not planning dinner. You're not replaying that awkward email. You're just there.
A few things creative time gives you that the couch can't:
A proper switch-off. Your hands are busy, so your head gets quiet.
Something that's finished. Unlike the laundry, a painting actually ends.
A little win. Trying something new and having a crack at it is good for your confidence at any age.
No screens. For once, you're the one having screen-free time.
And here's the bit we love most. Kids copy what they see. When they watch you make time for something you enjoy, they learn that grown-ups get to have fun too.
"But I'm not creative"
We hear this one every single week, usually right before someone makes something great.
Here's the thing. You don't need to be good at art to enjoy it. Nobody is marking your work. There's no right answer and nobody's going to hang it in a gallery unless you want them to. The point is the doing, not the result.
If you loved colouring in as a kid, or you still doodle in the margins of the school newsletter, that creative bit of you hasn't gone anywhere. It's just been on mute for a while.
Making friends as a grown-up is hard (this helps)
Let's be honest, making new friends after 30 is weird. School friends move away, work friends stay at work, and the school gate is a lot of polite small talk while someone's yelling about a lost hat.
Doing something with your hands next to other people takes the pressure off. You're not staring at each other across a cafe table trying to think of something to say. You're both trying to work out why your paint has gone brown, and suddenly you're laughing.
Seeing the same faces each week is how friendships actually start. Nobody becomes best mates after one coffee. It's the regular, low-stakes catch-ups that do it.
How to actually make time for it
We know, we know. Where is this magical spare time meant to come from? A few ideas that actually work:
Book it like an appointment. If it's in the calendar, it happens. If it's "when I get a chance", it doesn't.
Tag-team with your partner or a friend. One night a week each, no negotiating.
Bring a mate. You're far less likely to cancel on yourself if someone's expecting you.
Start small. Four weeks is a lot less scary than "forever".
And if the guilt creeps in, try this. You're not taking time away from your family. You're coming back to them a bit calmer, a bit happier, and with a story about your day that isn't about the dishwasher.
Your creative reset starts here
That's exactly why we made Rediscover Your Creativity in 28 Days. It's our program for grown-ups who used to love making things and want that feeling back.
Here's what you get:
Four weekly 90-minute sessions
Every material supplied, so there's nothing to buy or prep
A friendly group of other adults who are also having a go
A drink in hand if you want one
It's $195 for the four weeks, and no experience is needed. Our next intake starts next week at our North Perth and Kalamunda studio.
Not quite ready to commit to four weeks? Grab a friend and come along to a Paint & Sip night instead. Our next date is [Paint & Sip date]. And if someone keeps asking what you want for Christmas, either of these makes a pretty great answer.
Go on. Book the thing. You deserve something that's just yours.
Fay and the Faire & Co team
