Have you noticed how many people are rediscovering hobbies like knitting, pottery, and drawing right now? There has been a huge rise, especially among younger generations, in turning to crafts and creative pastimes that might once have seemed old-fashioned. For many, these activities are not just about making something. They are about slowing down, easing stress, and connecting with themselves in a different way.

A recent article described crafts as “medicine” for Gen Z, with people finding comfort in the rhythm of making, sharing supper clubs, or sketching together. In a world dominated by screens, fast information, and constant pressure, it is no wonder these slower, more tactile hobbies feel like a relief.

How this links to person-centred therapy

This trend reminds me a lot of what we do in person-centred therapy. Carl Rogers believed that people grow best in conditions of acceptance, empathy, and authenticity. In therapy, this might look like being listened to without judgment, having the freedom to explore feelings at your own pace, and being valued for who you are rather than what you produce.

When you sit down to knit a scarf or shape clay on a wheel, something similar can happen. You allow yourself to be present. You do not have to get it perfect. You do not even need to keep the finished product. The value is in the process, not the outcome, and that is very close to the heart of person-centred ideas about growth.

Why it matters

Therapy is one space where we can practise authenticity, but it is not the only space. Everyday acts of creativity can give us a chance to step away from judgment and pressure, and instead lean into curiosity, expression, and presence. These “slow” hobbies remind us that healing is not always about doing more or getting faster results. Sometimes it is about creating enough space to notice who we are when the noise quiets down.

A gentle reminder

Not everyone wants to knit or make pottery, of course. But whatever your version of “slowing down” looks like, whether it is baking, gardening, journaling, or simply walking without your phone, it can become a practice of self-acceptance. Much like therapy, it is a way of saying to yourself: “I am enough as I am, right here, right now.”