Having a creative hobby is essential in boosting women’s confidence. Working on a creative project for your own enjoyment is an important confidence building exercise. I cover it more in my post 11 Fascinating and Real Ways Creative Hobbies Increase Women’s Self-Confidence. But the main thing to take away is if you’re seeking to build confidence then starting a new hobby is one of the best ways to do it.

It can be intimidating to start a new hobby especially when we lack confidence. I know for me if I wasn’t good at something right away it would sting my ego and deplete my self-confidence, or I just wouldn’t start because of the fear I’d be terrible at it. But now I know it’s an amazing thing to be terrible at something new!

Being terrible at something new is brave. Most people never start a new project or learn a new skill because of fear. But thing we all forget is you don’t have to be great at something new. You just have to try it.

By stepping out of your comfort zone and trying a new hobby you are already increasing your confidence! Way to go, babe! Throughout the process of learning that new hobby you’ll be building confidence in yourself. And when you finally hold up that magical finished piece that you created with your own two hands, even if it’s not perfect, you can be incredibly proud of yourself because you did it! You made it!

I started cross stitching five years ago and believe me I was not great at this hobby at first. My spacing was off, my stitches were too skinny, and my X’s went in every direction.

But seeing my first finished piece (even though it was less than stellar) filled me with such a sense of accomplishment and pride, I was hooked!

I stuck with it. I kept working at it. Gradually I got better, and I got more confident. I started taking on bigger projects, and then I started designing my own patterns. And now I have my own cross stitch pattern shop!

Cross stitching has helped me expand my confidence by teaching me resilience, patience, and believing in myself. But it all started with a simple kit I got at my local craft store for $4.

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Using a kit to get started with a new crafty hobby can build your confidence around the hobby. Everything is all laid out in front of you. You don’t have to figure out any of the hard stuff that can keep you from starting in the first place. Many of us get lost in the analysis paralysis. Using a kit helps get us out of that stage and get started.

 You just have to create something and be proud of yourself that you not only made something, but you also challenged yourself. That’s a huge step in the right direction!

1. Crocheting: Crocheting is a great hobby for building confidence because 1. You can start with those adorable animal kits which are so much fun! 2. The possibilities for what you can crochet are endless. You can continue building your confidence by taking on more challenging projects like crocheting a whole sweater for yourself. Starting small with crochet project by using one the cute kits will help you gain more confidence in your crocheting skills until you feel ready to tackle a big project and have the confidence to know even if it’s difficult, you can handle it!

2. Puzzles: Puzzles are an excellent mindfulness practice which can help you build confidence by keeping you in the present moment instead of worrying about all the other noise. They also help you build problem-solving skills which leads to more confidence. With each new puzzle piece connected you’ll gain a little more momentum and belief in yourself. Puzzles can be challenging, but doing something challenging is one of the best ways to boost confidence! Check out these super cute and modern puzzles by Jiggy. (no more grandma puzzles for you!)

3. Coloring: Coloring is a fantastic activity! It’s a stress relieving practice since you’re focused on your coloring sheet and not thinking about anything else (especially if you put your headphones on and get lost in an audiobook) It also can reconnect us with our childhood selves. When we’re kids, most of us are way more confident because the noise of everyone hasn’t fully leaked into our minds yet. We still believe we can be anything and do anything. Somewhere along the way, most of lose this sense of wonder and unapologetic confidence in ourselves. Coloring also offers positive reinforcement. The more you see your coloring project come together and look beautiful, the more validation it is for you that hey, you’re really good at this! And there are unlimited options in coloring books, so you’re sure to find one you love!

4. Photography: You don’t need a fancy camera to get started with photography. I’m guessing you have a smart phone (that’s probably what you’re reading this post on) All you have to do is push the button in the center. Yes, there can be a lot more to photography than this, like the rule of thirds, but again we’re just trying to get started here. Photography is a super creative hobby helping you step more into your creative confidence. As the quality of your photos start to increase your confidence in your ability and trust in your decisions will start to increase. You can absolutely start with nothing but your phone, but if you’re like me and want a little more direction in starting something new, you can sign up for an online class through Udemy to learn photography with your phone. *Pro tip: wait until the class goes on sale before purchasing. I’ve seen classes that were $150 go on sale for $20. Just add it to your wish list until the sale happens.

5. Making Miniatures: Miniatures are similar to puzzles in that they help increase problem solving skills, offer positive reinforcement when you get the piece to fit and achieve a milestone, and can also be used as a mindfulness practice. I think this is also a great hobby to reconnect with your childhood self, because you’re creating your own little world. How magical is that! You can create your own little town with these kits! You have the ability to start simple with a kit and then maybe one day you’ll be designing your own miniatures without a kit.

6. Embroidery: Embroidery similar to my love, cross stitching, is a fantastic way to be more present in the moment, more creative, and you’ll be filled with pride when you see your finished piece. This is a craft you create all with your own two hands and that’s empowering! Embroidery is another great hobby for starting simple and building confidence along the way by taking on more challenging projects and designs. The possibilities are endless with embroidery!

7. Paint by Numbers: Have you always wanted to paint a masterpiece, but were hesitant to start because you didn’t think you’d be great at it? Paint by number alleviates all that fear. Painting something beautiful is achievable with a paint by numbers kit since the kits are structured with step-by-step instructions. At the end you’ll get to behold your painting masterpiece and feel a huge sense of accomplishment. Paint by numbers helps you build painting skills such as brush control and color coordination. Watching your skills increase is a huge boost of confidence!

8. Flower Pressing: Pressing flowers is a beautiful way to connect with nature in a hands-on and creative way. By connecting with nature and your own creativity you’ll feel more grounded, which leads to more confidence. This is also a great mindfulness practice since you are connecting with nature and using your hands to create something. The calming nature of this hobby can help reduce stress and increase self-assurance. At the end you’ll get to have something beautiful that you created. You can start with a flower pressing kit and eventually, if you choose when you have more confidence, move on to pressing and preserving flowers without a kit and creating larger projects.

9. Diamond Art: This one is my personal favorite (aside from cross stitching) confidence building exercises. I have been working on a huge diamond art canvas and every time I finish a section, I think to myself, “Look at that! I did that and it’s beautiful!” Transforming a flat canvas into a glittery, sparkly masterpiece feels incredible! Seeing it come together piece by piece gives me a sense of pride. This hobby also helps me with mindfulness because I am completely focused on where I’m placing the diamonds. I put on headphones and get lost in my project. There are also a million options for diamond art canvases and there is truly something for everyone. I love Diamond Art Club (this is where I purchased the large canvas I’m currently working on) They have small kits like magnets and ornaments and then they have kits that are the size of a person. As you build more confidence you can start taking on larger and more complex designs.

10. Needle Felting: Felting is helpful for not only building confidence but also increasing patience and perseverance. Felting can be challenging in the beginning, but if you stick with it you’ll have a physical finished project that you can hold in the hands that created it. Seeing how you transformed a piece of wool into a fox or a mushroom or penguins playing reminds you what you are capable of. You created something with your own two hands and that is powerful. You can start with an adorable small kit like these from Felted Sky, and eventually work your way up to larger, more challenging projects.

11. Candle Making: Candle making is a beautiful way to creatively express yourself and enrich your space. Candle making can involve trial and error, especially when first starting out, but at the end you’ll be able to breathe in the delicious scent of the candle you made. By creating something both lovely and functional, you will increase your sense of self-reliance and empower you. Candle making is another great hobby that you can start with a kit and then one day you can concoct your own scents and shapes for your candles.

All the hobbies listed above are fantastic when it comes to building more self-confidence and empowering yourself. You can start with simple kits with any of these hobbies, and over time as you gain more confidence in your abilities, you can challenge yourself by taking on more complex projects.

The main thing to remember is you just have to pick on and get started.

The great thing about these kits and or taking a photography class for your phone is that the guesswork and difficult decisions that keep you in analysis paralysis and fear are already handled.

Try one hobby and if it’s not your jam move on to the next until you find one you enjoy. If you’re still struggling to find a hobby right for you, check out Craftsy. They offer a bunch of classes on different hobbies from drawing to cake decorating.

Remember this all for enjoyment and boosting our confidence. Don’t stress about getting it perfect. All that matters is you did it! You created it!

Let me know in the comments which hobby you selected and how it’s going for you. I’d love to hear how your hobby and confidence building journey is going!