SOME HOBBIES ARE SECRET STIMMING – Here’s a breakdown by sensory system, because different brains regulate in different ways.

🧶🖌️ HOBBIES THAT ARE SECRETLY STIMMING

✋ Tactile / Repetitive hand movement stims

Crochet, Knitting, Embroidery, Weaving, Sewing, Cross-stitch, Polymer clay modelling, Pottery throwing, Wood carving, Jewellery making (beading, wire wrapping) Origami, Fidget toys or stress balls, Sand tray play, kinetic sand

Why they count:

Repetition + texture + predictable motor pattern = nervous system regulating.

🎨 Visual calming stims

Diamond painting, Colouring books Mandala drawing, Painting miniatures, Zentangle doodling Calligraphy, Watching aquarium fish (huge one for autistics) Watching lava lamps or glitter bottles, Puzzle making, Lego building (pattern + order = soothing)

Why they count:

Visual focus stops intrusive thought loops and reduces sensory chaos.

🎶 Auditory calming stims

Playing handpan or drum, Playing piano (especially repetitive chord patterns) Listening to the same playlist on repeat, Humming while crafting, Singing quietly, ASMR videos, White noise machines

Why they count:

Predictable sound gives the brain something safe to “lock onto.”

🪑 Vestibular / motion-based stims

Rocking chair Swinging (indoors or outdoors) Walking repetitive routes Trampoline bouncing Yoga flow sequences

Why they count:

Rhythmic movement resets stress signals in autistic nervous systems.

🧠 Hyperspecial-interest “mind stims”

Researching a topic deeply Organizing collections Sorting beads, stones, threads Categorising data, lists, charts Collecting (shells, stones, stickers, Funko Pops, etc.) Sudoku, crosswords, puzzles

Why they count:

Focused pattern-based attention regulates the brain like meditation.

🔥 Sensory-seeking hobbies (high-stim but regulating)

Drumming Dancing Heavy gym lifting Martial arts repetitive drills Climbing Drumming on objects while thinking

Why they count:

They burn adrenaline and release built-up nervous system tension.

🌿 Nature-based calming stims

Gardening Bonsai trimming Aquarium keeping (you already love this!) Watching birds with binoculars Pebble collecting and sorting

Why they count:

Slow repetitive patterns + visual calm = nervous system downshift.

💛 WHY THESE WORK

Hobbies are stimming when they:

Are repetitive Feel soothing Shut off intrusive thoughts Allow hyperfocus Reduce anxiety Bring predictability and control Create sensory comfort Regulate the autonomic nervous system

Autistics don’t stim because it’s a “habit.”

We stim because it’s neurological self-care.

☑️ And here’s the key idea:

Hobbies that look like “crafting” to others are often “nervous system regulation” for autistic people.

And that is valid, healthy, and necessary.