You’re a Naturalist

Naturalist Starter Kits

There’s a lot going on outside the screen: plants growing on the windowsill, birds at the feeder, weather changing by the hour. If your attention drifts toward living things and what’s happening around you, you’re a Naturalist. These hobbies start small, often right at a window, and reward you for paying attention.

Your first evening: do something small

Try this using items you already have at home, to see whether noticing what’s around you beats the urge to reach for your phone. That’s the whole assignment. A small finished first session matters more than a big plan.

The Ten-Minute Window Watch: Sit by a window, or step outside, with a notebook or scrap paper. Set a timer for ten minutes and write down every living thing you notice, such as a bird, an insect, a tree, or a weed in the sidewalk. Add one detail about each. You may notice more than you expected.

Want to try more free swaps before you commit? Scroll down to get our free guide.

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Ready to Try a Kit? Pick Your Starting Point

Easy, No Skill Kits

These start with something simple to set up and watch.

1. Windowsill Grow Kit

Organic 4 Herb Indoor Garden Kit

All-inclusive seed-to-plate indoor herb starter kit with everything you need to get started. Pots, soil pellets, markers, seed packets, pruning shears, and how-to guide included. Just plant and place on a sunny windowsill.

Best for: people who want something living to tend and a quick sign of progress.

2. Terrarium Kit

DIY Glass Terrarium Kit with Live Moss & Mini Tools-@$40

Build and personalize your own terrarium in this glass globe with live moss, layering materials, decorative pieces and mini tools, all included in the kit. Beginner-friendly with instructions for assembly and care.

Best for: people who want a small living scene they can keep on a desk or shelf.

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Small Learning Curve Kits

These ask you to build a habit of looking closely.

3. Nature Journaling

Waterproof Paper Field Journal

Weather, mud, and sweatproof field notebook ideal for backyard or trail. Keep route logs, sketches, gear lists, and campsite calculations. Resource pages, back pocket for loose items, and wayfaring/resource stickers included.

Best for: people who want to record what they see outdoors, with no drawing skill required.

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Kits for the Longest Payoff

A few uncertain first outings, then a hobby that grows every season.

4. Birding

Window Bird Feeder

If you want the luxury of the birds coming to you, this window feeder is your ticket to bringing them up close and personal.

Best for: someone that wants an easy, daily interaction without having to head outside.

Athlon Optics Midas UHD 8×42 Binoculars

This hobby doesn’t feature an all-in-one “kit” as such, but all you really need is a good pair of binoculars and a guidebook to get started. These high-powered, waterproof and fog proof binoculars feature premium lens and lens coating materials that deliver clear, brighter, and sharper viewing for more accurate color reproduction and ease of use.

Best for: people who want something to look forward to on walks and a skill that keeps growing.

Bird Watching Field Guide

Pair your new binoculars with a spiral-bound guide to 150 species, complete with ID basics and logging tips for a great start to your bird watching hobby.

Best for: Beginners that want to learn important birding terminology, what equipment to have on hand, and how to log and submit your bird sightings. 

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Not feeling any of these?
Want something more rhythmic to settle restless hands? Try the Busy Hands kits. Prefer to finish something you can show off? Consider the Maker kits.
Looking for something introspective? The Observer kits are phone-habit shifters.

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FREE Printable to Get You Started

Want to spend a few evenings exploring free swaps? Get our guide.

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Tips for Sticking with Your Phone-Free Hobby

Keep it where your phone usually sits
Put the kit on the couch arm, on your nightstand, or in the bag you carry. The easier it is to reach, the less often you’ll pick up the phone instead

Start with 15 to 20 minutes
Set a timer and stop when it rings, even if you’re enjoying it. A short session you finish beats a long one you dread, and stopping while it’s still fun makes tomorrow’s session easier to start.

Tie it to something you already do
Pair the hobby with an existing routine, like after dinner, with your morning coffee, or while the TV is on. A routine you already have gives the new habit a built-in reminder.

Keep the phone a little harder to reach
Charge it in another room, or put it in a drawer during your hobby time. You don’t need to ban it. Adding a small step before you can scroll gives the hobby a head start.

Expect a rough first week
The first few sessions are the clumsiest, whatever the hobby. That’s the learning curve, not a sign you picked wrong. Give it a handful of sessions before deciding.

Missing a day doesn’t reset anything
Skipping one day isn’t failure. What matters is picking it back up. If you miss a few days, go back to a 15-minute session instead of trying to catch up.

Leave your next step ready
End each session by setting out what you’ll do next, such as the next row, the next section, or the next piece. A clear starting point makes it easier to sit down again.

Make progress visible
Keep the work in sight: a partly finished project on the table, a photo on your phone’s lock screen, or a finished piece on a shelf. Seeing it grow is a small reward that motivates the next session.

If it’s not clicking, swap
Not every hobby fits. If you’ve given it a fair try and it still feels like a chore, retake the quiz or try your runner-up. Switching isn’t quitting.

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NOTE: Taxes, shipping, and upgrades are not included in price estimates. Products are subject to change.

This original content was created with the assistance of AI text and image generation tools, with creative direction, curation, drafting, and refinement by the author.