Rediscovering Joy: Why LEGO Building Is the Perfect Adult Hobby

Being an adult is hard. Between paying bills, navigating work drama, and pretending to have your life together, things can get overwhelming. So, what do you do when the existential dread kicks in?

You free-fall down a rabbit hole of nostalgia and somehow end up buying your first LEGO set. Maybe you build a bouquet of roses. Or a bonsai tree. Or the Millennium Falcon, if you're feeling bold.

Yes, those same colorful plastic bricks you used to lose under the couch as a kid. Turns out, they’re not just for children (and they hurt just as much to step on at 35). In fact, more and more adults are turning to LEGO as the ultimate hobby: it's creative, calming, and oddly satisfying.

This blog is your sign to ditch your screen for a bit, build something awesome, and reconnect with the kind of joy that doesn’t require a Wi-Fi signal.

Grown-Up Décor, Childhood Vibes

I still remember picking up my first LEGO at my cousin’s house. I fell in love instantly with those brightly colored bricks. I begged my mom for my own set and spent hours building houses and stables for my awesome LEGO horses (obviously the stars of the show).

I’d proudly display my creations and drag my mom and grandparents into my room to admire the details.

Not much has changed.

I still finish builds and put them on display around the house. My first build as an adult was the LEGO Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) that my wife got me for Mother’s Day. It took me a week to complete (I was still working full-time), and I loved every second. The repetitive motion of clicking blocks together is strangely meditative. I know it sounds cheesy, but there’s something about that click—it’s euphoric.

The Rise of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs)

LEGO sets marketed for the 18+ crowd are booming, making up about 15% of the company’s portfolio in 2024 according to Fortune. This shift brought in themes like Architecture, Botanical, Art, and Icons--which of course is how yours truly got pulled into the brick vortex. 

Now I am fully immersed in different Reddit threads, LEGO Instagram accounts, and have even considered going to local meetups (but that’s a step too far for your favorite introvert).

Welcome to your Plastic Brick Era

If my first set sounds intimidating, don’t worry, there are plenty of other smaller, beginner-friendly options. 

Curious about the botanical sets? Try the Mini Orchid (10343). It has 274 pieces, compared to the 1,161 I started with, and I’m hoping to add it to my collection soon.

Not into plants? Try the Super Mario Piranha Plant (71426). At 540 pieces, it’s a solid beginner set. And let’s be honest—who wouldn’t want their very own piranha plant? (On editing this I realized I suggested a plant as a not plant option.)

Also, if you’re buying directly from the LEGO site, sign up as a LEGO Insider. You’ll earn points with every purchase, which basically means… more LEGOs. I haven’t used it yet, but I will be making my next purchase count. 

Last Brick, Promise

LEGO isn’t just for kids or die-hard Star Wars fans. It’s healing. It’s fun. It’s fulfilling.

Completing a complex build and putting it on display feels like a win—a little victory that might be just what you need after a week full of tantrums (yours, your kids’, or maybe your cat’s).

Remember: there’s no wrong way to build. Even if you’re just clicking random bricks together from a mystery pile. Let your creativity run wild. Give your inner child the reins. And as Bob Ross says, there’s only happy little accidents.

When you dive into more complicated builds (looking at you, Hogwarts Castle) the focus it takes can block out the chaos of adult life. Wouldn’t life be easier with a manual you could actually follow? LEGO sets have that.

And when you finally finish? The dopamine flows like never before. 

Now go show off that creation! Tag your builds on Instagram with #BrickLifeCrisis.

What’s been your favorite set? Share it in the comments!