My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on the way back, I joined her with a new embroidery project of my own. It was 10 years after their graduation, and you’d think it was a testament to our advancing age that we were so excited by our historically uncool crafts, but the truth is that young people are embracing “grandma hobbies” in droves: TikTok is full of Gen Zers and millennials showing off their creations. Although it is a bit ironic that these people typically learn their skills on the internet before posting about them — again, on the internet — it’s not hard to see that grandma hobbies are gaining in popularity precisely because people are craving hands-on activities that don’t involve looking at a screen.
“Grandma hobbies are gaining in popularity precisely because people are craving hands-on activities that don’t involve looking at a screen.”
When asked why grandma hobbies are taking off so dramatically, Shelly Dar, a mental health and wellbeing specialist in the UK who describes herself as a Nani (grandma) first and a therapist second, says, “We’re overstimulated and under-nourished in ways that matter. There’s also a longing for tangible skills that feel real and useful. In an economy where so much work feels abstract or precarious, being able to grow your own tomatoes or mend your own clothes is grounding.” Dar adds, “And honestly, we’re lonely. These hobbies connect us to generations before us and give us something to share with people around us now.”
The buzzy term “grandma hobbies” refers to a wide umbrella of activities. There are fabric and needle-based crafts such as sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and felting; paper-based crafts like scrapbooking, drawing, painting, and even letter-writing; nature-based activities like bird-watching and gardening; kitchen arts like cooking, baking, canning, pickling, bread-making; less “productive” activities like jigsaw puzzles and board games… It doesn’t really matter what the activity is as long as it involves your hands, deep focus, patience, and no screens (except for when you’re learning the skill, though you could also take an in-person class or use a book instead of YouTube).
“It doesn’t really matter what the activity is as long as it involves your hands, deep focus, patience and no screens.”
I’m a fairly scattered person in general, so right now I have several grandma hobbies and other hands-on activities on the go: a felting project, a crochet project, an embroidery project, plus I’m learning how to do Reiki — which, while not a traditional grandma hobby, does involve my hands, focus, patience, and no screens. I also enjoy the mindfulness involved in cooking a meal from scratch, and I’ve been trying to journal more. I find all of these incredibly compelling, so much so that I often wish I were doing them during the workday. As corroborated by the scientific evidence, grandma hobbies unsurprisingly make me feel calmer and more centered, as well as giving me a sense of accomplishment.
“Grandma hobbies give us a feeling of slowing down, coming back into our bodies and minds, and taking time to regain perspective on our lives and priorities,” says author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner. “Grandma hobbies can also seem nostalgic (perhaps reminding us of our own grandparents) — a factor that is often strong during times of uncertainty or instability, and can also provide a sense of counter-cultural rebellion. And, of course, if grandma hobbies are trending, more people are likely to try or join in, especially if the trend is picked up on a wider cultural level.”
Another clear benefit of spending my time on activities like these has been relearning…well, how to learn. I dislike being bad at things, so learning a new skill is difficult, but I’ve been pushing myself through that discomfort with patience, determination, and a sense of acceptance that I won’t be the best at everything I do (or indeed anything I do). I don’t always manage it, but when I do, I can feel the benefits of really treating these hobbies like a discipline. It’s been a powerful antidote to the instant rewards technology provides.
What does science tell us about grandma hobbies?
Grandma hobbies feel good; anyone who’s ever tried them can tell you that. But if, like me, you’re someone who has to know exactly how things work, you’ll also be interested to know just how much science backs up the benefits of these hobbies.
“From a therapeutic standpoint, these activities are genuinely regulating for the nervous system,” explains Dar. “The bilateral movement in knitting or kneading dough, the sensory input of soil or yarn, and the predictable rhythm all signal safety to our bodies. They activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us rest and digest rather than stay in fight or flight.”
“The bilateral movement in knitting or kneading dough, the sensory input of soil or yarn, the predictable rhythm all signal safety to our bodies.”
– Shelly Dar, mental health and wellbeing specialist
And we don’t have to rely on anecdotal evidence to verify the truth of this. “Studies on knitting have shown it reduces anxiety and chronic pain, with effects similar to meditation,” says Dar. “Gardening has been linked to lower cortisol levels and improved mood.” Like knitting, crochet is positively associated with stress reduction and pain management; jigsaw puzzling may apparently protect from cognitive aging; bird-watching has been shown to promote wellbeing. There are similar studies showing the benefits of pretty much any grandma hobby you can think of, including scrapbooking, cooking, board games and arts and crafts generally.
“What I see in my practice is that these hobbies give people a sense of accomplishment that isn’t tied to productivity in the capitalist sense,” says Dar. “You finish a row, you harvest a pepper, you pull bread from the oven. That hits differently than checking off a work task. It’s satisfying in a bone-deep way.” Plus, Dar says, these activities also create pauses throughout the day, and therefore build in permission to rest. “You have to wait for dough to rise or plants to grow,” she says. “That enforced slowness is medicine for people who’ve forgotten how to rest without guilt.”
How to take up a grandma hobby:
I get it. With all the responsibilities already on your plate, it can definitely be really hard to take up and stick to a new hobby — my roughly 17 unfinished projects and I relate. But if you do choose to pursue a grandma hobby, “start slow and consistent — even 5-10 minutes a day could be a good way to begin a new hobby routine,” says Skinner. “Since grandma hobbies reward full present-moment awareness, try to find times where you can immerse yourself fully (for example, working on a crafts project before bed, or spending a short time in the garden in the mornings).” It’s about finding a hobby that lights you up, and which is also practical to keep within your existing schedule.
“It’s about finding a hobby that lights you up, and which is also practical to keep within your existing schedule.”
Also, as I’ve learned the hard way, it’s so important to do your best to let go of perfectionism. “Start small and let it be imperfect,” says Dar. “You don’t need the fancy yarn or the perfect garden plot. Bake one simple recipe. Plant three herbs in a pot. Learn one basic stitch. The point isn’t mastery, it’s the doing.” She also suggests building these hobbies into your life as it is, like knitting while watching TV or tending to your plants while sipping your morning coffee.
While it’s obviously possible to learn and practice grandma hobbies alone, Dar reminds us not to forget about the power of community. “If possible, learn from someone who already does it,” she says. “Ask your grandmother, your neighbor, someone at a community garden. These hobbies were always meant to be passed hand to hand, and that exchange is part of the healing.”
Here are some grandma hobbies to get you started
It’s never been easier to start a hobby. You can pick up an embroidery or crochet beginners’ kit from any craft store in your area, or take up an activity that uses material you already have — pots and pans, pen and paper. There are YouTube videos out there to learn how to get started in every skill under the sun, or you can seek out courses, or groups, online or locally. And let’s not forget the power of learning from books, either! If you have kids in your life, you’ll know how important that is. For each activity below, I’ve listed one resource to help you get started, but there are so, so many more out there.
1. KNITTING. Using two knitting needles and yarn to create a textile — and ultimately, a piece of clothing or toy. Beginner tutorial here.
2. CROCHET. Using a crochet hook and yarn to create clothing, toys or home decor. Beginner tutorial here.
3. EMBROIDERY. Using a needle and thread to create patterns and drawings on embroidery hoops or any piece of fabric or clothing. Beginner tutorial here.
4. NEEDLE FELTING. Using a felting needle and wool to create toys and decorations. Beginner tutorial here.
5. SEWING AND DRESSMAKING. Using a needle and thread or sewing machine to repair existing clothing and create new clothing. Online course here.
6. SCRAPBOOKING AND COLLAGE. Crafting with photos, mementos, colored and patterned paper, stickers, washi tape, etc. Inspiration here.
7. PAINTING AND DRAWING. Doodling also works! It doesn’t have to be good. Online course here.
8. LETTER-WRITING. A great antidote to texting fatigue. Learn calligraphy to get fancy.
9. COOKING. Making everyday dinners, meal-prepping, or entertaining. In-person cooking classes near you.
10. BAKING. Experimenting with sweets, savory pies and homemade breads. Cake-baking troubleshooting.
11. CANNING. Preserving jams, sauces, pickles and other recipes in sterilized, air-tight jars. Easy and fun recipes here.
12. BIRD-WATCHING. Spotting common and rare birds in your local area and beyond. Bird-watching guide for North America.
13. GARDENING. Tending plants in your garden, on an allotment, or in your home — from succulents to pumpkins and anything in between. A beginners’ gardening guide.
14. JIGSAW PUZZLES. Testing your patience and letting yourself do “unproductive” activities. A modern jigsaw brand we love.
15. BOARD GAMES. Board games have often been relegated to the realm of younger children and older adults, but the rise of board game cafés around the world shows there’s an appetite for them among us all — and there are some really fun ones these days, too, not just Scrabble and Monopoly. Plus, unlike many other grandma hobbies, board games are by nature a social activity. A two-person board game to try.
16. BRIDGE AND OTHER CARD GAMES. Bridge is a popular card game among older generations, and although it hasn’t quite taken among younger people yet, it’s focused, fun, and encourages socialization. Or you could try solitaire. Find a bridge group near you.
Grandma hobbies are a powerful practice to integrate into our lives. They require us to slow down, show ourselves what we’re capable of, and exist outside of the treadmill of productivity we’re all on. “In my work as both a therapist and a Nani, I’ve watched people literally soften as they reconnect with these practices,” says Dar. “Their shoulders drop. They laugh more easily. They remember that they’re allowed to make things just because it feels good.”
It’s time we reclaimed the hobbies our ancestors knew were important, for our own good and the good of those around us. “Every stitch, seed, or slice is a reminder that we don’t have to earn our rest or our joy,” says Dar. “We can just claim it, one small human act at a time.”
Iris Goldsztajn (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor based in London, UK. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, Marie Claire, Refinery29, SELF, Bustle and many more. Iris can typically be found on her way to a fitness class or with her nose in a good book.
The post Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You — And 16 Activities To Try appeared first on The Good Trade.
