Key Takeaways
- Cozy, nostalgic hobbies are resurging as a counterbalance to stress, digital burnout, and hustle culture.
- Hands-on hobbies like crafting, baking, and gardening support mental health by encouraging mindfulness, regulating the nervous system, and boosting confidence.
- You don’t need to be artistic or productive—just curious. Start small, go slow, and enjoy the process.
In an era of screen fatigue, doomscrolling, and pressure to constantly “optimize,” a quiet trend has been stitching its way into the hearts (and nervous systems) of many. Cozy, analog hobbies—like knitting, baking, hand embroidery, and puzzle-making—are experiencing a full-blown renaissance.
Affectionately dubbed “grandma hobbies,” these slower, tactile activities offer a calming antidote to the always-on digital world. And they’re doing more than passing the time—they’re helping people feel emotionally grounded, mentally present, and creatively fulfilled.
Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Trending Again
A couple of months ago, my housemate and I started crafting together in the evenings after work. It requires a little more effort than doomscrolling on TikTok, but it’s so much more peaceful.
I spoke to Andie Reeves, a writer and fiber artist. As the founder of Cape Town Craft Club, a club that hosts in-person craft circles and workshops, Reeves has seen the resurgence of granny hobbies first-hand.
“More people are starting to seek real, tactile experiences away from their screens,” she says. “The younger generation is very thoughtful about the art of living: they hate the hustle culture of capitalism, prioritize self-care, and are interested in sustainability. The slow, mindful nature of crafting speaks to this.”
It’s also become a way to define yourself in a very same-y world. “We’re in an era where uniqueness is valued, and what could be more one-off and exclusive than something you made?” Reeves says.
What Counts as a Grandma Hobby?
Let’s get one thing straight: “grandma hobby” is a term of endearment, not a diss. These are hobbies that have historically been associated with older generations—think low-tech, peaceful, and hands-on.
Some common examples include:
- Knitting and crocheting
- Cross-stitch and embroidery
- Ceramics
- Painting, drawing, and pastels
- Gardening or growing herbs
- Baking from scratch
- Letter-writing
- Puzzles and board games
- Bird-watching
- Quilting or patchwork
“These low-tech, tactile hobbies offer slowness, sensory engagement, and the freedom to create without pressure—things we’re starved for in modern life,” says Emily Sharp, an art therapist based in New York. “I often integrate these activities into my art therapy work and retreats because they support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and create micro-moments of joy.”
The Mental Health Benefits—Backed by Psychology
Sure, they’re cozy. But grandma hobbies could also be hugely supportive for your mental health.
A 2025 systematic review, which looked at 19 studies, found some evidence that crafting can improve mental health.
Another study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that creative hobbies could provide a major boost to public mental health.
Here’s how.
Mindfulness and Flow
Crafting, stitching, baking—these aren’t things you can do while doomscrolling or catastrophizing. They force you to slow down and be present.
“Crafting slows down the brain to shift into a more mindful state,” says counselor Kim Rippy, LPC, founder of Keystone Therapy Group and an avid crocheter. “Crafting is a tactile experience, increasing our brain’s ability to focus on the present-felt experiences of working with the materials, again, pulling our mind away from worrying.”
This kind of present-moment awareness is what psychologists refer to as a “flow state.” These gentle, immersive activities help us tap into that space of focused calm.
By engaging your senses, slow hobbies can help ground you in the here and now, Rippy says. “Granny hobbies directly tap into our five senses—especially sight, touch, and smell—which keep our brains more focused on our present experience rather than allowing our thoughts to pull us away towards external worlds,” she adds.
Stress Reduction
Sharp explains that even the repetition of simple movements can calm the nervous system. “I love recommending these activities, as they can help clients slow racing thoughts, regulate breathing, and calm emotional overwhelm,” she says.
“Creative hobbies can help us activate the parasympathetic nervous system – the body’s calm state of rest and digest,” she says. “I’ve witnessed clients move from anxious overwhelm to grounded presence through developing a creative practice.”
Interestingly, a 2019 study found that as little as 10 minutes of drawing per day can boost mood and reduce stress. The benefits increase if you draw daily for at least a month.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
If you wanted a perfect scarf or cake, you could buy one from a professional. We choose to make things not because we want a perfect end result, but because we enjoy the process.
Rippy regularly encourages her clients to practice slow hobbies to help with stress—and in doing so, they learn to address their perfectionist tendencies.
“I have witnessed clients give themselves permission for their hobby to not be ‘perfect,’ thus decreasing the daily pressure they put on themselves outside of their hobbies,” Rippy says.
It’s a Break from the Digital World
It’s tough to doomscroll while embroidering. Trust me, I’ve tried.
Jokes aside, crafts offer an immersive experience that pulls us out of the (often addictive) digital world—a space that often overwhelms our nervous system, makes us compare ourselves to others, and drains our attention span.
I love recommending these activities, as they can help clients slow racing thoughts, regulate breathing, and calm emotional overwhelm.
—
EMILY SHARP, LCAT, ATR-BC
“Picking up a crochet hook, a paint brush, or a recipe for bread reconnects you with simple, sensory pleasures,” Sharp says. “While you’re using your hands and letting your mind wander, you’re getting in touch with a part of yourself beyond the phone screen. That’s something we should all actively nurture.”
Community and Connection
Slow hobbies don’t have to be solitary. Crafting circles, letter-writing clubs, and baking swaps create low-pressure social spaces that nurture belonging and friendship.
Reeves says that Cape Town Craft Club meetups are “only half about the making, and the other half is the enjoyment that comes from being with other people.” She often hears members say, “Thanks for getting me out of the house,” or “I really needed this.”
Even the format encourages connection. “There’s a level of awkwardness that’s removed when everyone’s busy with their hands,” she adds. This means there’s no such thing as an awkward silence, and the ice-breaker is built in—you simply ask the person about their project or compliment their skills.
How to Get Started (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
If you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since elementary school, don’t panic—there’s no one “right” way to start a grandma hobby.
Here are a few tips:
- Start with a “gateway hobby.” “Many people jump straight into punch needling or crochet and are put off when they don’t get it right immediately,” says Reeves. Rather try something more accessible. Reeves recommends cross-stitch, coloring books, or simple beading kits.
- Give yourself permission to be a beginner. You might not be great right away. That’s OK—nobody is. Our first attempt at amigurumi is not going to look like the impressive ones that go viral on Pinterest, and that’s OK. “We tend to see the best of the best online,” Reeves says. “I mean, I’m not uploading a photo of my first, very average attempt at knitting.”
- Make it social, if you like. Join a craft club, swap recipes with a friend, or find a cozy online group. Another tip is to look for “paint-and-sip” events or gardening workshops in your area.
Remember, your crafts don’t have to be ‘good’ to be good for you. “It’s not about producing perfect results or making something to sell—it’s about creating just for the joy of it,” Sharp says. “It’s about stretching ourselves and taking creative risks in a safe way.”
