Why Everyone Is Suddenly Returning to ‘Grandma’ Hobbies—and Gaining Some Surprising Health Benefits

There’s probably a lot going on in your life that can be turning you into a ball of stress (guilty!). But what if all it took to help you unravel that stress ball was a little yarn, a favorite feel-good book, or a great cookie recipe? If you’re looking for a low-cost, high-reward self-care treat, taking up a grandma-inspired hobby may be just what the doctor ordered to help you unwind after a busy or stressful day.

And it turns out, knitting, baking, and other cozy pursuits can have plenty of benefits for you (beyond a cute scarf or a delicious batch of cookies). Get the scoop on granny hobbies, their benefits—and how to find the best one for you.

What Are Grandma Hobbies?

Generally, “grandmacore” hobbies are the kinds of quiet, slow hobbies you can take your time doing. They also tend to be on the crafty and creative side—such as sewing and crocheting.

• Sewing
• Quilting
• Crocheting and Knitting
• Embroidery and Needlework
• Baking
• Canning
• Gardening
• Reading
• Birdwatching
• Board Games
• Jigsaw Puzzles

Why Are Cozy Hobbies Popular Now?

Honestly, these pursuits never went out of vogue entirely—who ever stopped baking goodies? But granny hobbies like knitting and baking really took off in 2020, when everyone was spending more time at home. Even if your sourdough starter died off years ago, the passion for some of these cozy hobbies has continued to thrive, as they’re not only relaxing pursuits, but also activities that can be shared, whether you’re creating a homemade quilt to give as a gift or working on a jigsaw puzzle with your loved ones.

And it doesn’t hurt that people are posting plenty about these pursuits on TikTok and other social media, too! This buzz is only increasing the interest in these hobbies.

Mental Health Benefits of “Old-Fashioned” Hobbies

While enjoying freshly baked bread or some pretty flowers from your garden is one big benefit of these hobbies, there are also some science-backed reasons to try these relaxing pasttimes, says Tiffany C. Ho, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at the Brain Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles.

Cozy hobbies can bring you joy

“Hobbies, by definition, are activities that evoke pleasure, so it makes sense that individuals who are inherently drawn to knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc., would experience improvements in their mood when engaging in these activities,” Ho says. But even if you haven’t tried knitting before or are tackling a new and more involved recipe, the novelty of something new can come with a big dopamine hit—which can help you feel good.

They can help calm you down

Ho points out that activities like these can help people unwind, especially after a difficult or stressful day. “Working and creating with their hands brings a sense of calm. It helps divert ruminative and internally focused energy that we often see in anxiety, depression, or burnout.”

These hobbies can become meditative

The repetitive nature of many of the grandmacore hobbies—embroidery, knitting, and kneading dough, for instance—can help you slow your breath and find your balance. “The repetitive movements and present moment awareness mimic mindfulness meditation in a lot of ways, which may explain why they could help improve mood and mental health,” Ho says.

How to Choose the Cozy Hobbies That’ll Bring You the Most Joy

If you’re looking to add a few of these activities to your self-care routines, it can be tricky to figure out which ones to choose. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Decide what you’re hoping to get out of it

Different hobbies provide different benefits, Ho says. “Hobbies that help you connect with nature, promote social interactions with others, provide an outlet for creativity, offer skill learning, result in a tangible product, and where accomplishment scales with effort, are all good places to start.”

Consider your own talents

If you’re all thumbs, you might get more frustrated than fulfilled with trying a complicated embroidery pattern—so perhaps something that’s a little less exacting, like gardening, would be a better choice.

Don’t neglect your other self-care needs

While granny hobbies can definitely help you chill out, you can’t neglect the other ingredients for good mental health. “I would recommend staying physically healthy and active,” says Ho. “That means getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in daily movement and regular exercise.”