Generation Z is rediscovering hobbies that have long been considered “grandma hobbies.” Knitting, birdwatching, or crafts are suddenly trending and even compared to video games.
What exactly is behind the trend of “grandma hobbies”? The term refers to hobbies that have traditionally been associated with older generations – such as crocheting, knitting, embroidery, gardening, or birdwatching. In recent years, especially people from Generation Z are rediscovering these activities for themselves.
The idea is simple: Many young adults want to consciously spend more time away from screens and are looking for activities that feel analog and require real concentration (Sources: Fortune & Focus).
One of the people behind the trend is Emma MacTaggart. She worked in investment banking for a long time and realized that her free time was almost exclusively taken up by her smartphone. Eventually, she started needlepoint – a traditional stitching technique, also known as tapestry embroidery – and stuck with it.
It was a really therapeutic way to distract myself from stress and do something with my hands instead of just doomscrolling.
MacTaggart in an interview with Fortune
Ironically, the trend is spreading precisely through social media, where millions of videos about knitting, crocheting, pottery, or craft projects are shared (NBCNY).
Other forms, such as puzzling, experienced a true revival as early as the pandemic in 2020/21. This trend was also picked up at that time by content creator Mirella Precek aka Mirellativegal, who founded her own puzzle brand with Willa Wunst.
Analog > Digital
Why do some people compare birdwatching to a video game? The artist Isaiah Scott (Instagram) describes his grandma hobby distinctly using gaming terms in an interview with Fortune. For him, birdwatching feels like a digital game.
The reason lies in the structure of the hobby. Those who observe birds gradually collect more and more species and often keep a list of all the animals they have seen. Each new species feels like progress.
Many amateur ornithologists (that’s what bird researchers are called) even use apps like the NABU app or eBird in the USA, which allow them to document and share their sightings with others. This strongly resembles collection mechanics from games.
This structure thus clearly resembles classic game principles: One explores new places, discovers rare “finds” (in this case, birds), and gradually expands one’s collection step by step.
Studies even show that regularly seeing and hearing birds can measurably increase well-being.
Why are so many people suddenly taking up analog hobbies? The trend has several reasons. A central point is the desire for a balance to the digital everyday life.
Smartphones and social media can sometimes mean that many people hardly have any real breaks anymore. Analog hobbies offer precisely the opposite: They require patience, attention, and offer rather slow progress (br).
Jaime Kurtz, a psychology professor at James Madison University, emphasizes the importance of hobbies for mental well-being. Activities that require concentration and present a certain challenge could, according to Kurtz, help reduce anxiety and stress as well as create a sense of fulfillment.
She points out that hobbies are neglected or not sufficiently prioritized by many people – it is already worth planning small time windows for them (Fortune).
Do you have a hobby where you can completely switch off?
Even though Warhammer 40,000 is not necessarily a classic grandma hobby, the tabletop does have many similarities with the analog leisure activities that are currently trending. No wonder, then, that even stars like Henry Cavill swear by it. Do you want to share a hobby with Henry Cavill? Here’s how to get started with Warhammer 40K
