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There’s a special joy in creating something from scratch, especially if it takes a significant amount of time to build it. Knitting a sweater, designing or themed scrapbook are examples of such activities.
These are hobbies that require focus, diligence, and patience, and they offer participants mental, physical, and cognitive health benefits, Yahoo!Life shares. Perhaps that’s why young people, seeking short-living digital detoxes, are flocking to these and similar pastimes. This up-and-coming trend of young adults emulating their grandparents’ hobbies is nicknamed " “granny core.”
Reinventing Traditional Hobbies
Granny core, a blog published by Eventbrite explains, is growing increasingly popular over time. It is also referred to as “grandma hobbies”. Especially in urban areas, searches for Mahjong on the eventbrite platform increased 365 percent and needlepoint searches grew by 400 percent, as Gen Zers seek to disconnect from screens and build real-world connections.
Roselie Ilano, Eventbrite’s head of community & trends shares with Eventbrite’s blog that, “This shift goes beyond simple nostalgia — it’s about building connections through shared, in-person experiences…we’re seeing how traditionally older hobbies like knitting circles and Mahjong tournaments take on fresh energy when embraced by a generation raised in the digital world.”
For example, Gen Zers aren’t only rediscovering the joy of needlepointing at home next to the fireplace. They are also reimagining and reinventing these hobbies to conform with the interests and culture of young adults. This means Mahjong in a cocktail bar, a trendy cafe hosting an embroidery club, or a social event where participants also learn to make sourdough.
Gen Zers are connecting with granny core activities online and via social media as well, Bustle adds. Searching “grandma hobbies” on TikTok leads you to more than 11 million posts about the trend, including content such as creator @nicoletetrault1’s video captioned, “Sorry can’t hang out. Busy doing granny stuff.”
Benefits of Granny Core
Granny core adherents report feeling more confident thanks to engaging in intergenerational hobbies. Lifestyle content creator, Kenzie Elizabeth tells Bustle that, “With these hobbies, you're obviously learning a new skill, but you're also committing to spending time alone or just developing a new craft. You’re showing yourself that you’ll show up for yourself. It’s all about building more of the life you want.”
She adds that the trend helped her build friendships both within her own generation and with women her grandma’s age. “I like spending time with older women because they obviously have so much wisdom and so much life experience,” Elizabeth adds.
Since these hobbies are typically practiced by retirees, these activities are time-consuming, encouraging participants to slow down, sit down, and focus. This can help with concentration and make you feel calmer.
Yahoo!Life shares that granny core may provide real world physical, mental, and cognitive health benefits. The repetitive hand movements involved in sewing, crocheting, embroidering and and other similar activities may activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This could lower the body’s concentration of stress hormones like cortisol while raising the volume of serotonin and dopamine – hormones associated with positive feelings.
Getting Started With Granny Core
To jumpstart a grandma hobby, Bustle suggests heading to a craft shop. Browse the aisles and see whether the embroidery section, the sewing materials, the crochet aisle, or the pottery and clay appeals more to you. Or you can visit a grocery store and note if you feel an interest in cooking or baking. Social media is also a good place to explore and discover new hobbies.
If you are looking to get involved in granny core social clubs, you can browse local events in your community. But there’s also nothing wrong with starting a granny core hobby on your own. When you are ready to solo scrapbook, puzzle, or needlepoint, start by getting into the grandma groove. Put on some relaxing music, curl up on a comfy sofa with a warm drink, and get started.
Granny core is a viral sensation, but rather than a passing trend, it looks like it is here to stay. The shift in interests reflects Gen Z's desire to pause from their digital lives and create in the real world. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with others or with oneself while also exploring new interests and creating something beautiful and lasting.
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