13 grandmacore hobbies we’re obsessed with right now (because those ladies were onto something)
Sure, firing up The Pitt is a worthwhile way to spend an evening, but heaping fictional stress onto real life anxiety doesn’t exactly offer the decompression I’m looking for. When I really need to unwind, one of my go-to alternatives is a jigsaw puzzle, a good podcast, and a gummy. That’s it. No screens, no producing anything, no one needing me to weigh in on a group chat. Just 1,000 tiny cardboard pieces and whatever deep-dive episode I’m into that week. It sounds so simple it’s almost silly, but the combination of working with my hands and letting my brain wander? It’s the closest thing I’ve found to a mini mental vacation without actually leaving my house.
The other thing I do religiously is the NYT crossword. Every single day. Crosswords have been my thing for years now, and the reason I keep coming back isn’t just the dopamine hit of filling in that last square. It’s the way they train your brain to approach problems sideways. You read a clue, you’re completely stuck, you move on, and then the answer pops into your head twenty minutes later while you’re making dinner. They’ve quietly taught me something I now apply to writing, brainstorming, and even parenting: if you’re stuck, walk away. Coming back with fresh eyes and energy is almost always the key that unlocks your best thinking.
Apparently a lot of us are feeling this way. Google searches for “analog hobbies” are up 160% in the past month, and searches for yarn kits on Michael’s website spiked 1,200% last year. We are collectively, desperately, looking for something to do with our hands that doesn’t involve a screen. And the research backs up what our bodies already seem to know: a major study in Nature Medicine looked at over 93,000 people across 16 countries and found that people with hobbies consistently reported fewer symptoms of depression, more happiness, and higher life satisfaction. Not sometimes. Consistently.
What are grandmacore hobbies?
The internet has started calling this whole movement grandmacore, and I think the name is perfect. It’s the cozy, unapologetic embrace of the things our grandmothers did before anyone had 47 browser tabs open. Knitting. Puzzles. Baking from scratch. Writing letters on actual paper. Craft kits. These aren’t trendy because some influencer said so. They’re trending because our nervous systems are begging for relief from the constant noise, and it turns out grandma was onto something all along.
What I love most about the grandmacore hobbies on this list is that they meet you where you are. Most of them are easy to do alongside your kids when the energy is right, and perfectly fine to enjoy solo when you just need quiet. This is about reclaiming your attention, slowing down your breathing, and remembering that doing something just because it feels good is reason enough. Here are 13 analog hobbies we’re totally invested in.
1. Jigsaw puzzles
Puzzles were the unofficial hobby of the pandemic, and they never left. There’s something deeply satisfying about the slow reveal of a picture coming together, piece by piece, with no algorithm involved. Pair one with a podcast or an audiobook and you’ve got the perfect low-key evening.
2. Crossword puzzles
Crosswords are having a genuine cultural moment thanks to the NYT Games app, but the appeal goes way beyond Wordle’s halo effect. They sharpen your vocabulary, improve pattern recognition, and give your brain a workout that actually feels fun. If you haven’t tried a physical crossword book yet, there’s something about pencil on paper that hits differently. (Or pen if you’re bold, I guess.)
3. Knitting and crocheting
The OG grandmacore hobby has gone fully mainstream. Crochet and knitting content dominates TikTok’s WIP Wednesday posts, and researchers have found that the repetitive hand motions activate something close to a meditative state. That tracks. You also end up with something tangible that you can brag about to show for your time, which is more than your phone can say.
4. Needlepoint and cross-stitch
Cross-stitch, needlepoint and embroidery are all having their moment in the grandmacore sun, and the modern kits are nothing like the musty samplers you might be picturing. Think bold florals, funny phrases, and portrait-style thread painting. It’s portable enough to throw in a bag and work on at a kid’s practice, and the slow, focused stitching is a genuinely effective way to quiet a busy mind.
5. Paint by Numbers
Paint by numbers kits have gotten a serious glow-up. The adult versions feature gorgeous landscapes, abstract designs, and even custom kits made from your own photos. You don’t need any artistic skill to end up with something frame-worthy, which is exactly the kind of low-pressure creativity most of us are craving.
6. Baking bread and pies from scratch
The sourdough energy of 2020 never fully dissipated, and it’s evolved into something broader: a return to baking as ritual rather than performance. Kneading dough is one of the most grounding physical activities you can do in a kitchen. The precision of measuring, the patience of proofing, the reward of a warm loaf or a golden lattice crust. Plus, your house smells incredible. Kids love getting their hands in on this one, too.
7. Pressing flowers & herbarium journaling
This one sits at the intersection of grandmacore and cottagecore, and it’s as calming as it sounds. Collecting wildflowers or clippings from your garden, pressing them flat, and arranging them in a journal creates a seasonal record that feels almost poetic. It’s a great one to do with kids on a nature walk, and the finished pages make beautiful keepsakes.
8. Bird Watching
If you still picture birding as a retiree hobby, the numbers might surprise you. The rate of young adults watching wildlife has tripled in the last decade, and roughly a third of Americans over 16 now watch birds. The Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell makes it ridiculously easy to identify species by sound alone, so you can do this from your backyard while your kids run around. Nature therapy with zero gear requirements.
9. Letter writing and snail mail
Wax seals, custom stationery, and handwritten notes are experiencing a full-blown renaissance, and penpals are making a comeback. There’s a reason this resonates so deeply right now: in a world of texts and DMs that disappear into the scroll, a physical letter is an object someone can hold. It says “I slowed down and thought about you.” It’s also a surprisingly fun activity to do with kids who are old enough to write.
10. Quilting and fabric crafts
Modern quilting kits have stripped away the intimidation factor and replaced it with gorgeous fabrics and clear instructions. You don’t need a sewing room or years of experience to make a quilt block. Some kits are specifically designed for hand-stitching, so no sewing machine required. The finished product is also something you’ll use every single day, which gives it a built-in sense of purpose.
11. Container and windowsill herb gardening
You don’t need a backyard to get your hands in the dirt. A few pots of basil, rosemary, and mint on a windowsill count, and the act of tending to something alive and growing is calming in a way that’s hard to articulate until you’ve done it. Research has linked gardening to greater happiness and reduced stress, even in small-scale, urban settings.
12. Candle Making
There’s a reason candle-making workshops are popping up everywhere. Melting wax, choosing scents, and pouring your own candles is a sensory experience that feels indulgent without being expensive. It’s also a hobby that produces gifts, which means you can cross “relaxation” and “holiday shopping” off the same list.
13. Scrapbooking & Collage
Scrapbooking gets a bit of a reputation as a full-production hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. A friend of mine keeps collage materials out on her table along with a deck of cards, and family members drift in and out to make mini collages whenever the mood strikes. There’s no pressure to finish in one sitting. The finished product becomes this fun, evolving journey through everyone’s creativity, and it’s one of the best low-key activities for drawing both kids and adults in for short bursts.
The through line here isn’t nostalgia for the sake of it. It’s that every single one of these activities asks something of us that our phones never do: slow down, pay attention, and be okay with imperfection. They give our nervous systems a chance to come back to baseline. Whether you’re pressing wildflowers by yourself or stitching next to your kid on the couch, you’re choosing to step out of the noise for a little while. That’s not quaint. That’s powerful.
source https://www.mother.ly/entertainment/analog-hobbies/
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