{"id":67088,"date":"2025-10-24T14:05:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T21:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/?p=67088"},"modified":"2025-11-03T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T21:06:25","slug":"grandma-hobbies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/","title":{"rendered":"Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on the way back, I joined her with a new embroidery project of my own. It was 10 years after their graduation, and you\u2019d think it was a testament to our advancing age that we were so excited by our historically uncool crafts, but the truth is that young people are embracing \u201cgrandma hobbies\u201d in droves: TikTok<\/a> is full of Gen Zers and millennials showing off their creations. Although it is a bit ironic that these people typically learn their skills on the internet before posting about them \u2014 again, on the internet<\/em> \u2014 it\u2019s not hard to see that grandma hobbies are gaining in popularity precisely because people are craving hands-on activities<\/a> that don\u2019t involve looking at a screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Grandma hobbies are gaining in popularity precisely because people are craving hands-on activities that don\u2019t involve looking at a screen.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When asked why grandma hobbies are taking off so dramatically, Shelly Dar<\/a>, a mental health and wellbeing specialist in the UK who describes herself as a Nani (grandma) first and a therapist second, says, \u201cWe’re overstimulated and under-nourished in ways that matter. There’s also a longing for tangible skills that feel real and useful. In an economy where so much work feels abstract or precarious, being able to grow your own tomatoes or mend your own clothes is grounding.\u201d Dar adds, \u201cAnd honestly, we’re lonely. These hobbies connect us to generations before us and give us something to share with people around us now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The buzzy term \u201cgrandma hobbies\u201d refers to a wide umbrella of activities. There are fabric and needle-based crafts such as sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and felting; paper-based crafts like scrapbooking, drawing, painting, and even letter-writing; nature-based activities like bird-watching and gardening; kitchen arts like cooking, baking, canning, pickling, bread-making; less \u201cproductive\u201d activities like jigsaw puzzles and board games\u2026 It doesn\u2019t really matter what the activity is as long as it involves your hands, deep focus, patience, and no screens (except for when you\u2019re learning the skill, though you could also take an in-person class or use a book instead of YouTube).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“It doesn\u2019t really matter what the activity is as long as it involves your hands, deep focus, patience and no screens.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a fairly scattered person in general, so right now I have several grandma hobbies and other hands-on activities on the go: a felting project, a crochet project, an embroidery project, plus I\u2019m learning how to do Reiki<\/a> \u2014\u00a0which, while not a traditional grandma hobby, does involve my hands, focus, patience, and no screens. I also enjoy the mindfulness involved in cooking a meal from scratch, and I\u2019ve been trying to journal more. I find all of these incredibly compelling, so much so that I often wish I were doing them during the workday. As corroborated by the scientific evidence, grandma hobbies unsurprisingly make me feel calmer and more centered, as well as giving me a sense of accomplishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGrandma hobbies give us a feeling of slowing down, coming back into our bodies and minds, and taking time to regain perspective on our lives and priorities,\u201d says author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner<\/a>. \u201cGrandma hobbies can also seem nostalgic (perhaps reminding us of our own grandparents) \u2014 a factor that is often strong during times of uncertainty or instability, and can also provide a sense of counter-cultural rebellion. And, of course, if grandma hobbies are trending, more people are likely to try or join in, especially if the trend is picked up on a wider cultural level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another clear benefit of spending my time on activities like these has been relearning\u2026well, how to learn. I dislike being bad at things, so learning a new skill is difficult, but I\u2019ve been pushing myself through that discomfort with patience, determination, and a sense of acceptance that I won\u2019t be the best at everything I do (or indeed anything I do). I don\u2019t always manage it, but when I do, I can feel the benefits of really treating these hobbies like a discipline. It\u2019s been a powerful antidote to the instant rewards technology provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What does science tell us about grandma hobbies?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Grandma hobbies feel good; anyone who\u2019s ever tried them can tell you that. But if, like me, you\u2019re someone who has to know exactly how things work, you\u2019ll also be interested to know just how much science backs up the benefits of these hobbies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom a therapeutic standpoint, these activities are genuinely regulating for the nervous system,\u201d explains Dar. \u201cThe bilateral movement in knitting or kneading dough, the sensory input of soil or yarn, and the predictable rhythm all signal safety to our bodies. They activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us rest and digest rather than stay in fight or flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe bilateral movement in knitting or kneading dough, the sensory input of soil or yarn, the predictable rhythm all signal safety to our bodies.”<\/p>\n\u2013 Shelly Dar, mental health and wellbeing specialist<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And we don\u2019t have to rely on anecdotal evidence to verify the truth of this. \u201cStudies on knitting<\/a> have shown it reduces anxiety<\/a> and chronic pain<\/a>, with effects similar to meditation,\u201d says Dar. \u201cGardening has been linked to lower cortisol levels<\/a> and improved mood<\/a>.\u201d Like knitting, crochet is positively associated<\/a> with stress reduction and pain management; jigsaw puzzling may apparently protect from cognitive aging<\/a>; bird-watching has been shown<\/a> to promote wellbeing. There are similar studies showing the benefits of pretty much any grandma hobby you can think of, including scrapbooking<\/a>, cooking<\/a>, board games<\/a> and arts and crafts generally<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I see in my practice is that these hobbies give people a sense of accomplishment<\/a> that isn’t tied to productivity in the capitalist sense,\u201d says Dar. \u201cYou finish a row, you harvest a pepper, you pull bread from the oven. That hits differently than checking off a work task. It’s satisfying in a bone-deep way.\u201d Plus, Dar says, these activities also create pauses throughout the day, and therefore build in permission to rest. \u201cYou have to wait for dough to rise or plants to grow,\u201d she says. \u201cThat enforced slowness is medicine for people who’ve forgotten how to rest without guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

How to take up a grandma hobby:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I get it. With all the responsibilities already on your plate, it can definitely be really hard to take up and stick to a new hobby \u2014 my roughly 17 unfinished projects and I relate. But if you do choose to pursue a grandma hobby, \u201cstart slow and consistent \u2014 even 5-10 minutes a day could be a good way to begin a new hobby routine,\u201d says Skinner. \u201cSince grandma hobbies reward full present-moment awareness, try to find times where you can immerse yourself fully (for example, working on a crafts project before bed, or spending a short time in the garden in the mornings).\u201d It\u2019s about finding a hobby that lights you up, and which is also practical to keep within your existing schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“It\u2019s about finding a hobby that lights you up, and which is also practical to keep within your existing schedule.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Also, as I\u2019ve learned the hard way, it\u2019s so important to do your best to let go of perfectionism. \u201cStart small and let it be imperfect,\u201d says Dar. \u201cYou don’t need the fancy yarn or the perfect garden plot. Bake one simple recipe. Plant three herbs in a pot. Learn one basic stitch. The point isn’t mastery, it’s the doing.\u201d She also suggests building these hobbies into your life as it is, like knitting while watching TV or tending to your plants while sipping your morning coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s obviously possible to learn and practice grandma hobbies alone, Dar reminds us not to forget about the power of community. \u201cIf possible, learn from someone who already does it,\u201d she says. \u201cAsk your grandmother, your neighbor, someone at a community garden. These hobbies were always meant to be passed hand to hand, and that exchange is part of the healing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Here are some grandma hobbies to get you started<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s never been easier to start a hobby. You can pick up an embroidery or crochet beginners\u2019 kit from any craft store in your area, or take up an activity that uses material you already have \u2014 pots and pans, pen and paper. There are YouTube videos out there to learn how to get started in every skill under the sun, or you can seek out courses, or groups, online or locally. And let\u2019s not forget the power of learning from books, either! If you have kids in your life, you\u2019ll know how important that is. For each activity below, I\u2019ve listed one resource to help you get started, but there are so, so many more out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. KNITTING. <\/strong>Using two knitting needles and yarn to create a textile \u2014 and ultimately, a piece of clothing or toy. Beginner tutorial here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. CROCHET. <\/strong>Using a crochet hook and yarn to create clothing, toys or home decor. Beginner tutorial here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. EMBROIDERY. <\/strong>Using a needle and thread to create patterns and drawings on embroidery hoops or any piece of fabric or clothing. Beginner tutorial here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. NEEDLE FELTING. <\/strong>Using a felting needle and wool to create toys and decorations. Beginner tutorial here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. SEWING AND DRESSMAKING. <\/strong>Using a needle and thread or sewing machine to repair existing clothing and create new clothing. Online course here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. SCRAPBOOKING AND COLLAGE. <\/strong>Crafting with photos, mementos, colored and patterned paper, stickers, washi tape, etc. Inspiration here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. PAINTING AND DRAWING. <\/strong>Doodling also works! It doesn\u2019t have to be good. Online course here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. LETTER-WRITING. <\/strong>A great antidote to texting fatigue. Learn calligraphy to get fancy.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. COOKING. <\/strong>Making everyday dinners, meal-prepping, or entertaining. In-person cooking classes near you.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. BAKING. <\/strong>Experimenting with sweets, savory pies and homemade breads. Cake-baking troubleshooting.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. CANNING. <\/strong>Preserving jams, sauces, pickles and other recipes in sterilized, air-tight jars. Easy and fun recipes here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. BIRD-WATCHING. <\/strong>Spotting common and rare birds in your local area and beyond. Bird-watching guide for North America.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. GARDENING. <\/strong>Tending plants in your garden, on an allotment, or in your home \u2014 from succulents to pumpkins and anything in between. A beginners\u2019 gardening guide.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. JIGSAW PUZZLES. <\/strong>Testing your patience and letting yourself do \u201cunproductive\u201d activities. A modern jigsaw brand we love.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. BOARD GAMES. <\/strong>Board games have often been relegated to the realm of younger children and older adults, but the rise of board game caf\u00e9s around the world shows there\u2019s an appetite for them among us all \u2014 and there are some really fun ones these days, too, not just Scrabble and Monopoly. Plus, unlike many other grandma hobbies, board games are by nature a social activity. A two-person board game to try.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. BRIDGE AND OTHER CARD GAMES. <\/strong>Bridge is a popular card game among older generations, and although it hasn\u2019t quite taken among younger people yet, it\u2019s focused, fun, and encourages socialization. Or you could try solitaire. Find a bridge group near you.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grandma hobbies are a powerful practice to integrate into our lives. They require us to slow down, show ourselves what we\u2019re capable of, and exist outside of the treadmill of productivity we\u2019re all on. \u201cIn my work as both a therapist and a Nani, I’ve watched people literally soften as they reconnect with these practices,\u201d says Dar. \u201cTheir shoulders drop. They laugh more easily. They remember that they’re allowed to make things just because it feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time we reclaimed the hobbies our ancestors knew were important, for our own good and the good of those around us. \u201cEvery stitch, seed, or slice is a reminder that we don’t have to earn our rest or our joy,\u201d says Dar. \u201cWe can just claim it, one small human act at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Iris Goldsztajn\u00a0<\/strong>(she\/her) is a freelance writer and editor based in London, UK. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, Marie Claire, Refinery29, SELF, Bustle and many more. Iris can typically be found on her way to a fitness class or with her nose in a good book.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on the way back, I joined her with a new embroidery project of my own. It was 10 years after their graduation, and you\u2019d think it was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":215,"featured_media":67091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_enable_custom_container":false,"_custom_container_max_width":"","_is_legacy_styles_disabled":true,"_is_thumbnail_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,7,330,323],"tags":[300,17,4,334,335,428,431,311,9,8],"class_list":["post-67088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-self","category-slow-living","category-wellness","tag-aging-related-reading","tag-culture","tag-self","tag-slow-living","tag-slow-living-featured","tag-thought-piece","tag-thought-pieces-featured","tag-trending","tag-wellness","tag-wellness-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy "Grandma Hobbies" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try - The Good Trade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why "Grandma Hobbies" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Good Trade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thegoodtrade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Iris Goldsztajn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thegoodtrade\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thegoodtrade\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Iris Goldsztajn\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Iris Goldsztajn\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/cca4d703d38fa8b38a72c8d231cf0999\"},\"headline\":\"Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\"},\"wordCount\":2015,\"commentCount\":17,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"aging related reading\",\"culture\",\"self\",\"slow living\",\"slow living featured\",\"thought pieces\",\"thought pieces featured\",\"trending\",\"wellness\",\"wellness featured\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Culture\",\"Self\",\"Slow Living\",\"Wellness\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\",\"name\":\"Why \\\"Grandma Hobbies\\\" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try - The Good Trade\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00\",\"description\":\"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1365,\"height\":2048},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/\",\"name\":\"The Good Trade\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Good Trade\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-good-trade-primary-logo-black.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-good-trade-primary-logo-black.png\",\"width\":450,\"height\":83,\"caption\":\"The Good Trade\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thegoodtrade\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/thegoodtrade\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thegoodtrade\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/cca4d703d38fa8b38a72c8d231cf0999\",\"name\":\"Iris Goldsztajn\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/830110c8357f0b7c40093212656e4482c96b74fa06cf3ca917ea2ff424ff55e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/830110c8357f0b7c40093212656e4482c96b74fa06cf3ca917ea2ff424ff55e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Iris Goldsztajn\"},\"description\":\"Iris Goldsztajn (she\/her) is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade and a freelance writer and editor based in London, UK. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, Marie Claire, Refinery29, SELF, Bustle and many more. Iris can typically be found on her way to a fitness class or with her nose in a good book.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/author\/iris-goldsztajn\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why \"Grandma Hobbies\" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try - The Good Trade","description":"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why \"Grandma Hobbies\" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try","og_description":"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/","og_site_name":"The Good Trade","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thegoodtrade","article_published_time":"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1365,"height":2048,"url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Iris Goldsztajn","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@thegoodtrade","twitter_site":"@thegoodtrade","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Iris Goldsztajn","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/"},"author":{"name":"Iris Goldsztajn","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/cca4d703d38fa8b38a72c8d231cf0999"},"headline":"Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try","datePublished":"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/"},"wordCount":2015,"commentCount":17,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg","keywords":["aging related reading","culture","self","slow living","slow living featured","thought pieces","thought pieces featured","trending","wellness","wellness featured"],"articleSection":["Culture","Self","Slow Living","Wellness"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/","name":"Why \"Grandma Hobbies\" Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try - The Good Trade","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-24T21:05:17+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-03T21:06:25+00:00","description":"My partner recently took me up to visit his alma mater with the friends he made there. One of his friends spent the train ride there crocheting, and on","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8M1A3422-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg","width":1365,"height":2048},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/grandma-hobbies\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why “Grandma Hobbies” Are Good For You \u2014 And 16 Activities To Try"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/","name":"The Good Trade","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#organization","name":"The Good Trade","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-good-trade-primary-logo-black.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/the-good-trade-primary-logo-black.png","width":450,"height":83,"caption":"The Good Trade"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thegoodtrade","https:\/\/x.com\/thegoodtrade","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thegoodtrade"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/cca4d703d38fa8b38a72c8d231cf0999","name":"Iris Goldsztajn","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/830110c8357f0b7c40093212656e4482c96b74fa06cf3ca917ea2ff424ff55e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/830110c8357f0b7c40093212656e4482c96b74fa06cf3ca917ea2ff424ff55e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Iris Goldsztajn"},"description":"Iris Goldsztajn (she\/her) is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade and a freelance writer and editor based in London, UK. Her work has been featured in British Vogue, Marie Claire, Refinery29, SELF, Bustle and many more. Iris can typically be found on her way to a fitness class or with her nose in a good book.","url":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/author\/iris-goldsztajn\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/215"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}