Top Headlines

Feeds

Young Adults Embrace “Grandma Hobbies” to Escape Screens

Updated Published Cached

Young adults seek screen‑free analog hobbies Emma MacTaggart, 26, realized her free time was dominated by her phone while working long hours in investment banking and, with roommates, turned to needlepoint as a hands‑on distraction, joining a broader trend of Gen‑Z and millennials adopting “grandma hobbies” to reconnect with creativity[1].

MacTaggart launches needlepoint brand “What’s the Stitch” She founded the online business, sells needlepoint canvases, accessories and digital designs, and infuses her work with cheeky humor and occasional profanity, positioning the traditionally “buttoned‑up” craft with a youthful spin[1][2].

Experts link analog hobbies to mental‑health benefits Psychology professor Jaime Kurtz of James Madison University says such activities reduce anxiety, provide a sense of accomplishment and are a wise use of time for people who feel too busy to prioritize leisure[1].

Birdwatcher Isaiah Scott merges tech and nature Scott uses the eBird app to log sightings, compares birding to Pokémon games, has documented about 800 species, and founded the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy, recently buying 16 acres in Rincon, Georgia to protect wildlife habitats[1][5][6].

Blacksmith Anna Weare builds global demand via TikTok Known as AnvilAnna, she posts videos of her blacksmithing and farriery work, attracting an international audience; her handcrafted one‑piece spurs have a year‑long waitlist as consumers seek durable, long‑lasting goods[1][7].

Verse & Sip creates analog community experiences Poet Kristie Landing runs the platform, shares letter‑writing, wax‑seal and origami tutorials, launched a pen‑pal matching service and a monthly mail club that sends poems and tea, aiming to slow down fast‑paced social‑media scrolling[1][8].

  • Emma MacTaggart – “It was a really therapeutic way to kind of distract yourself from either work or stress, but also just do something with your hands instead of doomscrolling.” (investment banker turned needlepoint entrepreneur)[1].
  • Emma MacTaggart – “It is such a historically buttoned up craft, so it’s fun to put a young spin on it.” (on modernizing needlepoint)[1].
  • Jaime Kurtz – “Hobbies are really important, and a lot of us have lost them… just finding little bits of time to carve out to do these kinds of things is a really wise use of time.” (psychology professor, James Madison University)[1].
  • Clara Sherman – “You kind of feel like you’re existing in this little bubble of just myself, my friends and this game we’re all enjoying together… it really does allow you to shut off the rest of the world.” (co‑founder of So Bam Fun)[1].
  • Isaiah Scott – “It feels like a video game, but in real life.” (birdwatcher comparing eBird‑aided birding to Pokémon)[1].
  • Anna Weare – “People, now more than ever, are realizing that things made in factories or mass produced, they wear out so quickly… people want longevity, and this craft has been around for so long for a reason.” (blacksmith and TikTok creator)[1].
  • Kristie Landing – “I am trying to create slower moments on platforms that are based on really quick, short attention span kind of videos… these kind of stop you in the scroll.” (founder of Verse & Sip)[1].

Links