Grandma Hobbies Are Trending: Here’s Which One You Should Try, Based On Your Personality

Before the days of constant multitasking and optimizing every routine so that no second went unwasted, the women who came before us were living life at a slower, more intentional pace. Caring for the home and family was a respected vocation and hobbies were crafted over years of practice and vigilance. Payout didn’t come instantaneously. Reward was reaped from long-term commitment, whether it be the joy of raising a family or the satisfaction that comes with successfully mastering a technical skill. 

Today, more and more modern women are looking to the past and emulating the lifestyles of their beloved grandmothers. We’re seeking hobbies, routines, and extracurriculars that are more intentional. 

TLDR: We’re looking to acquaint ourselves with the feminine, homemaking skills we were never taught. 

Our Culture is Shifting

Millennials and Gen Zers weren’t taught how to cook. Or mend clothes. Or tend a garden. We were told to work hard so that we could go to college. So that we could then have a career. We were encouraged to not only climb the corporate ladder, but were expected to dismantle the ladder for the men climbing beside us. Act like a man so that you can then outpace them. Be the breadwinner for yourself and yourself alone. Husbands and children look nice on social media but are wholly optional.  

As a thirty-two-year-old Millennial, I’m familiar with the narrative my generation was fed. I lived it. As a result, I spent much of my adult life thinking I didn't want children. I wanted to be a career woman. And I was so proud of that identity signaling. How sad and misinformed I was. 

My career is no longer my entire personality.

I’m now a proud mother of three and thank God every day that my husband helped me see the virtue and fulfillment that would come with parenthood. 

The older I get, the less I care about my job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful I have a job I generally enjoy. And, more than that, I’m grateful I don’t have to worry about paying my bills or stressing about where my next meal is coming from. But my 9-5 career lost its glitter a long time ago. My career is no longer my entire personality. And it’s not just me and the personal relationship I have with my career. I’m one of many who are feeling this way. 

Women Are Seeking Fulfillment 

In 2022, “quiet quitting” was the career trend everyone couldn’t stop talking about. People started showing up to work to meet expectations and nothing else. They began measuring their worth beyond their workplace productivity. Work was no longer the marker we were building our lives around. 

Believe it or not, a lot of people found these concepts shocking. And it’s still shocking to me how (apparently) shocking it was and remains for many. 

Both men and women are coming around to the idea that work isn’t life. They’re looking for more out of their daily existence and enduring legacy. Women especially are seeking joy, whimsy, and the feminine, emotional vitality that comes with creating and involvement. 

The search term “analog hobbies” has seen a 160% increase in traffic. 

Additionally, screen burnout is driving a hobby renaissance. A sad and ever-growing part of our lives is being lived through screens. Women are looking to break away from the black rectangle in pursuit of analog hobbies that give our hands a break from keyboards, our eyes a respite from blue light, and our brains a reset from quick-hit dopamine.  

Analog hobbies are on the up and up. According to a recent report from Google trends, the search term “analog hobbies” has seen a 160% increase in traffic. 

Women are making a pilgrimage back to traditional hobbies and skills because the screen burnout is becoming more pronounced. Doomscrolling is an empty transaction. You give your phone your time and attention, and walk away with nothing in return. 

People are chasing the physical payout that comes with putting time into a pursuit and having something they can hold in their hand after the fact. A quilt they stitched. A journal they filled with ink. A cake freshly pulled from the oven. 

People, especially women, are chasing sustenance. 

What Are Grandma Hobbies? 

Analog hobbies are also known by another cheeky term: grandma hobbies. And it references exactly what you would expect: hobbies and pastimes we often associate with grandmothers. These are the analog hobbies being actively sought after by women and can range from the obvious needlepoint crafts to homemaking skills, such as gardening and baking. 

Women are putting their phones down, hustling less, and connecting with their femininity in the most creative and nostalgic ways possible. As someone who has been feeling empty and burned out myself, I recently took up a grandma hobby and have been teaching myself how to quilt.

“Learn to sew” was my 2026 resolution. While my grandmother taught me the basics as a child, and I had the unique experience of taking fiber art courses in college, a part of me has always yearned to truly master this time-honored skill. Over the past several months, I’ve been taking time every week (I can’t yet claim every day) to cut fabric, pin and sew. And I’m a happier, calmer person for it. 

I have a life outside my screens and a hobby that’s just for me. I’m learning a skill I can one day pass on to my daughters. I’m keeping my brain and hands active in a way that also relaxes me. I’m creating more than I'm consuming. In short, sewing has made my life better. 

And that’s what analog, grandma hobbies do: they make your life better. 

Find Out Which Grandma Hobby You Should You Try, Based On Your Personality 

Whether you already have a favorite grandma hobby or are brand new to this cozy, creative world, use the quiz below to find inspiration on which activity you should try next!

1: When you’re on your own time (outside of work and parenting), which trait do you most identify with? 

A - Detail oriented

B - Practically creative 

C - Competitive 

D - Strategic 

E - Nurturing

2: Your favorite kind of challenge includes: 

A - Mastering a set of specific techniques 

B - Learning through trial and error 

C - Problem solving as a team 

D - Mental puzzles 

E - Working against the elements 

3: What’s your favorite kind of reward from a hobby? 

A - Having a unique, handmade item you can hold in your hand (or use!)

B - Sharing your hard work with others 

C - Winning! Friendly competition keeps life interesting

D - The sense of accomplishment that comes with solving something difficult 

E - Quality time outside 

4: How social do you like to be with your hobbies? 

A - I enjoy solitude but am not opposed to engaging with online forums and communities. 

B - I like hobbying solo but enjoy sharing my results with others.

C - I prefer social hobbies. I love being with my friends and meeting new people.

D - I enjoy a mix of solitude and socialization. I’m not opposed to meeting up with others.

E - I appreciate the solitude of the great outdoors and sharing it with those who hold the same appreciation.

5: How quickly do you need to see or feel results from your hobby? 

A - I enjoy seeing progress, but don’t mind if it happens slowly.

B - I don’t mind being patient but I do, occasionally, appreciate a project that comes together quickly. 

C - I prefer an activity I can start and finish in one session. 

D - I’m patient. It’s OK if I’m working on the same thing for several weeks. 

E - I’m into my hobbies for the long haul. There is no start and finish. 

6: Pick one famous fictional character.

A - Edna Mode (The Incredibles)

B - Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House Series)

C - Rachel Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) 

D - Belle (Beauty and the Beast) 

E - Mary Lennox (The Secret Garden)

If you answered mostly A’s: 

Fiber Arts

You’re someone who doesn’t shy away from methodical learning or repetition. You appreciate the long game, knowing that patience and hard work reap the most beautiful rewards. If this sounds like you, then find your joy in fiber arts. Needlepoint, sewing, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting are all ultra feminine and provide a vast opportunity for continual skill advancement. You’ll never be bored! Enjoy stitching in solitude or join a sewing class or group (or even check out some online sewing forums). Choose your own adventure and enjoy the feeling of physically holding a finished product in your hand. 

If you answered mostly B’s: 

Baking, Cooking and Canning

Your inner pioneer woman is calling! Find your next grandma hobby in the kitchen, baking, cooking, and canning. If you already know your way around the stove or oven, challenge yourself by niching down into a specific cooking or baking category. Learn how to make cinnamon rolls. Make recipes inspired by your heritage. Craft homemade hot sauces and jams. Enjoy creating food you can share with others.  

If you answered mostly C’s: 

Social and Competitive Activities 

You’re someone who thrives when you feel socially connected. Look for hobbies that encourage you to slow down amidst the company of others and some friendly competition. Enlist some friends and take up mahjong, hit up bingo, give shuffleboard a go or, if the Olympics have left you feeling inspired, see how you fare at curling. Pickleball and bocce are also popular and accessible. 

If you answered mostly D’s: 

Mentally Stimulating Hobbies 

Your brain appreciates a workout, even while relaxing. Some grandma hobbies you might consider include jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or sudoku. Get really into reading and keep a book journal. Join a book club or make yourself a regular at your local bookstore. Research your genealogy and create a family tree. Develop hobbies you’ll be able to enjoy well into your eighties, nineties, and beyond.

If you answered mostly E’s: 

Outdoor Recreation 

Take time to stop and smell the roses. And, while you’re at it, grow some yourself. If the great outdoors relaxes you like nothing else, then give your green thumb the greenlight. Plant a vegetable garden and grow flowers. Buy a species guide and take up bird watching. Stroll local parks. Try your hand at outdoor photography. Enjoying nature’s beauty is a hobby that will be ever fulfilling. Step outside whenever you need a mental pick-me-up. 

If you had a mix of answers: 

Your interests are vast, and that’s a beautiful thing. Make a list of the different hobbies you’d like to try and prioritize what's most exciting to you. Consider diving into a new activity every week or month until you figure out which you most resonate with and enjoy. If you’re looking for low-cost hobbies that are easy to fit into everyday life, consider beginning with puzzling, embroidery, and nature photography. 

Go forth inspired, in pursuit of feminine joy. Your grandma would be proud.