To lower your anxiety, try ‘grandma hobbies’

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Grandmas are very wise women

It turns out that old fashioned ‘grandma hobbies’ can be helpful for our mental health!

In fact, according to an American Psychological Association 2023 survey Americans who rated their mental health as excellent and very good were more likely to involved themselves with creative activities. Those who rated their mental health as poor or fair were less likely to do so.

So, what are ‘grandma hobbies’?

They are activities that do not involve phones, computers, pads or anything digital. They are hands on and historically been associated with older generations.

Activities like:
Knitting and crocheting
Doing cross-stitch and embroidery
Painting, drawing, and working with pastels
Gardening or growing herbs
Baking from scratch
Letter-writing—hand written
Doing no tech puzzles
Playing board games
Sewing quilts or doing patchwork

What are the benefits of doing ‘grandma hobbies’?

These hobbies help slow us doing, engage our senses which helps ground us to be mentally present and fulfills our thirst for creativity.

These creative hobbies help to activate our parasympathetic nervous system. And that calms us to be in a rest and digest state.

We get a break from the digital world…can’t exactly knit and scroll your phone! The digital world often overwhelms our nervous system and drains us. Being tech free is a way to move your mind into a state of calm.

‘Grandma hobbies’ can be rewarding too. You get to see tangible results. And you might even get to sample a delicious cookie or yummy muffin! Or see your flower garden blooming with color! Perhaps even wear a scarf that you knitted or crocheted yourself!

It’s a stressful world

We live in a stressful time. Finding ways to cope with anxiety surrounding world events, political turmoil, economic and environmental uncertainty on top of day to day work and daily living stress is very important for each of us to do.

‘Grandma hobbies’ are another kind of coping tool to add to your coping tool box. They can help us take a step back, slow down and use our brains differently. And best of all help us relax!

If you need to expand your anxiety coping tool box do contact me. Engaging in Anxiety Therapy will help you add to your coping tool box!

JD’s Midlife Tools For Living Practices, Holland, MI
Offering Heartfelt care, Compassion and Coping Tools