Granny Hobbies are a great way to put the phone down and step away from technology while you flex mental muscles, get outdoors or create things that bring you joy.
South Africa (19 January 2025) – Hobbies keep life interesting; they help us focus on something for the joy and pleasure of it instead of feeling like we “have to”, which is how work and housework sometimes make us feel. The latest trend in hobbies is taking up what are considered “Granny Hobbies” – now we mean no offence, that’s just what they are being called nowadays.
Granny Hobbies are classed as hobbies our grandparents did back before technology took over everything. These hobbies are being adopted because they force one to put the phone down, switch off the TV and either get outside to stretch those legs or stretch those mental muscles.
Having more than one of these hobbies on my own goal list, I thought it would be an inspiring share to give you, our readers. If you have been looking for something to do that maybe isn’t full-force physical activity, consider one of these hobbies:
Gardening
Whether you love flowers, trees or growing your own food, gardening has had a big upsurge in popularity as more people head outside to get their hands dirty and flex their green thumbs.
Many may have started gardening in 2020 as a way to pass the time but have now stayed the course because of the fulfilling and satisfying feelings that gardening adds to life. Seeing weeks of waiting finally bloom into a perfect blossom, a giant pumpkin that can finally nourish your family or having a tree flourish is a great feeling.
Being in the garden, soaking up some sunshine, and getting your hands dirty is hugely beneficial for one’s mental health, too!
Foraging
Who would have thought that hiking or walking and searching for edible foods would become such a popular pastime? There are foraging groups who look for wild mushrooms, indigenous herbs, delectable seaside ingredients, and even scents to be turned into perfumes.
Cape Town has a growing foraging community, but other provinces are getting their walking shoes on and taking them to the open spaces to forage.
It is advised to go foraging with someone who is an expert in the field you are interested in. They say you can eat any mushroom, but some you only eat once! There are caveats to foraging, like local laws, walking on private land and, of course, there are dangers in trying to eat wild foods if you don’t have all the knowledge to find them.
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Embroidery
Whether you want to make pretty pictures, mend clothing or just add some unique decor to your home and clothing, hand embroidery or cross-stitch is picking up again. One just needs to look at Pinterest for a moment to be sent into an embroidery spiral of excitement.
The idea is simple: you just need some fabric, embroidery floss, and a needle. You can invest more as you get into the hobby, but the basics are simple.
Just head to your nearest fabric shop and start.
Bird Watching
South Africa is home to over 800 species of birds. You can head into your garden and likely spot five within 20 minutes. But knowing what species they are, their breeding habits and their dietary preferences is even more exciting. If you can identify their calls, call yourself a pro!
Bird watching is a special hobby that gets you to head outside, sit still and just listen. Then, when a bird comes along, you can soak in the joy of watching a living thing live its life to the fullest. It is a deeply peaceful hobby.
You can find affordable bird books at your local charity shops or new ones. A bird book helps identify various birds at different stages of their lives. Female and male birds often look different, as do juveniles. These books also have checklists where you can mark off your sightings.
As you get more involved, you will need to invest in the hobby. Whether purchasing binoculars, heading out on trips to different locations to spot different birds or buying new books – you will become invested in all things bird. You can also pursue a gardening hobby to attract more birds to your own garden.
If you are keen to learn more about local birds, check out BirdLife South Africa here.
Puzzles and Crosswords
Old-school jigsaw puzzles can be more than just a holiday treat; you can get them for very affordable prices from local charity shops and do them all year long.
Set some space aside in your home for a puzzle, and give yourself 10 minutes each day to put a few pieces in place. Soon, you will be ignoring the TV so you can find the piece you are looking for. You are stretching your brain, looking for patterns and trying to see the unseen.
Crosswords, word puzzles, and Suduko are also great hobbies to pick up that will help you flex your mental muscles. You can find inexpensive puzzle books at all major grocery shops near the magazine section or find weekly puzzles in local newspapers and magazines. There are also free apps for your phone, but if the goal is to get off your phone, find the paper options.
Reading
Put down the Kindle and go and thrift a real book. There is nothing better than the feel of real paper as you turn the page of a book you just can’t put down. Reading a real book helps you expand your mind without the distractions of being on your phone.
Paper books are just as portable as a Kindle; just make sure you only have one book on you at a time (unless you are like me and read three different books at one time, then pick just one to carry around at a time). Keep your collection at home, where you can reread the books you love most. Or find a “Little Library” out in your community where you can swap books you have read for news ones you have not read yet. Visit charity shops to get very cheap books while giving back.
Join a book club; you get to be social and have a group of incredible bookworms who you can get nerdy with about all things books. Sometimes, our hobbies don’t make sense to our loved ones, but if you find a group of like-minded people, you have an avenue to express your thoughts and ideas.
Reading has the power to create worlds where you can escape for a moment, become enthralled in solving crimes or help you learn new skills. Books are the best! And we encourage everyone to take up this hobby.
Walking
A slow walk in nature, or just around the park with friends, is so good for you. For as little as 10 minutes, walking can change your whole life. It will boost your physical health and improve your mental health within minutes. Walking gives you a good dose of feel-good hormones and gets the heart pumping. After a walk, you are more able to take on big steps in life.
You don’t even need to walk fast; a slow walk is just as beneficial as a run. You can join your local park run and just walk it. You don’t even need to have a fitness goal for walking.
Take your pet or your children out for a quick 10 minutes, and everyone wins. Visit a grandparent and go for a walk and talk – where you get your steps in and learn more about the older people in your life.
There are stunning places one can go walking, but even if you just head to your mall to window shop before you get the groceries or you walk the treadmill for 20 minutes at the gym and then head home.
Walking is a hobby you can do daily, and you will be making your life better.
There are many more hobbies you can take up. Think model building, crocheting or knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, cooking and baking from scratch, painting and drawing, and so much more! There are endless opportunities to find a hobby that brings you total joy while switching off.
What is your favourite hobby? Or what are you planning to start in 2025?
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