During my adolescence, I remember spending so many hours with my grandmothers. We played patty cake, shopped for hours on end, and had the kinds of conversations that you almost felt like you could never have with your parents.
Suffice it to say, those moments were some of the most blissful in my life, and I know I will cherish them forever. Now, I guess you could say that Generation Z and many others are entering their “Grandma Eras” by incorporating hobbies that you would imagine your grandmother doing on a random Tuesday afternoon.
Think crocheting, putting puzzles together, and even baking or cooking things from scratch, including sourdough bread. And honestly, I’m here for it.
As a college student navigating post-grad life and difficult life challenges, it’s important to find hobbies that can help you de-stress throughout any given week.
Some may find release through watching their favorite television series or spending time with their friends. While those things can certainly help during times of stress, they don’t always take you out of your own head.
This isn’t to say that a fictional story on screen cannot put you into a world of fantasy. However, it is worth noting that finding activities in which your sole purpose for thirty to sixty minutes is to do that activity can actually help get your mind off the outside world.
While something like putting a puzzle together may sound childish or boring, completing one is quite satisfying. Not only can you feel satisfaction in completing it, but dedicating time to one thing without using your phone or watching television can significantly lower your stress levels.
Sometimes your comfort and joy depend specifically on you focusing on one thing instead of multitasking, second-screening, or anything in between. I’m not suggesting you neglect your responsibilities, but I do suggest setting aside at least 45 minutes each day for a “grandma activity” or another hobby for yourself.
Unfortunately, we all only have so much time on this Earth, and we might as well spend some of it trying to relax instead of worrying about every single detail of our lives. So, make that sourdough bread, crochet your heart out, and play patty cake with your grandma. Life is too short not to.
