We just recently watched the Chris Hemsworth docu-series called Limitless. If you haven’t seen it, first–I HIGHLY recommend it. For everyone who hasn’t seen it, I’ll catch you up on it. Hemsworth spends over 2+ years learning about the science and principals of longevity (aka living a longer and healthier life). Each episode tackles a different subject–stress management, strength, brain health, fasting, etc. It’s such a well done series and we learned so much; but it also reinforced that we actually are already doing a lot of the practices that top longevity experts recommend (cold/hot therapy, cardio and strength training every day, box breathing, eating organic + protein). Interestingly enough, one part of the episode that peaked my interest was the idea of embracing hobbies and activities to help your brain continue to make “new” neural pathways. It lead me to think about how I could accomplish two things at once–help challenge my brain with some “granny hobbies” and also decompress from the near constant digital overload we find ourselves in daily.
What if I could slowly integrate hands-on, old-fashioned hobbies like puzzles, coloring, card making, cross stitch and more to help relieve my persistent digital fatigue AND that helps set me up for better cognitive abilities in my future? Most of these activities are gloriously accessible considering that it feels like walking out your front door requires a $20 cover charge these days.
As someone who has felt increasingly burnt out from social media and frankly the world in general, I’m all in favor of starting a few grandma-inspired hobbies that would make me feel more grounded and productive. Starting a few weeks ago, I’ve genuinely found comfort, peace, and clarity from activities like jigsaw puzzles and color-by-numbers, to name a few, but there are so many other old-school hobbies that I still want to try—and I’ve compiled a list for all of us to refer to as we seek more balance and tranquility in our increasingly digital-dominant world–and set ourselves up to be sharp-as-a-tack-grandmas.
1. Art-by-Number
Whether you prefer to use colored pencils, markers, crayons, or paint, there’s an art-by-number kit out there for everyone. If you enjoy the process of creating artwork but are like me and don’t want to have to put thought into designing the image or choosing the color scheme, art-by-number is right up your alley.
2. Word Puzzles
Word puzzles are, in my opinion, an underrated pastime, and they’re so good for your brain. The best part? Booklets full of word searches, Sudoku games, and crossword puzzles are super cheap. In fact, you can find tons of them at your local Dollar Tree for just a few bucks, or you can order a few off Amazon and have them shipped right to your door.
3. Beading or Jewelry-Making
In the age of the queen, Taylor Swift, beading and jewelry-making have become super popular among younger generations. It’s not just a creative outlet for the Swifties in their friendship bracelet era, though—you can make tons of different jewelry by hand well beyond beaded bracelets. Scour your local craft stores and thrift shops for beads, pendants, and charms that speak to your style, drop by Hobby Lobby or Michaels, or start simple by snagging a jewelry-making kit. I’ve found this activity can be challenging for me sometimes (I have neuropathy in my hands from my Type One Diabetes) so I just have to be careful to give my hands a break and not find myself in a 4 hour beading session!
4. Candle-Making
Why pay upwards of $50 for a designer candle when you could make an entire set of candles at home for the same price? Plus, that way you have control of the ingredients you are using–non toxic candles for the win! Candle wax, wicks, and essential oils are all low-cost items, and you can easily repurpose empty candle jars you have lying around the house. Otherwise, look for some affordable and unique containers at thrift stores or on your next Home Goods run.
5. Gardening
Whether you want to plant a gorgeous flower garden, grow your own produce, or start an indoor herb garden, there are a variety of ways to grow and tend to your own plants. If you don’t have any experience with gardening or if you are like me and kill anything green that dares to enter your house, consider starting with just a single plant (highly recommend a succulent!) as you get the hang of the hobby. Callie has majorly gotten into gardening and we now have three thriving basal plants, multiple succulents, and a small pepper plant that’s about to bloom.
6. Card-Making
Nothing is more special than receiving a handwritten card, so imagine what a wonderful gift a completely handmade card would be for your loved ones. You can, of course, buy a card-making kit that offers everything you need, but if you want to personalize your creations even further, cobble together your own materials. Think quality paper, ribbons, stamps, drawing or painting supplies, stickers, and other crafting items. A hot glue gun and scissors will also come in handy!
7. Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are great for your brain health and are fairly inexpensive to purchase. With just about every subject of interest to choose from—pop culture, art, nature scenes, etc.—jigsaw puzzles can be really fun and quite challenging, depending on how many pieces the puzzle contains. I’m obsessed with the ones by the Galison ones by Michael Storrings. You can, of course, find thousands of options on Amazon, but thrift shops and bookstores also often have a great selection to peruse if you like shopping in person.
8. Scrapbooking
Your girl was a huge scrapbooker when I was younger. I loved the idea of a photo album and a vision board, allowing you to create a photo keepsake in a unique collage format. Just print your desired photos and grab a scrapbooking album, paper in various colors or patterns, and embellishments like stickers, ribbons, gemstones, stamps, and other decorative options (I love Hobby Lobby for these things!). Scissors and glue or tape will also be handy, and if you’re super creative–draw your own illustrations!
No Comments