Gen Z may have grown up mastering double taps and swipe to refresh, yet a new rhythm is taking hold: one measured in pages turned, dough proofed, and seeds sprouted. A fresh May 2025 survey of 1,600 Americans aged 18 to 28 shows that most respondents have folded at least one so-called “grandma” hobby into daily life. 

Many swear these hands-on pursuits sharpen attention, soften anxiety, and restore a sense of place in the real world. The shift is no retro fad painted in pastel nostalgia. It is an intentional pivot toward slower, tactile rituals that quiet the mental static of twenty-four-seven connectivity. 

For a generation often called tech-addicted, these choices prove they can unplug and find joy in the tangible.

Key Findings

• Reading physical books is the #1 most popular “grandma” hobby, with 10.9% of respondents hooked on turning pages.

• Baking is a surprise hit, especially for men, 10.1%, and second overall at 8.8%.

• Mental health is the #1 reason to pick up a hobby, with 22% saying it’s the driving factor for them, and 16% saying it noticeably cuts stress.

• Journaling, crocheting, and baking cost over $65 a month, yet most say it’s worth every penny.

• Nearly 10% use hobbies to escape screens, and only 12% report no mental boost at all.

State by State: The Most Popular “Grandma Hobby” in Each State

Zoom out and regional patterns leap off the map. Alabama and Iowa spend Saturday mornings proofing dough, honoring potluck heritage with cinnamon rolls big enough for the whole block. Colorado and New Hampshire nestle beside fireplaces to devour epic novels while snow piles high outside. 

California and New York, both engines of hustle culture, have thousands of young adults uncapping fountain pens to process the daily rush in private notebooks: think influencers journaling to navigate the grind. Washington and Hawaii reach for pruning shears, their temperate climates perfect for year-round herbs, leafy greens, and bursts of hibiscus.

A few states deliver delightful curveballs. Wisconsin, birthplace of Dungeons & Dragons, crowns reading rather than dice-rolling adventures. Georgia elevates the midday nap to an art form, its humid afternoons practically begging residents to retreat to shaded patios with a glass of sweet tea. 

The Rise of Analog: Gen Z’s Favorite Old-School Hobbies

Ask a typical twenty-something what fills their downtime, and you might expect a litany of streaming binges or gaming marathons. The survey tells a different story. Reading printed books sits firmly on top at 10.9%. 

Next comes baking at 8.8%, journaling at 7.9%, gardening at 7.4%, and daylight napping at 6.7%. What unites these activities is their demand for unhurried focus. You cannot speed through a paperback the way you doom-scroll a feed, nor can you coax bread to rise with a quicker swipe.

Gender splits add texture. Men claim a tie between baking and reading at 10.1% each, with gardening pulling 8%. Women lean harder into words and reflection: 11.8% choose reading, 9.1% keep journals, and 7.5% bake. 

Motivations Behind the Movement

Plenty of stereotypes paint Gen Z as hungry for instant validation, yet their own words flip that script. Fun sits at the top for 24% of hobbyists, but another 22% intentionally seek emotional steadiness. 17% chase improved focus or creativity, 15% crave mastery, like perfecting a sourdough crumb or crocheting a blanket, and 9% join to meet people offline.

Waiting for dough to rise or tulip bulbs to break ground is not exactly instant gratification. It demands patience and a willingness to stick with a process that refuses to sync to push notifications. 

In choosing these hobbies, Gen Z sets clear boundaries around technology’s claim on their attention, essentially saying, “I decide when the world gets me back.” 

Analyzing the Wellbeing Impact

Results speak louder than intentions. 16% report that stress evaporates after even a short session with their hobby. 13% feel a pronounced sense of purpose: there is something undeniable about holding a still-warm loaf that started as powder and water. 

Another 13% credit their pastime with stronger ties, whether it’s swapping seedlings at a community garden or joining a neighborhood book swap. Nearly 10% cherish their hobby mainly as a screen escape. Only 12% shrug and say nothing changed, leaving an overwhelming majority happier, calmer, or more engaged with life offline.

Psychologists often note that small, achievable goals build confidence. These findings match that advice perfectly. Completing a row of stitches can light up the brain as brightly as beating a boss in a game, but the payoff is physical: you can feel the yarn, see the progress, and hold the evidence in your hands.

What It Costs to Unplug: Average Monthly Spending by Hobby

Peace of mind is not always cheap. The average Gen Z hobbyist spends $55 each month on supplies or classes. The pricey end starts around $65. Journaling lands at $65.4 thanks to sleek fountain pens and leather-bound notebooks. 

Crocheting reaches $65.6 once premium merino skeins enter the cart. Baking peaks at $66.7, with specialty flours and silicone loaf pans piling up at checkout. Vintage-film fiends spend $67.8 hunting rare DVDs or subscribing to boutique streaming channels, embracing a slightly snobby aesthetic that screams Gen Z curation.

Detractors might balk at those totals, yet many respondents compare the cost to a single night out or another digital subscription. 

Who’s Using What: Top Hobby by Substance Use Type

Analog rituals even influence how young adults unwind chemically. Stamp collectors turn cataloging sessions into low-key happy hours, with 67% sipping beer or wine. Bingo fans lean on cannabis alone at 22%, perhaps because it keeps the game’s slow pace bearable. 

The underlying pattern is simple: high-precision tasks attract clear minds, while more relaxed activities invite a mellow haze. Gen Z seems comfortable calibrating mood to match the job at hand.

Conclusion

This generation is not fleeing technology, just putting it in its place. For roughly $60 a month and an hour a day, young adults reap rewards no algorithm can replicate: the rustle of a turning page, the crackle of a bread crust, the satisfying weight of tomatoes picked minutes ago. 

Social feeds now glow with Polaroids of sourdough bubbles and stop-motion garden growth, broadcasting a fresh definition of success. In choosing active, tangible hobbies, Gen Z proves that attention can be trained like a muscle rather than sacrificed to the scroll.

Anyone who feels bulldozed by alerts can borrow their strategy. Pick one modest craft. Give it regular, device-free time. Let the world wait while you knit three rows or plant a row of lettuce. Chances are, your evenings will end with calmer nerves and a real-world achievement you can taste, smell, or shelve on a bookcase.

Methodology

Researchers polled 1,600 U.S. residents aged 18 to 28 in June 2025. The sample was 53 percent female, 45 percent male, and 2 percent identifying otherwise, covering all fifty states. Questions measured hobby choice, spending, motives, well‑being impact, and substance use. 

Fair Use

If you’d like to share this data, you are welcome to utilize any of the information or graphics above for non-commercial use. Just make sure to include a linked attribution to this page in your article.