Watching Youtubers' “New Year's Resolution” videos over the last few weeks highlighted something important people wanted to accomplish in 2026—putting down the phones. Instead of scrolling through social media or watching countless hours of Netflix, a lot of teens and young adults are gravitating towards developing hobbies. Many of these hobbies usually generate an older audience but are suddenly increasing popularity with the younger generation.
Here are six of my favorite “grandma” hobbies that teens and young adults are enjoying, including me!
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)1. Reading
While reading was always a popular hobby, BookTok expanded the number of young readers we see today. BookTok is a section on TikTok that focuses solely on different books and interactions between readers. With a popular platform to share, inspire, and cultivate more community around books (and a wide selection of genres), an increase of young people have taken up to reading with pleasure and excitement.
Some people have put a modern spin on reading by listening to audiobooks. Audiobooks can be played while completing other tasks like cleaning or driving in the car, making it much more accessible. Being able to share ideas and stories so much easier has been a great way to expand a popular, healthy hobby, thus making it one of my favorites.
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2. Coloring
Relaxing, mindless, and ending in a cute picture, what could be better? More and more I’ve seen people open up to coloring as a fun hobby to do instead of scrolling through their phone. One of the most popular things to color currently are cute cartoon pictures of animals, giving people a chance to relive childhood memories.
I enjoy coloring as a way to feel like I’m doing something when I feel guilt for not doing something “productive.” Rest can be productive, too, and coloring is a gateway between the best of both worlds.
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3. Crochet
Just like coloring, when I feel guilty for not doing something, crochet is there for me. I’m only a seasonal crocheter, so the most I can do is a lopsided blanket or a not-so-circular-circle, but it is still nice to sit down and work on a project. In the past, the only person I knew who did crochet was my grandma… but now I know so many more teens jumping in on this craft!
Additionally, a big crochet trend for young people is to make crochet stuffed animals and flowers. I probably can't make anything cool like that but being able to weave together a tangible item while sitting in bed sounds like the perfect activity to me.
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4. Taking Walks
Seeing something basic like taking a walk being a trend is a little startling, but the heart of it is in the right place. When I was younger, I used to go on walks around my neighborhood with my dad and it was always a fun time. Now, when I go places, like when I go camping, I love to walk around the campsites or down to the water.
It's a natural rush of dopamine to be outside and enjoy the sounds of your footsteps, watch the scenery change before you, and feel your body gliding along. I find it a great way to destress and clear the mind. Walks are a great (and free!) way to enjoy your time that I highly recommend.
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5. Sewing
While I don’t personally know how to sew, I would love to learn how. What once used to be a basic life skill is now something that not many people know how to do. Seeing young people create items, such as cute clothing, with their own hands or with the help of a sewing machine is such an inspiration. I would love to be able to create cute shirts or hem my clothes a certain way like I see some people doing online.
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6. Thrifting
Does shopping count as a hobby? Well, kinda. Thrifting is one of my favorite things to do, bar none.
Whether it's trying to find my next repeat-outfit or searching the isles of a vintage store, I love using my free days to go out to the thrift stores. On weekends, when we are both free, my grandma and I hunt down thrift/vintage stores all over our city.
Thrifting has also become extremely popular on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, as many people credit their unique items to being found at a thrift store. Most of the time when I go to the thrift store, I don’t spend any money, either. It is entertaining just to walk around and go exploring through all the trinkets, CD’s, and books.
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Conclusion
Hobbies are a great way to express our creativity, relax, or fill our time with something we enjoy. The more we put down our phones and make time to focus on our hobbies, the more we realize that these little things in life generates happiness and contentment of our busy, daily lives.
Replace your screen time with some of these “grandma” hobbies and see how you feel. Who knows? You might find an improvement on your physical and mental health!