The Rise of 'Slow Living': Why Gen Z is Embracing Their Grandparents' Lifestyle

Remember when your grandmother spent Sunday afternoons tending to her herb garden, baking bread from scratch, and knitting cozy sweaters? Well, it turns out she was way ahead of her time. In an era of constant notifications, 24/7 hustle culture, and digital overload, Gen Z is surprisingly turning to these "old-school" practices as a form of rebellion against our hyper-connected world.

TikTok might seem like the last place you'd find vintage lifestyle content, but hashtags like #cottagecore, #grandmillennial, and #slowliving have collectively gathered billions of views. Young people aren't just watching – they're actively participating in what I like to call the "Grandma Renaissance."

What's Driving This Trend?

Image Credit: @isiparente

1. Digital Fatigue: After growing up with smartphones glued to their hands, Gen Z is experiencing serious screen burnout. There's something deeply satisfying about working with your hands and creating something tangible.

2. Sustainability: Traditional practices like mending clothes, growing food, and reducing waste aren't just quaint – they're increasingly necessary in our climate-conscious world.

3. Mental Health: In an age of anxiety, activities that force you to slow down and be present have become essential self-care tools.

The New (Old) Cool Kids' Hobbies

• Bread baking (yes, it survived the pandemic!)

• Pottery and ceramics

• Vegetable gardening

• Knitting and crocheting

• Preserving and pickling

• Letter writing (with actual paper!)

Here's the irony: while young people are embracing these analog activities, they're simultaneously documenting them on social media. Your grandmother probably didn't post her sourdough starter progress on Instagram, but her great-grandkids absolutely do. And you know what? That's okay.

This isn't just about hobbies – it's about a generation recognizing that some old ways of doing things had real value. In our rush to digitize everything, we may have lost touch with practices that brought genuine satisfaction and connection.

Sure, there's something funny about watching 20-somethings get excited about activities that were once considered deeply uncool. But maybe they're onto something. Maybe the key to surviving our high-speed future is to selectively embrace the past.

So the next time you see a teenager excitedly showing off their first knitted scarf or homegrown tomatoes, remember: they're not just following a trend. They're part of a larger movement that's rediscovering the joy of slow living in a fast-paced world.

And who knows? Maybe it's time for the rest of us to take a page from both Gen Z and Grandma's book. After all, there's something undeniably appealing about a lifestyle that prioritizes creativity, sustainability, and mindfulness over constant connectivity.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go water my herb garden and check on my sourdough starter. #GrandmaCore, anyone?