Feeling stressed? Why Grandmacore could be your secret sauce; Millenials; gardening; crochet

Additionally, Ray says, these hobbies help younger generations unplug and reconnect with themselves, with nature, or with their creativity.

Airey’s passion for crochet began during the pandemic to pass the time in lockdowns, after discovering crochet content on TikTok and using YouTube videos to learn.

Since then, she has crocheted a wide range of items from amigurumi, jumpers, cardigans, dresses, and ponchos to blankets, and even creates her own designs.

“Crocheting, once you get a hang of it, is a very relaxing hobby. It’s peaceful and enjoyable through its repetitive nature, while not being physically challenging,” she says.

It’s been hugely beneficial for Airey’s mental health.

“When I crochet, it’s able to take up the spot in my brain of doing something productive,” she says. “Being able to sit down and crochet helps stop my mind from racing, it gives me permission to enjoy the space I’m in.”

Associate professor and psychological scientist Gabrielle Wiedemann, from Western Sydney University, says there are “so many ways” hobbies like crocheting can be beneficial – many of which Airey has discovered.

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“It takes some degree of your attention which can divert thoughts about other things that may be worrying you, allowing you to detach a bit from the emotional aspects of that, but it’s not so all-encompassing that you can’t still be aware of what’s going on around you,” Wiedemann says.

Other benefits include social interaction and community through hobby-related associations and groups, as well as creating items for charities or as gifts for others, which can help give purpose.

Melbourne Millennials Marcus Matear and Jennifer Leung say this is something that they’ve experienced through gardening.

“The patience of nurturing the produce [grown in their garden] and then being able to enjoy it and share it with others makes it really satisfying,” Leung says.

The couple, both 34, started gardening three years ago when they moved into their home.

“We love cooking, and we wanted to grow our own produce so we could cook with it and eat it,” says Matear.

While they didn’t have much experience with gardening when they began, the couple had help from Matear’s dad, as well as neighbours whom they met while setting up their garden.

“We walked around the neighbourhood and asked gardeners over for dinner. We asked questions, and they gave advice,” says Leung.

Beyond their local community, they found that gardening was helpful in other areas.

“We’re dentists and can have some unbalanced stress; gardening is great to balance the stress,” says Matear.

The balance comes in part from being in nature, he says. “I enjoy watering the garden, you see the morning sunlight, it’s relaxing, it sets your circadian rhythm, and you know you’re going to sleep better.”

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Therapeutic Horticulture Australia vice president Tanya Bearup, a social worker, agrees. “Research shows that being out in nature, having ‘green time’ helps reduce cortisol levels and improve your mood,” she says.

Research from this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show revealed 93 per cent of Australians report that gardening, or “dirt therapy”, has a positive impact on their wellbeing.

“Gardening, crocheting, knitting – all these hobbies cause you to slow down and pay attention,” says Bearup. “They help you connect with the present and get out of your head.”

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