Once upon a time, we rolled our eyes at our grandmothers’ hobbies. Knitting? Too slow. Staying in on a Friday night? How tragic. A nice hot cup of tea instead of something stronger? Unthinkable. And yet, here we are, clutching our mugs, canceling plans, and getting unreasonably excited about a new crochet pattern.
Yes, folks, we’ve officially turned into our grandmas - and honestly, we’re thriving.
Gone are the days of relentless FOMO and wild nights out. Instead, we now romanticize the simple pleasures of staying in. Our idea of a perfect weekend? A candlelit evening under a weighted blanket, a soothing hobby in hand, and maybe - if we’re feeling particularly wild - a documentary about 19th-century pottery or a podcast on the Tudor women.
We used to laugh at our grandmothers’ obsession with “a good cardigan.” Now we own at least three, and we have strong opinions on knit versus fleece. Slippers? Essential. Heating bills are too high to mess around. (Although we're not averse to those fluffy-lined clogs, either.)
Somewhere along the way, we traded clubbing for cross-stitch. Baking our own sourdough was the gateway, and before we knew it, we were deep in the world of embroidery, quilting, and the art of pressing flowers. If you haven’t yet considered taking up birdwatching, don’t worry - it’s coming for you.
Even our socializing habits have changed. Forget house parties; the most thrilling invite these days is to a friend’s “low-key wine and puzzle night”. Bonus points if someone brings a homemade jam.
We used to scoff at the idea of tea being exciting. Now, we own a selection of blends that would put a Victorian tea parlor to shame. Chamomile for winding down, peppermint for digestion, and a specialty loose-leaf we bought at a market “just to try”. And let’s be real - we now understand that a cup of tea really does solve most of life’s problems.
Sure, we might not be attending weekly bingo nights (yet), but the truth is, being like our grandmas is kind of amazing. They were onto something all along: life is better when it’s cozy, calm, and full of homemade baked goods. So let’s raise our (very non-alcoholic) mugs to our inner grandmas - long may they knit!
Slow dating is a more deliberate approach to romance. Taking weeks or months to get to know someone before meeting in person, rather than rushing from match to date. Gen Z has largely driven the trend, partly as a response to dating app burnout and a preference for genuine connection over volume.
Research points to a combination of factors: dating app fatigue, higher prioritisation of mental health and personal goals, economic pressures, and increased comfort with being single. It's less about disinterest in connection and more about being more selective about when and how to pursue it.
Not necessarily. Dating less doesn't mean connecting less, it often means being more intentional about the connections that do happen. The shift away from quantity-driven hookup culture towards slower, more considered relationships isn't inherently a step backwards.
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