00:00Women who embrace grandma hobbies may live eight years longer, study finds.
00:06Grandma hobbies have become a viral shorthand for hands-on, slower activities like knitting, crochet, birdwatching, baking, gardening, and puzzle-making.
00:16Social posts claim that women who engage in these pastimes may live eight years longer, but this claim deserves scrutiny.
00:24Despite the nickname, these activities are not age-bound or gender-bound.
00:29They're typically low-cost, easy to start, and offer gentle movement, concentration, and tangible progress.
00:37Research shows hobbies are linked with better well-being and mental health in older adults.
00:42A 2025 study reported that hobby engagement could increase life expectancy by roughly one year over five years, not eight years.
00:53The eight-year claim comes from research on combined lifestyle changes, not hobbies alone.
00:59These activities benefit health through multiple pathways.
01:02They recruit memory and attention, provide social support, lower stress, and some involve light physical activity.
01:10Gardening, knitting, and birdwatching have been associated with cognitive benefits and better mental health.
01:16The benefits of these hobbies include neuroplasticity, improved focus, reduced stress, and stronger sense of belonging and purpose.
01:27Studies have found that even occasional arts engagement is associated with reduced mortality risk.
01:33To incorporate these benefits, choose a hobby you genuinely enjoy.
01:39Schedule it regularly, consider joining a group, and pair it with outdoor time.
01:44Remember that hobbies are not a substitute for medical care.
01:48While not adding eight years to life, these enjoyable activities support healthier living.
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