In an instant world, slow hobbies like vinyl and calligraphy feel radical.

Nostalgia has always been a sneaky little time-traveler.

One minute vinyl, film cameras, and roller skates are gathering dust in the garage; the next, your TikTok feed is jammed with teenagers debating the merits of 35 mm grain versus Portra’s color profile.

What’s going on?

Gen Z—digital natives who grew up swiping before they could write—are embracing tactile, slow-burn pastimes that used to be “so boomer.”

Psychology-wise, it makes perfect sense: in a world of instant everything, friction becomes luxury.

Objects that demand patience create pockets of calm and identity.

Below are ten once-dated hobbies that Zoomers are reviving—along with why they matter and how you might weave them into your own self-development journey.

1. Vinyl collecting

I still remember the first time I dropped a needle on my dad’s warped copy of Kind of Blue—the faint crackle felt like stepping into a secret room.

Gen Z is chasing that same ritual. As noted by a 2025 survey from the Vinyl Alliance, “Gen Z is the driving force of vinyl’s current popularity.”

Why it’s trending:

Tangible art—album covers double as wall décor.

Choice overload fatigue—one record, one listen-through, no algorithm.

Community—record fairs feel like IRL sub-reddits.

Self-development spin: building a collection trains curation muscles and patience; you learn to sit with music rather than scroll past it.

2. Film photography

“I like the vibe of the disposable film cameras with the flash,” 23-year-old Sydney Daniels told the Calgary Journal.

Every roll is a built-in mindfulness exercise: you have 36 frames, so you slow down and actually see your surroundings. I spent a week in Lisbon shooting only one roll; reviewing the prints later, I noticed details—a chipped tile, a stranger’s grin—I’d have missed on a phone.

Try it: grab a thrift-store point-and-shoot, restrict yourself to one roll on your next day trip, and practice deliberate observation.

3. Gardening and houseplants

Who knew “plant parenthood” would become a flex? Surveys show one in three under-40s identifies as a plant parent. (My windowsill jungle can confirm.)

For apartment-bound Zoomers, tending soil is the new meditation app.

Personal hack: I name my herbs after jazz legends—“Miles” the mint, “Ella” the basil.

Giving them personalities keeps me accountable for watering schedules and reminds me that growth—botanical or personal—is incremental.

4. Roller skating

Retro rinks are back, neon lights and all.

Angela Webb, GM of Mesa’s Skateland, put it simply: “So many different generations have memories that are tied to the rink that they want to pass on.”

Beyond the throwback aesthetic, skating offers low-pressure cardio, balance training, and a built-in friend-making loop—literally.

Tip: if you’re anxious about falling, start on a flat basketball court at dawn. Fewer witnesses, more confidence.

5. Thrifting and antique hunting

Ever pulled a $5 silk shirt from a bargain bin and felt like Indiana Jones? That treasure-hunt dopamine is exactly why Gen Z spends weekends at flea markets.

Sustainability sweetens the deal: re-wearing grandpa’s flannel keeps fast fashion out of landfills.

Anecdote: I once found a 1970s Minolta at a church sale for the price of a latte. It still shoots.

Practice: set a “one-item” rule—buy only if it fills a gap in your life, not your closet. Decision-making muscles, engage.

6. Knitting and crochet

Knitting circles have migrated from church basements to Discord servers.

After a long writing day, the rhythmic click-clack helps me untangle thoughts.

Bonus: gifting a hand-made scarf beats Amazon Prime every time.

Skill-building upside: pattern reading improves spatial reasoning, and finishing a project is a masterclass in delayed gratification.

7. Bird watching

Question: when was the last time you stared at the sky without doom-scrolling?

Gen Z birders use apps like Merlin to ID chirps, merging tech with nature.

The hobby is a walking meditation—ears open, phone on airplane mode (except the bird app), cortisol dropping.

Challenge: start with five common birds in your neighborhood. Once you can ID them by song, expand the circle. You’ll never hear parks the same way again.

8. Calligraphy and letter writing

In a sea of Slack pings, a handwritten note feels like a hug.

Calligraphy kits are trending on TikTok precisely because slow strokes counterbalance rapid-fire texts.

Practicing letterforms also taps into flow state—pen, ink, groove.

Pro-tip: write yourself a future letter. Seal it. Open in a year. Instant perspective on growth.

9. Board games and tabletop RPGs

I’ve mentioned this before but game nights beat Netflix marathons for relationship ROI.

Titles like Catan and Dungeons & Dragons demand collaboration, negotiation, and storytelling—the same skills that drive successful teams at work.

Observation: many Zoomers crave analog social spaces that aren’t bars.

Rolling dice around a kitchen table scratches that itch while teaching strategic thinking.

10. DIY candle making

Finally, the humble candle. Gen Z TikTok is brimming with soy-wax tutorials.

Why? Scent is memory’s shortcut; blending your own fragrance lets you design the mood of your room (and your mind).

Plus, melting wax is basically aromatherapy chemistry.

Starter kit: soy wax flakes, cotton wicks, an old saucepan, and essential oils. Experiment, fail, refine—scientist hat on.

The bottom line

Boomer hobbies aren’t relics; they’re antidotes to modern overload.

Each activity here invites you to slow, feel, and choose—skills at the heart of smart decision-making.

Pick one that sparks curiosity. Give it a month. Notice what shifts—not just in your schedule, but in how you relate to time, attention, and yourself.

Because sometimes, the fastest way forward is to rewind.