There’s a moment, between September and October, when the world slows down. Days grow shorter, the light turns golden, and people begin retreating into their spaces, as if autumn were a quiet invitation to return home, and to themselves. It’s the season of cozy blankets, pumpkins, and steaming mugs, but also of small daily rituals that bring us back to calm and presence. Today, autumn hobbies are much more than a pastime: they are a form of sustainable wellness, a way to rediscover pleasure and a mindful pace. Gen Z and Millennials are embracing these new “slow vibes,” turning them into real-life habits beyond social trends.
Autumn home rituals
We often think cultivating hobbies is a matter of privilege. But all it takes are small home rituals to create a sense of domestic wellbeing. Lighting a candle, brewing herbal tea, arranging your bookshelf, or setting up a reading nook. These are acts of self-care that ground us and restore balance. Making your home cozy, using natural materials, reusing items, and cooking with seasonal ingredients are not only eco-friendly but also deeply restorative. If you can manage to stay away from your phone for a few hours, even better. A “slow” autumn does not mean giving up doing things, but choosing what to do and, above all, how to do it.
Autumn hobbies to rediscover
With that said, we can pick up those hobbies we left half-finished last fall, convinced we weren’t good enough at them. But the truth is, you don’t have to be: just let yourself be guided by the process, not the result. In the meantime, I can still leave you with a list of my favorites.
@skappeloslo Knitting can be incredibly calming, and the repetitive movements can help reduce stress levels It works as a form of mindfulness, helping you stay present in the moment and shift your focus away from worries
Chill Vibes – Tollan Kim
Knitting or crocheting
Among the most relaxing creative hobbies is knitting, an activity that combines focus, rhythm, and slowness. Each stitch is a breath, each thread a pause. It is a practice that, in addition to relaxing the mind, stimulates creativity and reduces stress levels. It is a practice that, in addition to relaxing the mind, stimulates creativity and reduces stress levels. Many define it as a form of concrete of mindfulness: it forces you to stay in the present, to count, to make mistakes and to start again. After all, it’s a bit like life. In addition to relaxing, it allows you to create something concrete. Sweaters, scarves, blankets: small projects that give satisfaction and stimulate manual skills.
Creating natural decorations
Dried leaves, branches, chestnuts, berries, autumn flowers: at this time of year, nature becomes a palette of colors to draw from. Just a few items gathered during a walk are enough to transform a corner of your home into something lively and welcoming. You can make scented centerpieces by weaving leaves and eucalyptus twigs, or garlands with string and pinecones to hang on the door. Even DIY candles become a small creative gesture: just pour wax into a glass jar and decorate it with orange peel, cinnamon, or cloves. These are simple, sustainable ideas that cost almost nothing, but can immediately bring warmth to your spaces.
Reading and handwriting
Reread old books, start a journal, write letters or postcards: writing by hand slows down your thoughts and stimulates your emotional memory. You can also try scrapbooking, a creative notebook where you can collect clippings, photographs, quotes, and cards: a personal and intimate way to preserve memories and projects. And if books are too expensive, autumn is also the perfect time to look for them at flea markets or take part in one of the many literary swap parties that are coming back into fashion: places where stories are exchanged, found, and given away.
Cooking slowly
Autumn is the season of comfort food recipes: soups, risottos, apple and cinnamon desserts. Cooking is an act of care and mindfulness.
Growing plants and herbs indoors
Creating a small urban garden helps you stay connected with nature, even indoors.
The philosophy of slow living
In recent years, terms such as hygge (Danish comfort), lagom (Swedish moderation), and friluftsliv (Norwegian outdoor living) have become synonymous with a slower, more mindful lifestyle. But in Italy, we also have our own form of “simple happiness”: sharing a coffee, a freshly baked cake, a rainy Sunday spent chatting with friends. The important thing is not to copy a style, but to rediscover the value of time spent at home, authentic relationships, and daily rituals.
Why autumn hobbies are good for you
Science confirms it: engaging in creative activities reduces stress and increases serotonin, the happiness hormone. A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology showed that even just 45 minutes a day of creativity can enhance mental wellbeing and emotional resilience. Doing something slowly, without a productive goal, is a way to reconnect with yourself. It doesn’t take much: a candle, a book, a ball of yarn, a simmering pot. In the end, slow happiness often smells like a freshly baked pie.