Before mindfulness apps, therapy podcasts, and wellness influencers, your grandparents were quietly practicing mental health habits that today’s psychologists advocate. While modern self-care has taken on a shiny, commercialized edge, the core principles have been around for generations—embedded in routines so simple they’re often overlooked.
The surprising truth is that many of the habits we now consider “cutting-edge” were already part of our grandparents’ everyday lives. Their ways were not branded as “mental wellness,” yet they provided grounding, purpose, and resilience. These practices were deeply human—rooted in connection with nature, community, creativity, and reflection.
This article explores six deceptively simple habits your grandparents used that align with today’s best mental health practices. As we search for balance in a fast-paced digital age, there’s wisdom in revisiting these time-honored approaches. Let’s take a closer look at how these vintage routines can offer a fresh lens on psychological well-being.
1 – Daily Walks
For many grandparents, a walk wasn’t about counting steps or burning calories—it was a daily ritual of presence and connection. Whether heading to the market or strolling after dinner, walking created space for reflection and emotional regulation. Current research confirms that even short walks can reduce cortisol levels and elevate mood. According to Dr. Shane O’Mara, neuroscientist and author of In Praise of Walking, “Walking is not just good for the body—it is essential for brain health.”
Walking also fosters cognitive clarity, especially when done outdoors. Studies from Stanford University show that walking in natural settings boosts creative thinking and reduces symptoms of depression. Your grandparents might not have called it “ecotherapy,” but their consistent movement in fresh air worked as a powerful, preventative mental health tool. As we reintroduce walking into our daily routines, we also reestablish a deeper bond between body, mind, and environment.
2 – Gardening
Gardening, often seen as a leisurely hobby, is in fact a form of therapeutic engagement. For your grandparents, it was a necessity or a pastime, but also a meditative act—one that required attention, patience, and nurturing. Tending to plants offered moments of stillness, tangible rewards, and a sense of purpose. The concept of “horticultural therapy” is now an established field, and research published in the Journal of Health Psychology supports that gardening significantly lowers stress and improves mood.
Moreover, working with soil may literally make you happier. A harmless bacterium found in soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, has been linked to increased serotonin production—highlighting how nature itself plays a role in our emotional chemistry. As psychiatrist Dr. Sue Stuart-Smith notes in The Well-Gardened Mind, “Gardening offers a unique combination of physical activity, social interaction, and exposure to nature—all known to promote mental health.”
3 – Social Gatherings
Your grandparents didn’t need Facebook to stay connected—they had neighborhood potlucks, church groups, and card nights. These regular in-person interactions fostered a sense of belonging and community that’s increasingly rare today. Loneliness, a rising epidemic according to the World Health Organization, has been shown to increase the risk of depression and cognitive decline. Social bonds were not just niceties—they were protective factors against emotional isolation.
Psychologist Susan Pinker emphasizes this in The Village Effect, arguing that face-to-face contact is a “biological imperative” for long life and emotional resilience. When your grandparents gathered for conversation, music, or meals, they were unconsciously investing in their mental wellbeing. These encounters offered emotional regulation, affirmation, and shared joy—natural antidotes to the anxiety and disconnection so many experience now.
4 – Mindful Crafting
Crocheting, quilting, woodworking, or knitting might have seemed like simple hobbies, but these crafts demanded focus, repetition, and creativity—all key ingredients for mindfulness. The rhythmic motion and tactile engagement required in crafting resemble meditative practices. According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his book Flow, such immersive activities generate a state of deep fulfillment that supports psychological health.
Crafting also instills a sense of accomplishment and identity. The ability to create something from scratch reinforces self-efficacy and can buffer against depressive symptoms. As Dr. Carrie Barron, co-author of The Creativity Cure, explains, “Creative action can be a pathway to emotional healing.” Your grandparents may not have labeled it self-care, but their commitment to craft offered a stabilizing, therapeutic outlet.
5 – Storytelling
Whether around the dinner table or by the fireside, storytelling was a cornerstone of intergenerational connection. It wasn’t just entertainment—it was a means of processing emotions, transmitting values, and preserving identity. Modern psychology echoes this, noting that autobiographical storytelling helps people make sense of their experiences and enhances psychological integration. According to narrative psychologist Dr. Dan McAdams, “Stories are how we construct meaning in our lives.”
Additionally, listening to and telling stories fosters empathy and cognitive flexibility. It allows individuals to step into another’s perspective, thereby improving social cognition and emotional intelligence. Books like The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall highlight how humans are wired for narrative. Your grandparents’ tales served not only as family lore, but also as emotional blueprints for navigating life.
6 – Journaling
Long before bullet journals and gratitude logs became trendy, many grandparents kept diaries. These handwritten reflections provided a private space to process thoughts and emotions. Psychologist James Pennebaker’s research in Opening Up by Writing It Down demonstrates that expressive writing can reduce anxiety, improve immune function, and enhance emotional resilience. The act of journaling offers clarity, perspective, and a sense of narrative control.
In an age where everything is public and digitized, journaling remains a radically intimate form of self-care. It slows the mind and fosters introspection. Philosopher Hannah Arendt once remarked, “Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” In the same vein, journaling helps us sit with uncertainty without the pressure of immediate solutions—something your grandparents intuitively practiced.
Conclusion
While today’s world is overflowing with digital wellness solutions, some of the most effective mental health habits are rooted in the past. Your grandparents, in their quiet routines, practiced a form of psychological resilience that aligns beautifully with contemporary insights. Their rituals—walking, gardening, gathering, crafting, storytelling, and journaling—offered holistic support long before these practices were backed by science.
These habits invite us to embrace simplicity, presence, and connection. They remind us that tending to our mental well-being doesn’t always require a subscription or screen. Sometimes, the path to healing is paved with well-worn footsteps, a spade in hand, or a pen on paper. In honoring their wisdom, we may rediscover a steadier, richer way to care for ourselves.
By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog
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