The millennials swapping doom-scrolling for gardening
Young millennials are increasingly turning to gardening as a therapeutic hobby to cope with the stresses of modern digital life and economic uncertainty. Many are sharing their experiences on social media, creating a community that prioritizes mental well-being and tangible, offline activities.
Why it matters
It highlights a growing cultural shift among younger generations seeking to disconnect from hyper-digital environments to manage mental health and personal grief.
Image caption, Hannah says gardening helped her to navigate grief
When Hannah Matthews lost her father and grandmother in the space of a year, she found comfort in her back garden.
"My mind would be really busy, and I'd suddenly be out here at 7am pulling up weeds," said the 31-year-old.
She is now an enthusiastic gardener, and one of thousands of young people sharing their green-fingered ways on social media.
Hannah, who has more than 70,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, said the gardening community was "booming" and represented a way of "recapturing some space that feels less tense" on social media platforms.
"It brings me joy, and hopefully when someone else is just kind of doom-scrolling, they get a bit of serenity in their day as well," she said.
Image caption, Hannah says the gardening community is "booming"
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