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French -speaking SwitzerlandCrossword or embroidery, “old” leisure activities are popular
From adolescents to the thirties, young people rediscover the joys of “old school” hobbies, such as hook or puzzles. An effective way to disconnect.
Embroidery is one of the leisure activities which, according to its followers, make it possible to “disconnect the brain”.
Photo by Nathana Rebouças On UnsplashDuring the summer, more than once, we met a thirty -something fitted with his crossword booklet on the beach or a knitting teenager on the bus. Obviously, the leisure activities of our grandparents are popular among young people. Like Sami, a Genevan lover of arrow words, who, contrary to what his hobby might suggest, is 28 years old. “I often get older by my father!, He said. I started on the beach in the south of France. Since then, I have always a smoked carnet and a pencil in my bag. We want to progress, even we challenge each other with friends. It even happened to us to play four or five in the nightclub. ”
Hunting boredom while avoiding staying stuck on a screen is also Lina’s goal, 20 years old. This student at EPFL, she opted for the hook. “I like the fact that it is a manual task that does not require too much reflection, this repetitive and creative side. It allows me to unplug my brain. And also to give gifts for cheap. ” Like Sami, Lina shares this hobby with her friends. “We are a group of four. Once, we even organized a “manual picnic with collage, bracelet manufacturing and of course hook”.
A passion shared by Fanny. This 13 -year -old Geneva “croche” for this activity in the holiday passport and has never stopped. Alice, a 33 -year -old Ticino is, for her part, embroidery fan. “It started from a friend who, at Christmas, offered me a T-shirt with a embroidered inscription. I loved this gift. I found it crazy that it was she who did it. ” What make him want to get into it. On the occasion of vacation in Brittany and given the changing weather, she and her friends embark a embroidery kit on the plane. “We all have office trades in which we hardly exploit our creative side. And then, it empties the head, it relaxes. “
Failures are hitting on Youtube
If the hook, embroidery and knitting are popular, this is also the case for puzzles that Nina (28) or failure practices. Between two grids of arrow words, Sami handles the madman, the tower and the queen. Failures have become trendy again to the point that youtubers are a hit thanks to that. Sami shares this second “old school” passion with several friends. “It allows you to find adversaries, because it is nicer to play in real life than in virtual. Recently, I even received a small beach set. ” History of putting his opponents failure, while being mat …
Many followers of these “old school” leisure activities express the benefits linked to disconnection. A feeling that the patients of Lenka Matousek, Art-therapist also express at Loëx (GE) hospital. “These activities allow them to focus attention on a single task, thus putting the mind at rest. They go against the rhythm of our time. They ask us to slow down, be patient and take the time to carry out a project. ” It would however be misleading, according to Guillaume Guenat, doctoral student in history and sociology of leisure at the University of Lausanne, to see only one refuge far from the screens. “These practices can actually be very linked to digital, whether it is to look for patterns on Pinterest or knit in front of a series.” Not to mention the fact of posting his creations on Instagram. According to him, “the difficult context, mixing political, military, environmental and economic crises, is also conducive to forms of nostalgia, valuing an old romanticized time which counterbalances the lack of prospects for the future. These leisure “of the old weather is part of this movement”.
