Modern hustle culture has left all of us exhausted. Already burnt out from our 9-to-5s, we are constantly chasing side hustles, paying to meet new people and socialise, watching brainrot vegetable and fruit love stories on social media, and then turning to wellness trends to recover from all of it.
And now, there’s a new trend people are becoming increasingly fascinated with: Nonnamaxxing. Inspired by the lifestyle of Italian grandmothers, this trend is all about slowing down and embracing simpler pleasures.
Basically, it focuses on ditching social media for analog joy like cooking from scratch, going on daily walks, and building deep social connections.
Nonnamaxxing is simply a different way of doing what we’ve all been wanting to do: slow down intentionally and focus on the small joys of life. The idea is to basically live the way Italian grandmothers spend their days.
It encourages people to prepare meals with fresh ingredients instead of relying on preservatives, add movement to daily routines instead of forcing themselves to hit the gym, reduce screen time, pick up hobbies like crochet or gardening, and build social connections, something that many people have struggled with since the pandemic.
With shared hearty meals, active involvement without being glued to screens, and nurturing real-life relationships, this trend prioritises self-care in a much simpler, more grounded way. So, not just for your social life…
Nonnamaxxing is good for your health too
Dr Sandeep Reddy Koppula, HOD – internal medicine, Arete Hospitals, Hyderabad, shares that he understands why this trend is resonating with people as, underneath the name and the social media packaging, it’s really promoting slower and more grounded living.
“Medically, none of those things are revolutionary, but together they’re quite powerful,” he adds.
The doctor further explains that a lot of modern health problems are not coming from one dramatic issue. They’re coming from chronic overstimulation, poor sleep, processed eating, isolation, stress, and very sedentary lifestyles.
So, what trends like this do, at least at their best, is remind people that health is often built through ordinary daily habits, not bio-hacks.
In today’s fast-moving world, our brains are constantly switched on while our bodies barely move. We’re mentally drained but physically under-stimulated at the same time, and that imbalance can affect overall well-being.
Intentional movement doesn’t always have to mean hitting the gym. Walking to buy groceries, cooking, cleaning, or gardening are all simple ways to keep the body active because they naturally fit into everyday life.
And real-life interaction matters more than we think. Spending time with people in person feels very different from endlessly replying to messages or scrolling through updates. There’s a certain comfort and calm that comes from genuine human connection that screens just can’t fully replace.
So, keep that phone away
According to Dr Sharadhi C, consultant – psychiatry, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, putting down your phone matters now more than ever. Constant screen time can affect sleep, focus, mental health, and real-life relationships. Not just this, but spending hours scrolling can leave people feeling mentally tired, stressed, and disconnected.
Taking regular breaks from screens helps the brain rest, improves focus and sleep, and creates more space for real conversations, movement, and meaningful connections.
With us always glued to screens, the brain never gets a pause. “I see this especially in younger adults. Attention spans are shorter, sleep is poorer, people feel mentally ‘wired’ even when they’re exhausted. Many don’t realise how much background stress constant connectivity creates until they step away from it briefly,” adds Dr Koppula.
And then comes Nonnamaxxing
Dr Sharadhi says this wellness trend supports better mental and emotional health by encouraging a slower, more mindful way of living. Simple habits can help people feel more present and less overwhelmed.
These everyday activities give the brain a break from constant digital stimulation, helping reduce stress and anxiety while improving your mood. Since the lifestyle focuses more on balance than pressure or perfection, it can help people feel calmer, more grounded, and emotionally at ease.
Perhaps the reason people are suddenly looking at grandmothers for inspiration is because their lifestyles feel like the complete opposite of modern chaos. Grandmoms were never obsessed with productivity hacks or wellness trends, yet they naturally followed routines that now feel comforting and healthy.
They cooked fresh meals, knew their neighbours, took evening walks, spent hours gardening or knitting, and actually sat down to talk to people instead of multitasking through conversations.
Even simple everyday habits like making chai without scrolling through Instagram, buying vegetables from the local market, drying clothes in the sun, or eating meals together at the table now feel strangely calming in a world that never slows down.
And honestly, maybe that’s why we need Nonnamaxxing so much. People are tired of turning every part of life into a performance, whether it’s fitness, wellness, friendships, or even rest.
Not every hobby needs to become a side hustle, not every walk needs to be tracked, and not every meal needs to be aesthetic enough for social media. Sometimes, wellness can simply look like eating properly, touching grass, calling your family, and going to bed on time, exactly the kind of advice grandmothers have been giving for years.
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