In the spirit of all these returns to past eras that have been following us; listening bars, jazz in dimly lit clubs, 1970s design, comfort food trends, another one has slipped into the internet space and, to me personally, it is more charming than all the rest.
Lately, the digital world has been obsessed with the trend of nonna-maxing. I know, it sounds like a joke, but it seems to me that we are talking about a serious lifestyle shift here, one that is tapping somewhere along the line between being exhausted by everything and gen Z definitely choosing slower, more authentic steps through life. I really like the fact that we are returning to grandmothers and drawing inspiration from their way of life.
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We know that today time is measured by speed; from replying to a message to preparing a meal, and the internet, in defiance of that, has begun romanticizing the opposites of those expectations. That is how nonna-maxxing appeared, a trend that seemingly comes from meme culture but is quickly turning into a broader lifestyle concept. At its core is a simple idea: living like a nonna in an idealized sense. Not as a literal imitation of a grandmother, but as an aesthetic of a slow, intentional life in which things are done from scratch, without shortcuts and without the pressure to be “efficient”. It is a way of life that rejects rushing and gives everyday life back what the modern age has taken from it: rhythm, calm and presence. Long live grandmothers!
Photo: Mathieu Nicol
And while we are on the subject of the words life and grandmothers, in this context life in the blue zones is often mentioned too; where people live more slowly, eat light food, move and work more consciously. As countries located in the Mediterranean part of the world, there are olive oil, fish, fresh tomatoes, all of it as part of a daily menu that a grandmother by the sea would prepare for you. Another reason why we should amplify this trend.
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If nonna-maxxing has been appearing on your feed and in your inbox lately, as it has in mine, take it as a sign to surrender to it. Abundant breakfasts, regular lunches, ingredients from the garden, afternoon rest and gathering around the table are its basic principles. I gathered advice from all the digital records I came across and put together a list of how to start practicing nonna-maxxing as early as this summer. (If only Grandma Matilda could see me now).
Cook “from scratch”
We know that grandmothers do not like shortcuts, and they know their recipes by heart and do not accept anything other than freshly cooked, homemade food made from real ingredients. So replace jarred sauces with slow cooking, and ready-made meals with basic ingredients from which you will create the whole thing from start to finish. The focus is on the process, not speed. The rule applies in the kitchen, but also in life.
Slow down the pace of the day
Contemporary culture has convinced us that multitasking is what is required. Forget that nonsense! Let us go back to the beginning and to the rule: one action at one moment. What nonna-maxxing also promotes is the permission to do nothing. Forget the word optimization too and allow yourself a part of the day when the word nothing is your guiding thought.
Photo: Nolandlive
Reduce screen time during your routine
Grandmothers know what it is like to grow up without screens, and what is more, screens tire us out, our eyes hurt, we feel sleepy. Listen to grandma! Try to get through the day without scrolling while cooking, to eat without a phone in your hand and to spend time in a space without distraction.
Bring back the home routine
Return home and to caring for your home. Tidy up, decorate, water the plants, take care of the kitchen… Care for your space and find a form of meditation in it. We know that in their day our grandmothers held up all four corners of the house.
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Focus on “comfort” food
Do you remember what our grandmothers cooked? Well, return to that. Simple homemade recipes and salt, pepper and red paprika. That is the base from which soups, stews and pasta dishes begin.
Bring back afternoon naps
Consider this piece of advice mine! When was the last time you slept in the afternoon after lunch? Well, in the spirit of nonna-maxxing, that is allowed, even desirable. Set aside time for an afternoon nap, we do not even have to list why it is good for you.
It seems to me that nonna maxxing is not just an internet trend but a symptom of cultural change. It is an attempt to find, in a world that is accelerating to its limits, something that does not require optimization. But the paradox is clear: even slowness today has to be a “trend”. And perhaps that is precisely where its strength lies, because it shows that even the generation of algorithms is beginning to ask itself: what if life does not have to be fast in order to be valuable after all? Let us see.
