(CNN)Acres of flower fields stretch into the horizon as you frolic in the amber glow of the afternoon sun. After foraging for an assortment of plants, you return to your secluded cottage to bake a crusty loaf of sourdough bread and sip on a cup of herbal tea.
The worries of the pandemic seem a world away from this fairy tale dreamscape, and yet for many people, it has become a welcome escape from the drudgery of lockdown living during the pandemic.
Cottagecore, an internet subculture that romanticizes historical rural living, skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic, with millions logging into "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" to create their own virtual gardens and listening to Taylor Swift's nostalgic album "Folklore."
Stress is triggered during periods of great change or upheaval, so it's not surprising that people are turning to cottagecore during this time, said Krystine Batcho, professor of psychology at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York.
