As friends and family pass away and some older adults’ ability to get out and about declines due to health concerns, aging can become a lonely business. Having an outlet to express themselves is helpful to alleviate seniors’ loneliness! This self-expression can be bolstered by several kinds of hobbies.
Imagine waking up for 20 to 30 years, getting in your car, and then going to work somewhere where you know your actions make a difference. Perhaps, you’re a schoolteacher, nurse, or soldier… Then, upon retirement, you suddenly find yourself filling your time with tons of daytime television! You’d probably start feeling as if your actions no longer benefit anyone, not even yourself! That would be enough to make anyone feel a bit depressed.
Hobbies Renew Older Adults’ Sense of Purpose
Volunteering or donating crafts they create to those in need (such as knitting winter hats for the homeless) can help elders feel as if they are still contributing to their community and providing a value or service to society. Not only does this renew seniors’ sense of purpose, but it also improves their self-esteem.
New Hobbies Get Seniors Outdoors
Bird watching, geocaching, and gardening get seniors into nature. Being outdoors offers tangible physical benefits to individuals of every age. Such benefits include better blood pressure and pulse rate, less muscular tension, and lower production of stress hormones like cortisol. It also offers multiple mood benefits. Stanford Researchers found that, “people who walk for 90 minutes in nature (as opposed to high-traffic urban settings) “showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.”
Music-Making May Help Seniors Maintain Their Mental Health
One study published by BioPsychoSocial Medicine found numerous evidence-based reasons for seniors to take up singing, piano lessons because it improves more positive moods, decrease cortisol levels and decreases tension. These findings were true whether or not the seniors consider themselves to be good at or enjoy singing.
New Hobbies Help Seniors’ Aging Brains
For at least a decade, we’ve had evidence that learning new hobbies may be instrumental in staving off dementia symptoms in seniors. The authors of one study published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias noted, “engaging in cognitively stimulating leisure activities in late life may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and overall dementia” The Pittsburgh-based researchers found that seniors who spent at least one hour per day on crafts or crossword puzzles were less likely to develop dementia later on.
So, when you are serving as a family caregiver for a loved one, for example your parents, getting them to take on new hobbies provides a number of benefits like stimulation of their brain which helps ward off dementia, promotes creativity, increases happiness, helps them contribute to society in general, builds new friendships that can help them continue to age in place for many years to come.
Here are some other fun and rewarding hobbies that seniors like.
Sketching and painting – People of all ages like to doodle. Sketching and painting are great ways to awaken both the logical and creative parts of the brain. Art classes are a fun activity that unleashes a senior’s inner artistic side, and there are even online sketching and painting courses available if they are homebound.
Take a cooking class – Cooking for a large family for many years is different than doing so on a smaller scale where a senior can use more creativity and flair. Encouraging a senior to take a cooking class or trying out some new recipes with them at home can be fun. They can then invite over some dinner guests to sample their newfound culinary creations while sharing some good times and laughs.
Brain teasing puzzles – Memory loss is a common problem among the elderly population. Nothing says mental stimulation like solving a few puzzles and doing so will help keep a senior’s mind sharp while fending off the cognitive effects of aging. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku or other memory games are activities that can be done anywhere, including at home.
Exercising regularly – Trying new forms of exercise is a great way to build self-worth, along with keeping a senior’s body and mind fit. Water aerobics, ballroom dancing, Yoga, Wii and walking are a few examples of exercises that seniors can safely engage in that also will increase their lung capacity, strengthen their heart, and improve blood circulation.
In addition to these hobbies, a lot of seniors also enjoy activities like pottery, sewing, knitting, and woodworking. Again, these are all hobbies that your senior loved one can do right at home if you are assisting them as a family caregiver.
The thought of going into retirement may seem like you’re giving up a big chunk of your identity–but actually, quite the opposite is true. Rather than seeing retirement as being a time in which you’re living with a weaker sense of purpose in life, think of it as a period where you have additional free time to use however you want.
One of the best ways to stay young at heart is to engage in activities that you really enjoy doing. Plenty of research has been done on the benefits of having a hobby, and its ability to support healthy aging certainly should not be overlooked.
People over 65 spend an average of 10 hours a day either sitting or lying down, making them the most sedentary age group. And while increasing health limitations can restrict one’s ability to get out and do certain types of exercise, there are still hobbies that you can enjoy that can help you stay active.
Writing
Writing is one of the best indoor hobbies you can take up. You can choose to write about anything that you want, from creating a work of fiction, writing poetry, or even writing about your life’s achievements. No matter what you decide to write about, this hobby is a great way to find a sense of meaning and fulfilment in life.
This is a beneficial hobby for seniors because writing helps stimulate the brain and it keeps your mind sharp. Furthermore, writing helps keep hand-eye coordination skills in good condition, which is an important part of reducing your risk for falls.
Writing can be a great creative outlet for seniors, whose experiences through the years can also serve as a substantial source of knowledge to help younger generations prepare for their future.
Volunteer
Volunteering can help reduce stress, depression, offer a sense of accomplishment, and help improve seniors’ confidence and sense of purpose as they transition into retirement.
There are endless opportunities to give back to your community, many of which allow for you to socialize with people who share similar interests. One volunteer opportunity that many seniors take on is tutoring elementary students with their reading, which also helps seniors play a rewarding mentoring role. Another volunteer option could be at a local arts center where you may be able to benefit from free admission to performances and galleries.
Learn How to Play an Instrument
Retirement is a great time to learn how to play an instrument, and an increasing number of seniors are reaping the benefits of incorporating more music into their lives. Learning how to play an instrument requires the use of multiple areas of the brain in addition to hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Furthermore, if you can find a group of people to play music with, you can increase your social interaction, which can help boost your emotional well-being.
Many community centers offer music classes that are made for seniors, allowing older adults to interact with each other while sharing their love of music. Some common instruments that seniors learn how to play include the ukulele, harmonica, and piano, as these instruments are easy to learn, require less mobility than others, and don’t require a large financial commitment (unless you’re buying a piano).
Organizations such as the NAMM Foundation offer programs for people of all ages and abilities to support music-making and its ability to allow people to be creative while using all parts of their brain in collaboration. Through creative inspiration and unspoken communication, learning how to play music is a unique hobby that offers benefits to people of all ages.
Walking
A great way for older adults to get some exercise is to go for walks. Whether this is something you want to do alone to give you some time to engage in self-reflection while walking at your own pace, or you want to grab a walking buddy to socialize with, this hobby undoubtedly offers a ton of mental and physical health benefits. Some benefits to taking a friend along include:
- It can help make walking more fun
- You can make new friendships or strengthen your current relationships
- You’re less likely to cancel a walk when you’ve planned on going with a friend (it gives you an accountability partner!)
- You’ll probably take a longer walk if you’re with a friend, and will likely walk more often
- Walking with someone else helps increase safety
There is a low barrier to entry for this hobby, as all you really need is a good pair of walking shoes. And don’t let it stop you from taking up walking as a hobby if you use a cane or a walker. You can use these tools to help improve your balance and reduce the amount of weight that you’re putting on your joints–because that’s what they’re there for!
Join a Book Club
If you enjoy reading, you can make the experience even more rewarding by joining a book club. Book clubs always include some socializing during the meetings, which will help you get to know new people in a laid-back setting. This hobby can also help you relate to others as you talk about whatever book that has been chosen, and it may help you understand the book better to get different people’s perspectives on it.
Joining a book club can also introduce you to books that you wouldn’t otherwise read, which may help you uncover an interest you didn’t know you had. This is also a great option for a hobby because it’s inexpensive–or free if you are a member of a local library.
Whether your book club reads fun books and has relaxed discussions, or they focus on more serious books with more intensive analyses, simply getting together with others on a regular basis will be fun.
Gardening
Doing some work in the garden is a great way to stay active during your golden years. While you may not think of it as such, gardening is an effective low-impact workout that uses muscles from head to toe, plus it gives you the added benefit of being outside.
Many neighbourhoods or counties also have garden clubs where people who enjoy gardening come together. Garden clubs do various things such as hosting flower shows and giving garden tutorials for projects that aim at bettering the landscape of your community. Garden clubs help people share knowledge, meet other gardening enthusiasts, and learn new things about the craft.
Genealogy
With so many online resources available, genealogy has perhaps become more popular than ever. Researching one’s family history is a great pastime to help improve cognitive function and could even introduce you to some distant relatives you wouldn’t otherwise meet.
This is a popular hobby that can mostly be one in the comfort of your own home. Learning about the stories, connections, and names of your ancestors can help spark discussions with other family members, regardless of their age.
There are a handful of ways you can look into your family’s history online on sites such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. You can also look into your background by ordering a test kit from 23andme.
Bird Watching
Many people who once enjoyed hiking and camping still want to spend time outdoors, but without the pressure of moving quickly on a hike. One option that retirees often find joy in is bird watching because it allows people to enjoy the outdoors and go for a walk at their own pace while still being mindful of their surroundings.
You can still travel to your old hiking spots to go birding, or you can stay closer to your home. You can also choose to go by yourself or go with a group to add some socialization into your day.
With birds’ unique voices, feather patterns, colours, and various behaviours, birds allow people to connect with nature and their local ecosystems by watching them. If you pick up this hobby, you may start to pay more attention to other things in nature as well.
Finally, this is an excellent hobby for seniors because it allows you to exercise your reflexes while you focus on the bird and try to identify its species.
Crafting
Art therapy is a common form of treatment used for seniors to help decrease their anxiety and increase their hand-eye coordination. Some psychologists have even compared the impact of doing crafts to the calming effects of meditation. This means that seniors may find it therapeutic to create crafts such as knitting, painting quilting, or clay making.
There are frequently clubs associated with such crafts. Quilting enthusiasts have gotten together for generations to trade patchwork, ideas, and new patterns. Some organizations such as The Modern Quilting Guild host national events, however, there are also smaller clubs on a more local level that you can likely find at a senior centre near you, where all skill levels are invited to participate.
If you feel more connected to painting, this hobby is often used in therapy and recovery. Working with watercolours, oil paints, and other types of paint to create art can inspire playfulness, improve focus, and help seniors focus on their hand-eye coordination, making this a great creative hobby for seniors to engage in.
Play Games
Finding others to play games with is an effective way to improve socialization. Engaging in friendly competition through games like bridge and chess with friends or at a senior centre can help keep social anxiety at bay by keeping retirees connected with a common hobby. Having a group of friends to regularly play games with can reduce symptoms of depression and feelings of loneliness.
Playing board games also offers many health benefits, such as stress relief, reduced memory loss, and reduced symptoms of depression. Playing board games can enhance memory formation and help keep cognitive function sharp, plus they tend to be calming, which can relieve stress and reduce blood pressure. Finally, games often require the use of fine motor skills and coordination, which is an important practice for older adults.
Finding others to play games with is an effective way to improve socialization.
For example, playing chess has a lot of benefits for seniors. Chess helps seniors in many domains of their lives because it engages problem-solving skills, dexterity, and helps build social relationships. Playing against various opponents and analysing moves lets seniors make new friends while also enhancing their skills.
Play Solo Games
You don’t have to have a group of people together to benefit from playing games. Many seniors enjoy doing crossword puzzles, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and doing sudoku. These games can help improve memory, release stress, and improve mental health.
Doing crossword puzzles has been a popular activity for seniors for years, as they help keep the mind sharp because they require the use of one’s memory to find the answers to clues by referring back to their knowledge and vocabulary. Crossword puzzles are also easy to come by, as they can be found in newspapers, magazines, and online.
There are many benefits to doing jigsaw puzzles, most of which lie in the fact that completing them requires your full attention. Some of these benefits include:
- Jigsaw puzzles require you to use both sides of your brain, which gives you a mental workout that can help improve your attention span and problem-solving skills
- Reinforces connections in your brain, which helps improve mental speed and short-term memory
- Helps reduce stress because focusing on one image for an extended period of time without distractions acts as meditation
Playing Sudoku has similar benefits to the games mentioned above. This game also helps improve logic and concentration, promote a healthy mindset, reduces stress, and gives players a sense of accomplishment.
One of the great things about all of these games is that they’re inexpensive and easily accessible.
Teach
What was your profession before retirement? Or what have you been passionate about for your whole life? Whatever knowledge you’ve gained throughout your life, you can teach it to those who are just getting started.
There are many adult education programs that hire evening instructors to teach part-time about hobbies such as cooking, speaking a second language, and sewing. Teaching about something that you really enjoy can not only be fulfilling, but it can also help bring in some extra cash.
Swimming
If you live close to a gym that has a pool, taking swimming classes can be great for socialization and for your physical health. Getting some exercise is beneficial for seniors because it can help improve heart health, increase flexibility, and help maintain muscle strength. Exercise can also reduce one’s risk of becoming injured and improve mood and cognitive acuity.
Swimming is especially great for seniors because exercising in the water helps people get into shape without adding stress on the body. Swimming is gentle on the joints and classes are fun, as the instructors are often enthusiastic and play high-energy music.
Water exercises help engage all of the body’s muscle groups, providing a comprehensive workout. Here are some specific health benefits that seniors can get from swimming:
- Improves cardiovascular health– swimming increases the strength of your heart and increases endurance. It also reduces blood pressure, improves blood circulation, and reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular and lung diseases.
- Easy on the joints– swimming is a non-weight bearing activity, so it won’t lead to increased discomfort for those who suffer from joint pain. This full-body workout keeps pressure off areas of the body that tend to become tender with age.
- Helps fight osteoporosis– swimming helps improve the density of your bones, which is important for avoiding bone fractures during your senior years.
- Improves flexibility– swimming helps increase flexibility in the legs, arms, hips, and neck, which can help reduce back pain.
- Improves mental health– swimming helps reduce stress, boost your mood, and enhance brain function. Also, because there will be other people in your swimming class, it will help reduce feelings of isolation that can cause depression.
Care for a Pet
Because loneliness is something that many seniors face that can lead to depression, having a pet can offer companionship and give seniors more chances to get up and move around. The good thing about many breeds of dogs is that they become your life friend, meaning they’re never too busy to be by your side. Plus, if you get a smaller dog, you can easily take him along with you if you travel.
Having a pet can also help keep seniors in a routine. While caring for a pet is a responsibility, it doesn’t have to be extremely difficult. The routine of feeding and walking a dog can give seniors a sense of purpose and structure in their days.
Finally, caring for a pet can help you stay connected to the outside world, as you will need to take him to the vet, the groomers, and walk him along with other people walking their dogs.
Photography
Not only will taking up photography help you get outside and want to explore new places, but it can also greatly benefit your cognitive function.
Photography also teaches seniors to use their creativity as they look around for new things to capture photos of. This can then lead to the exploration of different backgrounds, correct lighting, people’s expressions, etc.
Seniors may choose to take candid photos of family members, nature, or everyday sceneries. Even food photography has gained a lot of popularity. Starting a collection of your pictures and showing it off to others can also give you a big sense of satisfaction and a boost of dopamine.
Go to Museums
Going to museums can be very interesting and it allows you to get some walking in for the day. Recent research has found that seniors who visit museums on a semi-regular basis report to have better mental and physical health than those who don’t.
Furthermore, those who create their own art and attend museums report lower rates of hypertension and better mental and physical functioning than seniors who neither create nor seek out art exhibits.
A recent survey has shown an increase in seniors’ attendance at museums over the past decade, however, not all seniors have access to museums where they live. For those who have physical or cognitive limitations or a lack of access to art venues, it’s important to seek out these local opportunities to explore art, as there are often smaller exhibits that people can attend.
Interact With Neighbours
Do you live in a neighbourhood that is conducive to interaction with those around you? If you live in an extremely rural area, this may not be the case, but many living situations offer the benefit of having neighbours close by.
Studies show that 61% of Americans are friendly with their neighbours, and interacting with them is a great way to socialize with the people living around you. There are probably families living in your neighbourhood that come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but you all have the commonality of living where you do.
Socializing with your neighbours will make you feel more involved in your community.
Socializing with your neighbours will make you feel more involved in your community, so if you don’t know them yet, walk around on a nice day when people are presumably spending time outside. Interacting with your neighbours is also practical because it offers some extra home protection. As you get to know them, they will see your regular daily routine–which means they will be able to notice if an unknown person is lurking while you’re not home.
Golfing
Golfing is a great hobby for those in retirement, as it encourages socialization. Seniors who take up golfing as a hobby usually stick with it because it helps improve concentration and it boosts one’s quality of life. Furthermore, studies have suggested that playing golf improves seniors’ walking and standing ability, in addition to their strength, balance, and cognitive function (because it requires players to pay attention and remember their score).
Spending some time on the course will always offer you a chance to experience some friendly competition against your friends and yourself. One of the best things about golf is that you can always work to improve your own game and beat your last score.
Couponing
With a limited income, many seniors are on a tight budget, which makes couponing a very practical hobby. You can do some work before your shopping trips by finding and organizing your coupons to save on everyday purchases. This hobby can help you save a significant amount of money in the long run if you figure out when sales are and how to spot a great coupon.
Before your shopping trips, try finding and organizing your coupons to save on everyday purchases.
After getting started with this hobby, you will be able to save money even without coupons because you will start to recognize how much an item usually costs, where to get the best deals, and when the best time is to stock up on your normal purchases.
Chess
You can play chess any time, whether you’re with someone or home alone. With a smartphone or computer, can you play against a virtual player or someone else living anywhere else in the world who is looking for a chess partner. This game of strategy will help you maintain your cognitive health no matter how you play.
Chess offers seniors an endless challenge with unlimited winning strategies to learn. You can help keep your mind active and improve your cognitive function as you use your problem-solving, memory, and analytical skills to make the most strategic decisions to win the game. Focusing on this game will also help you escape your everyday problems as you’re trying to plan a few moves ahead and predict what your partner will do next.
Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts can inspire seniors to start this new sector of their lives in a positive way. Plus, they can help listeners stay on top of current global events. Podcasts are great for personal growth and can encourage people to create and achieve goals during their retirement years. Podcasts can even help seniors look at their life’s problems in a new light, and potentially come up with new ways to address them.
There’s a podcast out there for anyone with any kind of interest. Whether you like to follow current financial trends or you want to learn something new, it’s easy to find podcasts on any topic that you want. Also, since podcasts are free, this is a great cheap hobby for seniors on a budget.
Listening to podcasts can offer seniors an escape from their routine, engage in lifelong learning, and cater to one’s mood. Whether you want to listen to something funny, suspenseful, or educational, there is a podcast out there for you. Once you find your favourite show, listening to it will make time fly by.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a log of your daily comings and goings may seem a bit pointless in the moment, but it can be a very useful tool to look back on in the future, and it can be an invaluable treasure for future generations to read.
One of the benefits of journaling as a hobby is that it is something you can pick up and do anytime–whether you decide to do it daily or simply when the mood hits you, there are a lot of advantages to this activity. For example, it can:
- Improve your ability to recall significant life events
- Help you purge negative thoughts and feelings, because writing about them helps to examine and understand them better
- Detail your goals
- Add some creativity in how you express yourself through the use of sketches, poems, or colours
- Invite future generations to see life from your point of view
Watch Documentaries
It’s never too late to learn more about something, and documentaries are a perfect way to do this because they offer entertainment plus learning together in one activity. Documentaries are often fascinating and reveal more about a subject than you ever would have imagined. Documentaries also help keep your brain active and give you something to talk about with friends and family.
You can find documentaries on YouTube for free, and your local library probably has a lot of documentaries on DVD. You can also find them on Netflix or whatever streaming TV service you have. Watching documentaries is a great way to help you develop a “well-rounded” knowledge base instead of only specializing in one or two topics.
Start a Collection
Maintaining a collection is a great recreational activity for seniors. Whether you’re collecting something because you’re passionate about it, or it has potential monetary value, collecting offers a mix of one’s interests and an opportunity to interact with others who share your passion.
There are a lot of places you can shop online for unique things that other people are selling. No matter how eccentric your target object is, there’s other people out there who are also interested in buying, selling, and trading it. This hobby fulfils the ancient human desire to hunt for things to complete a collection.
The thrill is in the chase–whether it’s coins, stamps, comic books, or anything else, keeping a collection can be a great hobby for seniors.
Fishing
Going fishing is a great way for seniors to relieve some stress and have fun at the same time. Spending time enjoying being out in nature while fishing is a great way for seniors to leave their everyday life behind, breathe in some fresh air, and relax while enjoying the endless scenery.
While fishing was once a requirement for human survival, the activity remains popular among people of all ages. When you’re fishing, you will be exercising and acquiring some new skills such as patience, goal-setting, and fine motor skills as you’re waiting to feel that tug on your rod, aiming to catch more fish than your partner, and baiting your hooks. All of this will help you feel a sense of accomplishment.
People enjoy the process of fishing because of the opportunity to bond with other fishermen, experience the anticipation of reeling in a fish, and maybe even provide a fresh, healthy dinner for the family.
Barbeque
If you’ve never learned how to smoke meat or use a charcoal grill, now’s the time. With this hobby, you will always have a reason to get your kids and grandkids together for a fun Sunday night dinner. This hobby is inexpensive to maintain because once you buy a grill or smoker, all you need to get is the ingredients each time you want to use it.
You can experiment while working with different tools, methods, and cuts of meat. You can even get creative working with spices and vegetables to make an entire meal hot off the grill. Taking up this hobby will make those unforgettable nights with family and friends all the more memorable.
Camping
Camping in the great outdoors can be full of opportunities for improving your health. For example, you can socialize, get fresh air and sunshine, eat delicious food and get a good night’s sleep. You might catch sight of a bear, birds, deer, and other wildlife. And you won’t have to take a trip across the world to escape your hometown.
Camping in the great outdoors can be full of opportunities for improving your health. You could camp near where you live or consider heading to another scenic area. You can use your time away to record your memories by taking photos, drawing pictures, or writing in a journal.
Traveling
When you have the itch to get away from home, you might want to travel abroad. Doing so can encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and try new experiences. Further, you can become more open-minded as you explore a different city or head to the countryside. Exposing yourself to unique cultures can inspire you to taste a new cuisine, talk to people you’ve never been exposed to, and see beautiful places most people only dream of seeing.
Whether you’d like to stay active or just relax, there are a plethora of places for you to discover. You can go on a Caribbean cruise, go on an ideal Oahu tour in Hawaii or explore the countryside in Italy. Other destinations you might like to visit are Bangkok, Thailand, Machu Picchu, Peru, Montreal, Canada, and Tulum, Mexico, among others.
Woodworking
On the one hand, having woodworking as a hobby can make you less likely to be mentally impaired down the road. Moreover, creative activities can promote healthy brain aging. Woodworking can also enhance skills, boost your mood, decrease stress and anxiety, and improve math skills.
Beginners and advanced woodworkers can appreciate creating floating shelves, a magazine rack, a planter box, and other projects. After you’ve finished, you can give your project away as a gift or keep it for yourself. This hobby can be distinctly gratifying, especially since seeing a completed project you made yourself can boost your self-confidence. Before you know it, you’ll have something practical to use every day or whenever you need it.
Video Games
Playing healthy video games in moderation can be a smart way to entertain yourself and stay active and alert. You can find games for single or multiple players. Asking one or more buddies to join you can make your gaming days extraordinarily exciting, while playing by yourself can help stave off boredom and brighten your day. You can even invite your grandkids over to join in the fun. Just remember to have your gaming console ready, because children and even adults can hardly resist a video game challenge. Since playing video games can be addictive, it can be important to remember to take breaks when necessary.
There are a variety of video games out there to keep you occupied. For instance, Wii Sports can give you a way to get some exercise and stay energized. Playing Super Mario 3D World can stimulate your imagination and hippocampus. The hippocampus is a key part of our brains that retains memories and taking care of it can help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and other serious illnesses. Other video games you might like to try are World of Warcraft, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. On top of that, mobile games like Candy Crush, Wordscapes, Two Dots, Words with Friends, and Lexulous can be nearly impossible to put down.
Open an Etsy Shop
We’d all like additional spending money and you’re probably no different. Instead of worrying about how you’ll use your time, you might want to try making money in a way you enjoy. One way to do this could be to open an Etsy shop. You can look online by going to Etsy.com to see all of the ways you can start a business. While you likely won’t become rich with this venture, you can earn money by doing a favourite or new hobby.
Etsy gives people an opportunity to make and sell everything from dolls to artwork. After all, you might be one of the lucky ones that brings a personal touch to everything you make. This can give you purpose and meaning in your day-to-day life. Buyers can gain comfort from purchasing the items you lovingly made. Plus, you’ll be using your own creative ideas to make something truly worthwhile. And creativity can provide you with stress relief, improved self-confidence, and a greater sense of accomplishment and freedom.
Bowling
While bowling might not make you a deeper person, it can be immensely enjoyable. In addition, this activity can improve circulation, increase bone density, and lower the risk of diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. If truth be told, staying healthy might give you a reason to head to the bowling lanes.
Bowling can help improve your overall health and lowers the risk of diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.
You can bowl with a group or go solo. No matter what, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll have the time of your life. You’ll be boosting your brainpower and spending time with people you care about. If you find you love this popular sport, you can even bring your own ball next time.
Outdoor Shows
When staying indoors becomes dull, you might want to try attending an outdoor show. This can give you a chance to socialize in an exciting setting, enjoy a nice day, and see what’s out there. And you won’t have to feel stuck watching TV and doing other unhealthy activities.
For one, outdoor arts & crafts shows feature unique displays by new and professional artists and lively activities. Oftentimes, these artists sell their work to spectators. This means you can purchase a creation and hang it on your wall at home if you want to. There are also outdoor theatre showings, music performances, and classic car shows.
Calligraphy
Creating lovely letters on paper can have an astounding effect on a person. In the first place, calligraphy is relaxing and therapeutic. Doing this activity can be a meditative experience as you focus on making strokes of ink. You can forget about your problems as you use your hands to get creative.
You can write absolutely delightful letters to loved ones by doing calligraphy. Likewise, you can create wedding invitations and cards. Consider selling your calligraphy to people who genuinely appreciate your graceful handwriting. Practice makes perfect and you can get started on your creative journey by using a calligraphy kit for beginners.
Table Tennis
It might be surprising that playing such a simple game as table tennis could be beneficial to your health. In actual fact, it’s a social sport that improves hand-eye coordination, enhances reflexes, improves balance, maintains brain sharpness, burns calories, and can be therapeutic for those with dementia. And table tennis is easy on the joints, so you can amuse yourself without the risk of serious injury.
Table tennis can provide you with a physical and mental challenge like no other game. You can put this game indoors in your own game room or try joining a club. Either way, you might never get bored of competing with a friend or family member and endlessly hitting that ball with your paddle.
Pottery
Making something aesthetically pleasing with your own hands can help you express yourself artistically. What’s more, pottery can be tremendously therapeutic. This activity can be a significant mood enhancer, enhance focus, decrease stress, and give you a sense of accomplishment.
Creating sculptural pieces that are exceedingly functional and beautiful can be satisfying for the potter. By learning the skills of an expert, you can gain self-confidence. Over and above that, your creations don’t have to be perfect for you to be pleased with the results. When your pottery is finished, you can display it on a shelf in the living room, kitchen, or somewhere else. Everyone who visits will have a chance to admire your charming creation.
Crocheting or Knitting
Knitting and crocheting are soothing and can help you fall asleep. These well-liked hobbies can give you a sense of community because you can join a group and make friends. Further, you’ll decrease anxiety and stress, reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, boost productivity, and engage in mindful breathing. If you’ve never tried crocheting or knitting, you might want to start with crocheting. This is because people often find it to be the less challenging of the two. For one, knitting is more likely to unravel than crocheting, which can be a bit frustrating. Following a pattern can help your project run more smoothly. If not, you can use your own unique ideas to create almost whatever you can think of.
But, with practice, both hobbies can give you something to do with your hands for hours or days. Schedule your projects for rainy or snowy days, or any time. Knitting and crocheting can be therapeutic. The repeated movement of your hands and the creativity involved can be calming and comforting. You can make pretty flowers, a party hat, a knotted headband, a scarf, a throw blanket, a braided necklace, and countless other projects.
Final Thoughts on Hobbies for Seniors
Everyone has their own specific physical limitations and the amount of time they have to spare on new hobbies. What may be great for one person could be too much work for another. Be mindful of your schedule and your abilities and be careful not to take on more than you can handle.
Start by adding one or two of the hobbies mentioned above to your routine and see how it makes you feel. You can always switch some activities around or add more, as long as you’re enjoying what you’re doing and it’s not adding stress to your life.
Adapted from
Aging Greatly– 13 Best Cheap Hobbies for Seniors and Retirees (2021) – Aging Greatly
Develop Good Habit– 51 Fun Hobbies and Activities for Seniors During Retirement (developgoodhabits.com)
Retirement Tip and Tricks– 150 Best Hobbies In Retirement – Retirement Tips and Tricks
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