When you’re working full time, the thought of retiring and having lots of leisure time can seem oh-so enticing. In reality, finding fulfilling ways to use those extra hours can be challenging.
A Popular Perk of Senior Living
One reason so many older adults choose to live in a senior living community like Highpoint at Stonecrest is the wide array of social and physical activities readily available each day. Many communities feature popular retirement hobbies like:
- Art classes
- Book clubs
- Card games
- Gardening
- Learning opportunities, such as lectures
- Outdoor adventures, such as hiking, biking and bird-watching
Many communities also offer a variety of unique types of activities. Being part of a retirement community makes it easy to explore new interests and form rewarding friendships along the way.
If you (or your loved one) haven’t yet decided to move to a community that offers these and other advantages to older adults, you can try using social media to find activities in your area or look online for hobbies after retirement.
Hazards of Being Socially and Physically Inactive
Loneliness, boredom and a sedentary lifestyle can be detrimental to your physical, mental and emotional health, no matter what age you are.
Research suggests the effects can be particularly pronounced in seniors, leading to a whole host of potential health issues, such as:
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Poor cardiovascular health, including high blood pressure and problems with circulation
- Higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
- Muscle loss
- Weight gain
- Low self-esteem
- Balance problems, increasing the risk of falls
- Decreased mobility, leading to loss of independence
- Increased joint pain
Being inactive or socially isolated may also increase cognitive decline and the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Benefits of Taking Up New Hobbies
Along with raising your enjoyment quotient, adding a new hobby or two (or several) to your usual routine can help prevent — and in some cases reverse — the harmful effects of loneliness and inactivity.
Discovering new activities you like to do can help you connect with other people who share your enthusiasm. Having new interests can motivate you to get up, get out and get moving, all of which are good for your mental and physical health. You may even feel as though you have a renewed sense of purpose.
Which activities you pursue could unleash creative abilities and talents you didn’t realize you had. Just think how much fun it would be to feel excited about developing new skills, experiencing new passions and expanding your intellect (and your horizons) in ways you hadn’t previously considered!
When you engage with life and the world around you, you never know what delights each day may bring your way.
What Are Good Hobbies for Seniors?
As is true of any age group, the best hobbies for retirees are those they’ll want to do on a regular basis.
If you’re exploring options for yourself, a good way to begin might be to recall what you enjoyed doing when you were in school or college. Were there classes or courses outside your core curriculum that sparked your interest?
Or, was there something in the past you thought you might like to try, but you were too busy at the time with your career or your family? Maybe there’s something now that fascinates you. What’s stopping you from learning more about it and giving it a go?
Looking for hobbies for a loved one? Bear in mind that just because they’re good at something or they spend a lot of time doing something (like cooking or baking, for example), it would be a good hobby. Have a conversation about what interests them. You may be surprised!
Some traditional and not-so-traditional retirement hobbies to ponder:
- Traveling and learning about other cultures, either in person or via virtual tours
- Learning a foreign language, sign language or teaching English as a second language
- Earning a first, second, third or fourth degree
- Learning to play a musical instrument and/or joining a band
- Woodworking
- Photography and videography
- Digital arts
- Wheel throwing (spinning pottery)
- Learning a textile art, such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, weaving, quilting, cross stitching or sewing
- Playing video games/joining an online gaming community
- Origami
- Bonsai
- Journaling
- Participating in a local theater production
- Genealogy
- Scrapbooking (great for recalling and preserving memories)
- Handcrafting greeting cards or designing eCards
Active Hobbies for Seniors Who Are (or Want To Be) in Good Physical Health
The aging process can lead to mobility issues and other physical restrictions, but many activities can be modified for seniors who aren’t quite a nimble as they once were.
It’s not unusual for older adults to find that if they start a new activity with proper precautions and heed the advice of their medical professional, over time the activity can improve their strength, coordination, mobility, balance, endurance and overall health.
Dancing is an excellent example of an active hobby that seniors at varying levels of fitness can enjoy, with or without a partner. While some prefer to shimmy and sway in the privacy of their living room, others are energized by the camaraderie of a class — like Zumba Gold, a modified, lower intensity version of the popular dance exercise. Dance lessons, including ballroom dancing, can be an invigorating choice for those who want to take their hobby to a higher level.
Other active hobbies that can add an element of exhilaration to the day:
- Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the U.S.
- Geocaching, a scavenger hunt in which participants use GPS coordinates to track down hidden objects
- Tai chi and other martial arts, including karate, judo and taekwondo
- Golfing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Fishing
- Bowling
- Swimming and aquatic exercise classes
- Yoga
Golf Aficionados, This Is for You!
Knowing that many retirees look forward to a morning or afternoon on the links, Highpoint at Stonecrest has partnered with our neighboring 55+ retirement community, Stonecrest, to give Highpoint residents a discount at Broad Stripes Golf Club, Stonecrest’s semi-private, 18-hole golf course.
Florida offers the ideal climate for golfing year-round, and when you have a scenic, championship golf course this close — with a discounted rate — you can play to your heart’s content!
Using a Hobby To Increase Your Earnings
While padding your bank account might not be your main motivation when considering how to spend your newfound time, there are plenty of retirement hobbies that make money.
You may need to gain some expertise, develop an audience or build a clientele before you start charging for your efforts. If you persevere, though, you may eventually earn more than a good reputation.
A sampling of hobbies that can be monetized:
- Developing and producing a podcast
- Writing articles, blog posts, short stories or maybe even your memoir
- Pet sitting
- Consulting
- Inventing new products, processes or services
- Being a personal shopper or a mystery shopper
Enjoying Life Is a Hobby at Highpoint at Stonecrest
If you’re ready to be part of a vibrant community where there’s always a variety of choices for connecting with friends and neighbors, we’d love the opportunity to tell you more about the engaging lifestyle awaiting you at Highpoint at Stonecrest.
To set up a visit, complete our brief contact form or call (352) 549-9210.
Featured Image: Joshua Resnick / Shutterstock