Hobbies to Pick Up as an Older Adult

One of the many appealing features of a retirement community is the maintenance-free lifestyle. With cooking, cleaning and home upkeep taken care of, you have more time in your day, and in your life, for the things you most enjoy. The catch? After a lifetime of chores and obligations, you may be out of the habit of doing things just for fun. Our list of hobbies for older adults will inspire you to revive that habit.

Benefits of Having a Hobby

By definition, hobbies are activities that we do for pleasure. But hobbies do more than make you happy. As it turns out, engaging in hobbies is good for you, too, offering a host of benefits for older adults, including: 

• Lowered risk of developing certain health problems, such as dementia, heart disease and stroke
• Longer lifespan
• Better coping skills
• Improved cognition
• Lower risk of depression

Fun Hobbies for Older Adults

You may have a long list of passions that you can’t wait to pick back up now that you have the time. But if you don’t have a favorite hobby, or if you’re looking for new inspiration, this list of hobbies for older adults may spark some fresh ideas:

• Woodworking. Enjoy the satisfaction of learning a skill and crafting something with your hands.
• Joining a book club. Gathering with a group to talk about books is a great way to enrich your reading and your social life.
• Writing. Whether you write your memoirs, a novel, or a birthday poem for a friend, writing gives you an opportunity to explore ideas, express yourself and play with words.
• Researching your family tree. Take advantage of accessible online resources or take your genealogical efforts even further by traveling to the towns, states – even countries – where your ancestors lived.
• Golf. An afternoon on the links offers the benefits of physical activity, green space and time with friends.
• Hiking and walking. Walking is a low-impact, moderate-intensity activity that can be enjoyed alone or with friends, on city streets or woodland trails.
• Birdwatching. Getting to know the local bird life can be a citizen-science project or simply a relaxing way to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
• Gardening. Whether you garden in containers on your patio or in a backyard kitchen garden, playing in the dirt benefits mental and physical health.
• Wellness practices. Yoga, tai chi and other gentle movement practices offer physical benefits, such as improved balance, flexibility and strength, and can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Plus a yoga or tai chi class can be a great way to meet new friends.
• Painting and drawing. Give your creativity free rein. Treat yourself to a new set of paints, markers, or colored pencils, and browse online for inspiration, workshops and tutorials.

Wondering how to choose? The following questions can help:

• What sounds fun?
• What did you enjoy as a kid?
• Do you prefer solitary pursuits or group activities?
• Do you have bucket-list items that would make good hobbies?
• Are you looking for indoor or outdoor activities?
• If you were in a bookstore, what sections would you gravitate toward? Sports? Art? Nature?

The Good Life at FellowshipLIFE

At FellowshipLIFE, you’ll find abundant opportunities to try new hobbies or engage in long-time favorites. Our putting green, tai chi classes, art studio, woodshop, walking trails and year-round greenhouse are just a sampling of the amenities that invite you to make the most of an active retirement. Contact us for more information about any of FellowshipLIFE’s senior living communities in New Jersey.