Easy Hobbies for Seniors
According to Dictionary.com, a hobby is “an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation.” Hobbies can be active or sedentary, solitary or social, and costly or free. Many can open doors to communities of like-minded hobbyists if you want to connect via shared interests. With so many possibilities and variables, there truly is a hobby for everyone. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, why not start with one of these easy hobbies for seniors?
Walking
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, older adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Walking is an excellent way to hit that goal. All you need is a good pair of shoes and a safe route.
Gardening
When you have a green thumb or a love of plants, gardening is a natural choice for a hobby. It’s a low-impact workout that provides the chance to get your hands dirty. You can set up flowerbeds or a garden in your yard or nurture potted plants inside your living space. For a more sociable approach, consider finding a community garden.
Genealogy
Tracing your family’s roots has become a passion of many Americans. Learning how to fill in your family tree properly can help you connect with other genealogists, other relatives, and your roots. You can find information at libraries and cemeteries. You can also explore online resources like Ancestory.com and FamilySearch. Ancestry test kits from DNA sites like 23andMe offer another avenue for exploration.
Birding
Anyone who says birds are boring isn’t paying attention. These feathered creatures come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, so watching them can provide endless entertainment. You may choose to travel to various nature sites to keep a birding log of the species that you see. Or, you may prefer to set up a feeder in your backyard and watch the antics from the comfort of your kitchen window. Choose whichever strategy you like!
Photography
If a vibrant snapshot is worth a million words, then how much is the ability to capture that image worth? While advances in technology constantly make it easier for everyone to take better pictures, there’s still no substitute for practice when it comes to perfecting a skill. Whether you’re interested in sharing your view of the world or just want to take better pics of your loved ones, developing a photography hobby might help you do it.
Knitting or Crocheting
Handcrafted goods hold a charm that machine-made materials can never match. The process of making them also offers benefits. Following, adapting, or creating a pattern helps keep the mind active. Selecting patterns and materials challenges the mind and the creative spirit. Using the needles or hook to make the project keeps the fingers nimble. Fortunately, when fingers aren’t as nimble as they once were, there are larger or adaptive needles and hooks that are easier to grasp. Have you run out of projects to make for yourself or your friends? Many organizations welcome donations of hats, scarves, and blankets.
Drawing
Drawing starts when you put pencil to paper. Where it goes from there depends on you. There are countless resources if you want to learn more. You can find videos or books that will help you learn how to master almost any type of drawing technique. You may want to draw cartoons, realistic images, people, landscapes, things that you see, or things that you only imagine. With pencil and paper, you’re free to explore all kinds of possibilities.