What do you do for enjoyment in your spare time? Gardening, puzzles, golfing, or perhaps attending musical performances are top on your list? Whatever it may be, it’s important to your quality of life and happiness level, even if it’s as simple as streaming Netflix or reading your favorite author’s latest novel.
As we age, these hobbies become more important as our leisure time often increases and our work life and family life stressors decrease. Hobbies as a senior often offer mental, physical, and social benefits that can not be found in other places.
Let’s review what benefits the cultivation of your hobbies could have in your life, now that your leisure time is here.
Social Opportunities
Sometimes aging can be a lonely affair, especially if one has not remained in contact with old friends or coworkers. Hobbies allow people of any age to connect with new people who have the same interests. This easy conversation starter can lead to friendships and companionship, which are two key components to healthy and happy aging.
Social connections have other benefits as well as providing friendship. Being social can reduce stress, decrease depression symptoms, and enhance our overall mood on a daily basis. Plus, enjoying a hobby with a friend can make each day more enjoyable and pleasant.
Improved Physical Health
Hobbies such as gardening, walking, golfing, visiting the beach, swimming, or other activities that require movement can help substantially with physical health, an important part of staying mobile as we age.
Remaining active can help alleviate some of the aches and pains of aging as well as stave off some diseases leading to a better health outlook.
Self-Care Opportunities
Hobbies such as doing something you love purely for yourself are an important part of (what should be) everyone’s self-care routine. Doing something you love like sitting in your favorite chair enjoying a good book with a hot cup of tea is the best form of self-care. Taking time for ourselves is not something we recognize the benefits of …but it can help boost mood and decrease stress.
Mental Sharpness
While staying active can help with physical health, using your brain and cognitive abilities during your hobby can help sharpen your brain. Playing games, doing puzzles, and doing the daily Wordle or crossword puzzles can keep an aging brain active and healthy. Even things that we take for granted like organizing a party or cooking meals for family members use our brain in ways that help keep it sharp.
If you have a hobby that you once loved or would love to pick up again, our Senior Helpers and Companion Care can help you cultivate that hobby once again and bring you more benefits than you probably realize.