Hobbies are valuable and important in the lives of the young to the old. After retirement, you may be unsure what to pursue, all you know is you have a lot of free time. Hobbies for retirees can do more than dispel boredom, they can improve your mental and physical well-being. Aging Home Health Care reports that “Physical activity can help prevent or maintain control in some chronic illnesses such as: heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and some types of cancer.” Hobbies reduce stress, improve sleep and self-esteem, on top of increasing mental alertness. Here are some hobbies and activities that you or your loved ones could adopt.
Yoga
As a cliché, this one has surely been overused, but one cannot deny the benefits. It does not matter what age you are; yoga has tremendous benefits. Yoga can potentially relieve chronic pain, better your muscular strength and endurance, as well as improving your blood pressure. Aside from these, doing yoga with friends lets you connect and socialize. Go out and look for yoga groups and join them, you might just find new friends.
Arts and Craft
Be a kid again. Yes, let that inner imagination run wild! There are all kinds of things you can do under art, sculpturing, drawing, painting, writing, and the list goes on. Pick something you enjoy and put some time into it. It has been medically proven that working on art is therapeutic, relieving your stress and improving mental capacity and creativity. Plus, when you finish work on a project, there is nothing that beats that sense of satisfaction from a job well done and a fine work of personal expression.
Gardening
You know why this is good for retired adults! Gardening gets you out into the sun, keeps you active, and lets you grow healthy food for yourself. It fosters a connection with nature that cannot be explained, most will come out of gardening feeling refreshed and at peace. Grow some flowers while you’re at it, brighten up your home, and feel that sense of accomplishment.
Adopting a Pet
Keeping pets may be a great responsibility, but it brings great benefits too. Aside from the raw satisfaction of spending time with a loving and loyal dog, cat, hamster, or parrot (non-exhaustive), looking after a pet motivates you to stay active, to take your dog out for a walk, or talk to your parrot. Scientifically it has been proven that pets can fight depression, lower blood pressure and stress and defend against heart conditions.
Other Hobbies
There are many other options. You could try golfing, dancing, crocheting, walking, or even swimming. Explore these options and find what interests you, then take it up as a hobby, you won’t regret it.
Do you live in Parkland, Florida? Come find us at Aston Gardens At Parkland Commons with our exclusive senior living programs to help you live a fulfilling life and develop your hobby! Contact us today to learn more.
