Active Hobbies for the Active Senior

A hobby is an activity done often for pleasure. If you have a hobby, it’s because it makes you feel a type of way, such as fulfilled, accomplished, or relaxed. There are many other benefits to hobbies for senior citizens. For example, hobbies help stimulate the brain and improve your overall mental well-being. You can turn anything into a hobby. But, many seniors like to have active hobbies to get them up and moving around. But, what are active hobbies for the active senior? Keep reading to find out!

Gardening

Senior citizens always seek advice on what is best for them and their health needs. You can find more senior advice here. But, you may find it surprising that gardening is an active hobby with many health benefits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claim that gardening is a type of exercise. From raking to shoveling to chopping, you use various muscles throughout your body whenever you garden.

With physical benefits aside, doctors claim that exercise can help improve cognitive function in the brain, help support the brain’s memory-related nerves, and drop anxiety levels and depression.[1] Nature is an excellent source of healing, as you can soak up the vitamin D, while also being surrounded by plants and nature.

Walking

An easy hobby that can help you stay active and costs $0 is walking! Walking is so simple but can make a massive impact on your mental and physical health. Whether you find a walking buddy or walk solo, walking daily can help you reconnect with the outdoors and provide relaxation along the way.

Walking is so good for you, even scholars are aware! The American Association of Retired Persons, the Lifelong Fitness Alliance, and the Stanford University Health Improvement Program created a program to encourage people 50 and older to organize walking groups. If you are able, there are no excuses for walking daily. You can walk outside around your neighborhood, on a treadmill, around your house, or even walk in place while watching the TV.

Photography

Those who always have a vision and an eye for detail might enjoy photography! There is no correct strategy for photography, and nothing is off-limits. You can photograph anything you’d like; whether it be people, animals, nature, or sunsets, it’s entirely up to you and your interests.

Engaging in photography can help capture memories, improve cognitive skills and memory, and help you connect with new people. The photography community is huge, and there are many ways for you to connect with them

  • Facebook groups
  • Instagram pages
  • Expos
  • Workshops

Whether you have a digital camera, camera phone, or polaroid, photography can help you get out more and explore the great outdoors.

Swimming

Did you know that swimming has a lot of benefits when it comes to senior citizens? It’s true! According to the CDC, swimming can help:

  • Improve joints
  • Decrease the risk of chronic illness
  • Improve heart health
  • Decrease depression

Swimming is a fantastic hobby for active seniors considering swimming is a cardio workout. You will notice an improvement in your overall well-being whenever you swim for fun. With that said, swimming can also be an excellent opportunity to make new friends. There are many swimming lessons or aerobic classes specifically for senior citizens. You can find swimming classes by researching your area’s community, club, and gym pools!

Final point

It’s important to stay active, especially in your later years. For those who are active and seeking out a new hobby, there are hundreds to choose from, and these four points are only the beginning!

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/healthful-benefits-of-gardening#builds-strength