Need Ideas for Enjoyable Activities or a New Hobby?
For many, entering the senior years means having more free time to explore hobbies and leisure activities. After a year of pandemic restrictions, feelings of loneliness, boredom, and isolation have become common for many. That’s why it’s more important than ever to find meaningful and fulfilling ways to spend your time.
We've put together a list of 10 inspiring ideas for fun, social, creative, mental, and physical activities that are all completely free and can be enjoyed right in your own home.
Games
There is no shortage of inexpensive games for hours of entertainment. Even if you don’t want to buy a new board game or don’t have a playing partner, solving crosswords, sudoku, or puzzles can provide relaxing enjoyment.
Find plenty of free crosswords and sudoku to print out here.
Creative Crafts
If you like being hands-on and creative, sewing, quilting, crocheting, or embroidery can be wonderfully relaxing hobbies. The internet is full of websites with free patterns to print and fresh inspiration for your next project. Love sewing but find threading the needle tricky? A needle threader is a great little tool that makes the job much easier.
Learn a New Language
Have you ever wished you could speak a new language? Even learning just a few words or phrases can be enjoyable—no international travel required! You might delight friends and family with a new Spanish phrase now and then.
Check out language books at your library or local bookstore, or search online for ‘learn a new language for free’ to discover a wealth of free apps, online courses, and step-by-step guides.
Visit Museums Online
Believe it or not, you can tour many museums virtually and explore current exhibitions right from your living room. Discover inspiring cultural experiences like:
All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the beauty and wonder on display.
Stay in Touch with Loved Ones
Connecting with friends and family never goes out of style. Pick up the phone and call someone you care about. Stay connected on Facebook, send an email, or write a handwritten letter. With Skype or Facetime, you can see your children and grandchildren’s smiling faces from anywhere. There’s no need to gather in person to catch up on their news and share a laugh together.
Stay Active
Physical activity boosts mental well-being, happiness, energy, and strengthens bones and muscles. No gym or fancy equipment required! Go for a bike ride, take a brisk walk, do home exercise routines—or pick whatever form of movement suits you. If you have any mobility challenges, there’s a wide range of assistive devices that can make exercising easier and more enjoyable.
Read a Great Book
There’s nothing like turning the pages of a good book. If you can’t make it to the library or don’t have a book handy, there are plenty of digital options for discovering new stories. Most libraries let you borrow e-books online, so you can read them on your phone, tablet, or computer. For those with vision difficulties, many books are also available as audiobooks—simply put on your headphones, sit back, and enjoy a good read aloud.
Enjoy a Podcast
Podcasts are the modern take on radio—a wide array of audio programs you can enjoy at your convenience, whether you’re laughing, getting inspired, or learning something new. All you need is a player on your smartphone or tablet. iPhones and iPads come with a ‘Podcasts’ app, and if you use Android or another device, you can easily download a podcast player such as the Danish app ‘Podimo’.
Take your pick from countless podcasts and find something you’ll love to listen to—any time, anywhere.
Gardening
Growing your own vegetables, planting flowers, or tending your beds can be deeply satisfying. Gardening not only beautifies your home but also adds gentle movement to your day and helps you soak up vitamin D from spring and summer sunshine. Want to make gardening more comfortable? A garden stool and easy-to-use gardening tools can make a world of difference—especially if you want to avoid aches and pains.
Share Your Story
Every life is filled with stories and memories worth preserving. Record your favorite memories, your life experiences, or thoughts about childhood—write them down, or record them as a video. Dig out old photo albums for inspiration and help jog your memory. Chances are your loved ones and future generations will be fascinated by your stories and insights from days gone by.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself and have fun exploring these activities!
