Once you reach a certain age, there seems to be no shortage of “important” things to talk about. Sure, there are some weighty conversations to be had, and sometimes uncomfortable realities have to be addressed directly. But what use are the latter years of life if they can’t be actually lived?

Especially for anyone who finds themselves in retirement, time that used to be fully occupied may now seem virtually empty. If you’re no longer a working professional, don’t have family members to care for, and otherwise lack the obligations that previously filled your schedule, what do you do to keep yourself engaged?

“Do I Really Need a Hobby?”: The Benefits of Activities for Seniors

This isn’t just about finding something to do. Hobbies, activities, exercises, and the like can lead to a host of positive health outcomes and improvements to quality-of-life. Now, before you balk at how playing chess and feeding pigeons in the park could possibly live healthier, happier, and for longer, give us a chance to explain.

Physical Health Benefits

This one is probably the most straightforward as far as overall well being goes. Doctors are always telling us to get more exercise, so it only makes sense for us to try and put the “active” in “activities.” But even when it’s not training for a marathon or doing high-intensity workouts at the gym, just about any regular physical activity will have some measure of positive impact for older adults.

First, there’s the simple fact that a large number of activities require getting out of a chair. Sure, a museum tour isn’t comparatively strenuous, but you’re still getting out of the house, and still walking through the museum. Same goes for browsing a library, walking to the park for that chess game, or even just heading to the local hobby shop to pick up parts for a scale model.

From chair yoga to the senior olympics, there’s plenty out there. If it gets you up, gets you outside, and/or gets you moving, your physical health is benefiting. You’re getting sunshine, a change of scenery, an excuse to stretch your legs. And for anything where your performance is measured, you’re probably giving yourself a goal to hit and exerting yourself in an effort to achieve it.

Mental Health Benefits

Benefits to your psychological and emotional health may be a little less obvious. But then again, physical aches and pains don’t always sneak up on you the way a bout of depression of memory issues do.

Just as we need to flex our muscles and get our blood flowing occasionally, our brains expect a certain amount of practice and use. Though, again, there’s more to it than just cognitive stimulation. One of the surest ways to stave off feelings of despondency and apathy is giving yourself something to look forward to.

We measure much of our lives by milestones and benchmarks. Once we’ve crossed all those thresholds and checked all the boxes, though, it can leave us feeling as though life has lost some of its meaning. In those cases, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain from pencilling in some artificial celebrations on the calendar.

Maybe it’s a book you’ve wanted to read, or the next in the series you’ve waited for. Maybe it’s a craft, art, or skill you want to learn. Maybe it’s a checklist you aim to complete, an experience you want to have, or a problem you hope to solve.

Whatever the case, our brain needs dopamine to function properly, and our dopamine levels are heavily impacted by the amount of anticipation we feel. The more reasons we have to get excited—even about things that only matter to us—the better off we’ll be.

Social Connection Benefits

Yes, you read that right. Humans, it would seem, are not well-suited to isolation. We evolved as a community-dependent species, and the way we go through seasons of near-complete dependence on others points to this.

There are plenty of reasons to pursue activities that can be done while flying solo. But there are also plenty of benefits to be reaped from engaging in social activities!  Social interaction is good for mental well-being and emotional health. It gives us something to look forward to. It can provide company during physical exertion and a bit of added safety if something unexpected happens.

Human life has value at every stage of the game, but it doesn’t always feel that way internally. We’ve sugar-coated some of this, but at the risk of being excessively frank, there are times when finding an activity is a matter of finding something to live for. If that’s the case—and perhaps even if it isn’t—do what you can to attack this particular problem from every angle.

You may find that giving yourself somewhere to go, something to achieve, and someone to see—a little more social connection—can make a world of difference. There is always chance for social interaction at your local senior center: engaging activities, volunteer opportunities, and new friends.

“I Would, But My Chair Is Just So Comfy”: How to Choose and Get Started with a New Activity

Picking an Activity for Seniors (or Yourself)

In order to kick off your soon-to-be favorite hobby, you’ll need to actually pick one. That might…actually present more of a challenge that you might initially assume.

If the old dog/new tricks adage is part of your daily parlance we recommend ditching it—no one needs that kind of negativity in 2025. But that doesn’t mean that taking up something new won’t present a challenge, just that the challenge shouldn’t stop you outright.

Not every activity will be for every person, and even hobbies you might like might be outside your reach, at least initially. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter how beneficial an activity is, if you can’t or won’t participate more than once or twice.

So, we recommend doing some research, and putting together a list of activities to try, look into further, or otherwise consider more carefully. When you have that shortlist (and maybe even when you’re building it), keep the following three questions in mind.

Is It Attainable?

First, you’ll want to consider whether the activity is even possible.

You may really want to learn how to sail, but if you live in a landlocked state or can’t afford a big boat, it may be best to table that one for now.

You may want to get into powerlifting or bodybuilding (if so, more power to you). But perhaps you’ve been cautioned by your doctor to keep your exercise and fitness efforts strictly low-impact.

Working toward a difficult but achievable goal—financially, physically, or otherwise—is always something to be encouraged. Unrealistic expectations are problematic for anyone at any age, and this is no exception. So be honest with yourself, and spend your energy where you can reap the rewards in health and satisfaction, rather than somewhere that might just lead to more fruitless frustration.

Is It Tolerable?

Just as it’s no good to throw money, time, and energy at an activity that may not be the most feasible or beneficial in the long run, you’ll find better results if the activity is something you can actually stomach.

Habits and ongoing routines are easier to stick to if there are parts of the process you enjoy or look forward to. On the flip side, there’s little sense in sticking to an activity you find tedious, if there’s something equivalent you can trade it out for that will bring you more satisfaction.

Now, there’s some nuance here. Maybe you hate going for walks, but the doctor is strongly encouraging them. Maybe you’d rather go for a run, but swimming (which you hate) is easier on your joints. Like eating vegetables, there are options that are good for you, that might be worth muscling through distaste and discomfort for your own health.

Finally, we’ve all had experiences where something we disliked at first became comfortable and pleasant over time. Maybe you’re an avid outdoorsman, and electronic entertainment has never been your cup of tea. But an injury kept you in the house for a bit, and you decide to give this whole virtual reality thing a go (a well-meaning but misplaced gift from family).

Sure, the fishing game they installed on there is nowhere near the real thing. But it does help you get up and move around a bit, and if it has to be digital, it might as well be modeled after something you value.

And, barring anything else, you can always find compromises by mixing things up or making adjustments. Sure, the walk is droll, but your favorite bird watching spot isn’t too far, and it provides the incentive you need to get your steps in.

Apply all of these recommendations across any point of friction or hesitation you have: meeting new people, adjusting to new tech toys, trying new skills, etc. You may stumble across an enjoyable activity that becomes your favorite hobby.

Is It Sustainable?

Finally, as you start finding likely candidates and getting a feel for how demanding these new activities might be, you’ll want to evaluate your ability to keep them going. Once more, you’ll be looking at it through a few different lenses:

  • Can I afford to do this activity regularly? Should I adjust the frequency/quantity or find ways to lower the cost?
  • Am I able to handle the physical strain? Will it help me reach fitness/health goals? Should I start small and slowly ramp up intensity?
  • Is the activity difficult to schedule? Is it located somewhere that’s problematic to visit? Is it something that can only be done during certain times/months/seasons?
  • Will this activity require a commitment I’m not prepared to fill?

Be careful not to overreach, here, as these activities are supposed to be rewarding and enriching, not a frustrating replacement of the daily grind that defines our working years.

“Ok Wise Guy—What Would You Suggest?”: Types and Examples of Activities

We’ve covered quite a bit so far, so we’ll try and keep this section a bit more concise, especially because there are probably plenty of places you can dig around online for expansive lists on this particular topic. We’ll also try to throw in a few ideas you may not have considered.

Getting Active

This includes all of your usual suspects, such as:

  • Going somewhere—walking/jogging/hiking, cycling
  • Hey gym—tennis, pickleball, weight training
  • Class act—Zumba, self-defence, dance, chair yoga
  • Tis the season—skiing, snowshoeing, gardening, swimming

But just about anything that gets you up and moving, especially if it gets you outside, will do the job.

Making Friends

This includes anything in the previous category that can field multiple participants. If you’re looking to rub shoulders with friends, acquaintances, and strangers, you can also try:

  • Parallel park—feeding birds, community activities, and yes—chess
  • Fan-demonium—events for enthusiasts, such as conventions, clubs, and competitions
  • In voluntary—volunteering for public services, local youth sports, and community projects

Great for the Gray Matter (AKA “The Other Wrinkles”)

These days, you have more options here than perhaps anything else.

  • Live and learn—study languages, learn computer coding, practice oil painting
  • Tables turned—from classics to brand-new-thing, anything with cards, dice, or a board
  • Electric slide—screen time’s not just for the grandkids; VR, computers, consoles, portable devices, and even phones all have a buffet of games and entertainment

“Well, I’m already here…”

If you’re already living in a senior community, regularly visit a gym or similar facility, or otherwise have access to the equipment, events, participants, and locations needed to do some of these things…then what are you waiting for?

“You know, I’ve always wanted to…”

If you’re able, do the things you’ve always promised you’d do another day.

  • Travel
  • Learn a skill
  • Make/build something
  • Take in a show (or maybe perform in one instead)

“I’ll Try Anything Once…”

We’ll end by encouraging you to be open to new experiences and possibilities. Things have changed a lot even in the last few decades, to say nothing of a handful more beyond that. There may be things available now that didn’t even exist a short time in the past.

So before you tell your Stranger Things-obsessed grandniece you’re a little too old to be taught what a d20 is, remember that basketball and football might have felt the same to veteran baseball fans at the turn of the 20th century.

Ultimately, the goal is to find something that can comfortably fit into your life, rather than something that will throw a box of wrenches into the works. To paraphrase the Lethal Weapon franchise, we’re all “getting too old” for those kinds of SNAFUs.

After all, it’s your time. You should enjoy what you’re doing with it.

We at Inhomecare.com hope to help you and your loved ones. Visit our site and take the first step toward a safer, more independent future today!