Seniors who enjoy retirement hobbies are healthier and happier than those who don’t.
While staying active and engaged in life is considered by mental health experts to be essential to good health for both men and women, men generally have a harder time finding or pursuing a hobby as older adults.
The risk of depression in retired men decreases if they have one or more hobbies. Those statistics become lower still if at least one of those retirement hobbies is physical. This is one reason why senior men need an enjoyable hobby to remain socially active, mentally sharp, and physically healthier.
While there’s no single best hobby that all men should pursue, there are several hobbies for older men that are a good place to start. Caregivers can help senior men find and select hobbies to help them stay focused mentally, physically active, and socially engaged.
Physical Activity Ideas for Senior Men
Staying physically fit and active should be the goal of every individual regardless of their age. Unfortunately, older people often develop health conditions later in life that cause limited mobility. Before embarking on any new physical activity or any active, fun hobby, any elderly person should clear it with their family physician.
There are many exciting and interesting activities for an older man that can improve his overall activity and well-being. Here are some of the best hobbies for older men.
Some fantastic options include:
- Walking: walking the dog, walking around the neighborhood, or walking indoors at malls and museums
- Exercise classes
- Rock climbing
- Martial arts
- Gardening
- Performing stretches/yoga throughout the day
- Archery
- Sports: baseball, golf, running marathons, swimming, bicycling, and others
- Dance class
- Scuba diving
- Bird watching
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Woodworking
Remember that these outdoor hobbies can improve in other life areas like socialization needs, mental clarity, and emotional well-being, often triggered by natural hormones the body makes when performing a physical task.
Strategic Mental Activities
Keeping your mind busy and active in later years is an important task that can keep minds clearer and better focused despite age. There is plenty of evidence that learning new things later in life can preserve and even improve mental focus, clarity, and sharpness.
There are many indoor hobbies that caregivers and senior men can incorporate into their lives to keep mental health good.
Some of these suggested activities include:
- Playing board games or jigsaw puzzles with friends, grandkids, or themselves
- Striving to learn one new thing each day
- Reading
- Cooking
- Learning a new language
- Sitting in on college classes
- Doing puzzles (crossword, sudoku, etc.)
- Joining a club (local chess, bird-watching, pottery)
- Studying or visiting history & historical sites
- Learning a musical instrument or listening to music
It is important to choose a new hobby that is interesting. It doesn’t have to be a popular hobby, or an expensive hobby, but it should be accessible and enjoyable.
Also, it pays to start slow as skill and endurance increase. Many mental hobby ideas also serve as terrific social outings choices, which is a good way for retired men to find new friends.
Social Activities
Many senior men that have lost their spouses simply stay inside all the time. But socialization is still important for seniors, and trying interesting hobbies is one way to do this.
It is common for elderly men not to have many social engagements or a fun hobby that can boost their self-esteem and moods. However, some phenomenal options in social activity pursuits and hobbies can keep him engaged with his community and peers.
These include:
- Joining a book club
- Setting up a ham radio
- Joining community services
- Finding a volunteer opportunity
- Becoming a mentor or coach for young kids or teens
- Taking on a part-time job
- Taking senior trips around town or to different destinations
- Setting up Skype or social media to stay connected with distant family & friends
- Learning a new game like cards, board games, or flying model drones and airplanes
- Writing in a journal
- Sharing family history with younger members
- Going to concerts, plays, & other community events
- Visit neighbors & join community groups with other older adults
How Caregivers Can Implement Hobbies
There are some easy ways caregivers can implement leisure activities into their care recipients’ normal routine. One health benefit of physical activity is emotional stability. Many physical hobbies boost your mood, self-esteem, and confidence. In turn, that builds a person’s overall health and emotional well-being.
