Finding a Hobby That Suits You

After years of school, work, and raising a family, many people are surprised by how much free time they have in retirement. This is the perfect time to delve into some hobbies. Your hobbies won’t just fill the empty hours in your day; they may excite your passions, help you unwind, exercise your mind and body, help you spend time with friends, and bring you joy. If you don’t already have hobbies that you enjoy, don’t worry. Finding a hobby that suits you will just take a little self-exploration, an open mind, and a willingness to try new things.

Finding a Hobby That Suits You

Finding a hobby that suits you can seem tricky in your sunset years. You may no longer be able to engage in hobbies you once enjoyed (like vigorous team sports) and you might not be interested in the popular hobbies of your peers. However, we’re sure that with a little exploration, you can find some hobbies to fill your time and excite your passions.

Think About What You Loved as a Child

Some people find it helpful to think back to their childhoods and what they loved doing as a carefree kid. You might be surprised at how little your interests have changed over the years. And while you may not want to play in a sandbox again or bust out a hula-hoop, your childhood interests can often translate into adult hobbies. Here are a few things you might have enjoyed as a kid (and how you can adjust them for adulthood, when needed):

  • Reading
  • Listening to music
  • Drawing with chalk (drawing with charcoal)
  • Climbing trees (visiting local parks)
  • Building model airplanes or train sets
  • Swimming
  • Playing in the dirt (gardening)
  • Board games
  • Making up a secret language or code with a friend (learning a language)
  • Writing letters
  • Dancing
  • Learning about a particular subject, such as space, history, animals, etc.
  • Arts and crafts
  • Playing with your dog or cat (volunteering at a pet shelter)
  • Singing
  • Playing “make believe” (acting or writing)
  • Photography

If you’re having trouble, think about the things you used to obsess over. What made you stay up till two in the morning? What made you forget to eat lunch? If you can pinpoint a past obsession, analyze that obsession to its core to see if you can find something new to enjoy. For example, if you loved playing “make believe” as a kid, what intrigued you about it? If you loved pretending to be someone else, maybe you’d like to try an acting class or community theater. If you loved the storytelling aspect, maybe you could write a novel or screenplay. If you always pretended you were a knight, maybe you’d enjoy learning about knights through books and movies.

Consider What You’d Like to Change About Yourself (If Anything)

It’s never too late to change yourself. If you’ve always dreamt of being the type of person who (fill in the blank), do it now! Don’t worry about anyone else’s opinion or fear that you won’t be good enough. Life’s too short to let your aspirations fall to the wayside due to shame or fear. Maybe you want to be the type of person who bakes bread from scratch. Do it! Or you could be the type of person who starts each day with yoga and meditation. Do it! Or you might wish to be the type of person who makes an impact in your community. Do it! It’s not too late.

Join Your Friends

If you aren’t sure where to start, join your friends in their hobbies. You might stumble upon a new hobby that you adore. And even if you don’t, you’ll spend quality time with a friend in the process. Ask around and see what your friends enjoy doing in their spare time. You might discover a common interest or two.

Review Your Options

Sometimes it helps just to see a list of potential options. Here are some ideas you could consider, in no particular order:

  • Reading (novels, magazines, comics, poetry)
  • Writing (fiction, nonfiction, journaling, blogging)
  • Art (painting, drawing, sculpting, crafts)
  • Listening to music, podcasts, or the radio
  • Playing or writing music
  • Keeping up with a sports team
  • Cooking or baking
  • Sewing, knitting, embroidery, or crocheting
  • Acting
  • Gardening
  • Physical fitness (walking, hiking, golf, yoga, swimming, tai chi, bicycling, etc.)
  • Dancing
  • Volunteering
  • Exploring your genealogy
  • Learning a language
  • Acting as a local guide (at a park, a museum, etc.)
  • Photography
  • Teaching
  • Trying new restaurants
  • Visiting museums or art galleries
  • Dog training
  • Meditation
  • Taking classes (online, at a local library or university)
  • Magic tricks
  • Playing board games, card games, chess, sudoku, crossword puzzles, mah-jong, etc.
  • Keeping up with the news and current events
  • Studying philosophy
  • Playing trivia
  • Attending or planning community events
  • Woodworking
  • Refinishing furniture
  • Building electronics
  • Fishing
  • Collecting something
  • Star gazing
  • Bird watching
  • Bowling
  • Hosting parties
  • Building model planes
  • Face painting or balloon twisting
  • Pressing flowers
  • Calligraphy
  • Scrapbooking
  • Bookbinding
  • Building dollhouses
  • Creating inventions
  • Playing pool
  • Traveling
  • Writing letters
  • Metal detecting
  • Picking up litter in nature
  • Taking part in historical reenactments

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Finding a hobby that suits you may require a little trial and error, but it’s sure to be an enjoyable exploration. Have fun!

At Springhouse Village, we know how important it is to enjoy your retirement in a lively and welcoming environment. We make it easy for our residents to be active participants in our community. Whether that means encouraging residents to shop at local farmers markets or assisting them in starting a garden club, we strive to help our residents thrive. To learn more about the amenities and services we offer, contact Springhouse Village today.

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