As a bonus, keeping your mind active with challenges like brain games may help to slow down certain types of mental decline as you age.
Tasks like planting, watering, weeding, trimming, and harvesting do take some amount of time and commitment, but most gardeners find them to be manageable and even enjoyable. If you have physical limitations that make on-the-ground gardening difficult, look into getting raised garden beds or easily-accessible planters. Gardening doesn’t need to be limited to your own home! Join a garden club or other local organization that works to beautify your community.
So what separates food prep as a necessity from food prep as a hobby? Ask yourself this question: Would you still enjoy your cooking or baking task if you didn’t have to do it to feed yourself or your family? If you’re new to cooking or (especially) baking, follow recipes closely to get the best results. As you gain experience, don’t be afraid to get more creative.
Role-playing board games like Dungeons & Dragons let you immerse yourself in the world of the game while connecting with friends. To get even more immersed, try cosplaying games that truly get you into character!
Start by just snapping pictures of whatever interests you. To advance your skills, use photography books and online tutorials, or sign up for a photography class at a community college.
You can save a good deal of money by doing simple DIY projects yourself instead of calling a repair person each time. For instance, a quick fix of a leaky sink or running toilet can save you from paying a large bill for a few minutes of a plumber’s time. Don’t be afraid to try something new, but also accept your limitations. For instance, don’t mess around with electrical wiring or structural framing if you’re not sure what you’re doing. A good DIYer knows that some things are best left to the pros!
When you collect things as a hobby, you usually want to show them off—and that can create space issues in your home. You may only have so much room to display cat figurines, for instance. In this case, define a space for your hobby display and sell, donate, or at least box up some of your collection when you run low on room.
Learning to play the guitar, piano, saxophone, or any other musical instrument is a great hobby idea. It offers mental stimulation, hand-eye coordination training, and lots of opportunities for creativity.
If you prefer a hobby with a more social component, try joining a book club.
It’s okay to just start writing, or you can check out writing classes at a nearby community center or community college. You can write for the whole world to see on the web or in published works, write strictly for yourself, or go somewhere in between. It’s all about what brings you happiness. Calligraphy is another variation on writing as a hobby.
Solo exercise can be a hobby, but many types of exercise are great social activities to share with friends. Instead of biking alone, for example, you might join a biking club that goes on regular trail rides.
You might enjoy making and decorating birdhouses, adding some “bling” to boring picture frames, creating photo collages, or assembling cute but simple wind chimes, to name just a few options. Check local craft stores, community centers, libraries, social clubs, or religious organizations for crafting classes or groups in your area. Browse the internet for crafting ideas and inspiration. The options are endless!
Crocheting and quilting are other varieties of needlework that make great hobbies. Needlework is as fun as a solo activity or a social activity. Look around for knitting clubs in your area, for example, or start one up with your friends. For help getting started, look for needlework classes in your community.
Art hobbies suit a wide range of hobby budgets. If you’re looking for an ultra-affordable option, for instance, you can take up painting with little more than a watercolor set, a brush, and some paper. Your local community college may offer a wide range of art classes in areas like painting, sculpture, pottery, and so on.
You can certainly go the traditional route and take in-person language courses at, for instance, your local community college. But there are also a huge number of language-learning apps and online resources as well. Try out some free or low-cost options before deciding if it’s worth the investment to spend on a higher-price program.
There’s no one “right” way to travel. If going on cruises and making quick stops at various ports makes you happy, go for it. Or, if immersing yourself in the cultures of the countries you visit suits you best, that’s great as well.
Or, as another option, you might get involved in taking your dog, cat, bird, or other animal companions to pet shows. The goal here is to find a hobby that both you and your pet enjoy.
If, for example, you have a family member who received a new kidney or who is waiting for a new liver, you might choose to get involved as a volunteer promoting organ donation.
Nature hobbies are excellent for quiet contemplation on your own, and also for hanging out with friends and family.
Keep in mind that aimlessly browsing the internet or checking your social media don’t make for such great tech hobbies. Look for tech-related activities that offer greater mental stimulation—for instance, maybe you’d like to learn how to build your website.
