Healthy Aging: Importance Of Hobbies

If someone asks you what you like to do or if you have any hobbies- do you have a quick answer? Or do you need to give it some thought? Have you thought about the importance of hobbies? Maybe you had a long list of hobbies and interests in the past, but things have changed. The routine tasks of life can get in the way and obligations and responsibilities change over time- and yes we do just get older.

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Of course there is nothing wrong about getting older, but with getting older there comes some challenges that may make hobbies that were once very prevalent in your life not as accessible. Changes in vision, hearing, activity tolerance, pain, or range of motion can make hobbies like music, painting, knitting, crochet, writing- just to name a few- more difficult. Maybe you were once an avid quilter or wood worker, but arthritis in your hands has made it difficult to continue with your hobby.

Not being able to do the activities we enjoy can have some negative effects on our mood, self-confidence, and just overall enjoyment with life. Sometimes we just need something positive to help pass the time- this goes for all of us no matter our age.

The importance of hobbies has actually been researched. This research study demonstrated that having hobbies may extend longevity and healthy life expectancy: Relationship of Having Hobbies and a Purpose in Life With Mortality, Activities of Daily Living, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults

You may also be interested in taking a look at this resource: Participating in Activities You Enjoy As You Age

Having and participating in purposeful activities can help with:

• Stress management
• Improving mood
• Bring us a sense of purpose
• Help us find structure in our day
• Increase our confidence
• Give us a sense of accomplishment
• Spark even more creativity
• Gives us something positive to focus on 
• Can provide opportunities for socialization
• Helps with healthy aging by keeping our brain active

So, with that said, keep reading for some hobbies that may spark your interest or lead you in another direction all together!

10 Unconventional Hobbies

We can probably come up with a quick list of hobbies that we are all familiar with:

• Painting
• Arts and crafts of various mediums
• Writing
• Music/playing an instrument
• Knitting/crochet/cross-stitch/quilting etc.
• Gardening
• Reading/Book clubs
• Volunteering
• Puzzle/games
• Sports like bowling, pickleball, ping pong
• Physical activities such as walking, hiking, swimming, dancing

Maybe we just need a reminder to get back into those hobbies from the past- and maybe in a different way than we previously did them. But take a look at these 10 hobbies that can all be modified to various levels of mobility that you may or may not have thought about.

1.  Genealogy

This can be a great hobby if you love history and have been wanting to look further into your family history. There are more ways than ever to get started here, but you can really go down the rabbit hole when you start looking for where to begin. A lot of these sites cost money, but you can check out these resources for some paid and free options to help get you started:

Best Family Tree Builders-Top10.com

26 Totally Free Genealogy Websites to Search Your Family History

Using Local Libraries for Genealogy Research

2. Astronomy

You may never have thought about this, but there are tons of people who list astronomy as their hobby and it can be done in all sorts of ways. You don’t even need to leave your house. You can actually get started with backyard astronomy without any equipment. This resource that I found has some great tips and resources for getting started: Astronomy for Beginners: How to Get Started in Backyard Astronomy – Sky & Telescope

This is a great beginner’s guide and I love that the first tip is -Don’t buy a telescope! You can get started with backyard astronomy for free: How to Get Started in Amateur Astronomy : 14 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

Take a look if this is of interest to you- and let me know how it goes!

3. Tai Chi

Tai chi is a practice that is thousands of years old with roots in Chinese medicine. It combines meditation and martial arts. It involves slow and gentle movements combined with controlled breathing. There has been much research on the benefits of tai chi, as well as the effect of tai chi on fall prevention.

The great thing about tai chi is that you can practice at home and you can adapt it to the chair if need be. Or, you can make it a social hobby and find a group or organization in your area. If you are interested in starting tai chi as a hobby check your local recreation departments, senior centers, YMCA, community colleges, or fitness centers in your area. 

If you would like to get started at home, take a look at these resources- they both have a seated option in their list:

The Best Online Tai Chi Classes Of 2023 + The Benefits Of Tai Chi | mindbodygreen

4. Candle Making

So this hobby can go in the arts and crafts category, but I included this because it is a bit different. You can also combine this with a hobby in aromatherapy or essential oils if you want to take it a step further.  

I recently made a candle at a do it yourself candle making shop- and realized just how simple it is. The part that is the most interesting is finding and combining the scents to make the candle what you want it to be. You can also get really fancy with the containers and decorating the candle. 

It also makes great gifts- so there is a bonus in this hobby. I had a long phase of never burning candles and then I finally decided that that is what they are there for! So, with a candle making hobby- you can always just make another one. You can certainly get a book or take a class to learn more about candle making. Here are two resources that I found if this is of interest to you:

YouTube – FUNCANDLES  Complete Candle Training For Beginners- 2 Hours

Udemy (just search candle making for lots of different classes on the the topic)

Or, this beautiful candle making kit for beginners from Etsy can be customized and is simple for beginners- all you will need is a thermometer.

5. Learn Sign Language Or A New Language

Learning a new skill is so great for the brain. If you have an interest in learning a new language, there are many options available. Check your local library, community centers, or community colleges for classes or groups. You don’t have to have a goal of being fluent- just learning conversational skills is a fantastic hobby.

Here are 2 online resources:

Duolingo (there is a free version)

Italki

Here is an interesting review for italki: Review – The Good, The Bad, & The Just

Of course, spending time conversing with a native speaker is wonderful- and this goes both ways. If you speak another language – you can teach someone!

Here are some options for sign language:

Lingavo

Udemy

Or you can learn the alphabet here: American Sign Language Alphabet For Adults

6. Citizen Scientist

Citizen scientists are members of the public who conduct research or experiments, or collect data for scientific research. Don’t let the term scientist deter you- no science background is required. There are many projects of various topics available so you can most certainly find one that aligns with your interests. Take a look at these resources if you are curious to learn more.

Citizen Science

What is Citizen Science – SciStarter

7. Herb Garden

I include this instead of gardening outside because it is just a change of pace and is accessible year round. You can participate anywhere and anytime- and it is accessible in a chair as well. You can grow your herbs outside or you can grow them inside. I found a couple of articles that can help you get started if you are interested:

Growing Herbs 101: How to Start a Kitchen Herb Garden, Indoors or Out ~ Homestead and Chill

How to Start a Herb Garden | Everything You Need To Know

8. Rock Tumbling

Have you ever thought about rock tumbling? Well, if you have not heard of it, it is just like it sounds. You place rocks in a tumbler with some grit and water and turn ordinary rocks into shiny and smooth gem-like objects. You can use them for jewelry making (another hobby), in arts and crafts, or give them as gifts. The other great part about this hobby is that it can get you outside in nature while you collect the rocks- you get two hobbies in one. I found this great article that gives you the basics here: Complete Guide To Rock Tumbling | Hobby Guide

Here is a review of rock tumblers to help you get the idea: 5 Best Rock Tumblers

9. Origami

This hobby also goes under the category of arts and crafts, but what I like about this hobby is that you don’t need anything more than paper- and you can start really simple and it is still impressive. It is accessible and quiet and you can do it at home or anywhere really. This article is pretty robust and provides detailed cues for a number of different folds: Beginner’s Guide to Paper Folding, How to Make Origami for Beginners

If you prefer a book, this one includes the project and the paper: The Ultimate Origami Book

10. Juggling

I saved this one for last because it seems so unexpected and a great way to finish this list. Believe it or not, juggling has lots of benefits. It is physical activity, it works our coordination, stimulates the brain, and probably will make you laugh. There has actually been research done on this very topic. You can take a look here if you are interested: Use it or Lose It: Juggling to Sharpen your Mind (and Body) | David’s Kadlec

If you would like to try it out, here is a resource that I found.You can start by using scarves if that seems a bit easier to you: Learn How to Juggle

Or, here is a set of juggling balls for beginners: Juggling Balls For Beginners- Set of 3

I hope that you enjoyed this list of 10 unconventional hobbies -or at least found something that resonated with you or that you can explore further. Let me know what you think or if you have anything to add in the comments below!

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Namaste

Disclaimer: The Peaceful Chair and thepeacefulchair.com strongly recommends that you consult with your physician before starting this or any exercise program.The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not to be used in place of medical advice or information from your healthcare provider. Neither The Peaceful Chair, the peacefulchair.com, nor any of its contributors shall be held liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information described and/or contained herein and assumes no responsibility for anyone’s use of the information contained in any links, videos, or any content on this website.