With Spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby to keep you mentally fit. Hobbies are one of the best ways for seniors to do this and can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. On top of that, picking up a new hobby is a great way to add variety to your life and break up the monotony of your daily routine. So, if you’re looking for something new to do this Spring, try out some of the following hobbies:
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1. Gardening
Not only does gardening allow you to spend some time outside, but it also gives you the joy of taking care of another living thing and watching it thrive. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t discount gardening just yet! Gardening can be adjusted to your physical ability and experience level, and with Spring approaching, the types of plants you can grow increases exponentially.
If you’ve never grown any plants before, start with easy and robust herbs like mint or basil, which can be grown in a pot. Want to grow something a bit more complicated? Check with the caretaker at your local nursery and let them know exactly what you’re looking for and what your experience is with plants. With Spring allowing nurseries to have more stock, they’ll likely have something that will fit your needs you can choose Arlington tree surgeons.
2. Chair Yoga
Chair yoga is a great way to get in some gentle exercise, improve your flexibility, and destress. While it can be done either by yourself or in a group, it’s a good idea to work with an instructor if you’ve never done chair yoga before in order to prevent injury. If you live in a seniors’ residence, keep an eye out for group chair yoga classes led by an experienced instructor. They will be able to guide you through the various poses in a way that’s relaxing and pain-free.
3. Power Walking
If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, Spring is an excellent time to start power walking. Power walking keeps your heart and lungs healthy, without causing you to be completely out of breath. This is another activity to do by yourself or in a group, and you can even get a simple fitness tracker to count how many steps you’re taking.
4. Birdwatching
Not only is birdwatching an easy hobby to pick up, but it has the added benefit of promoting mindfulness, or the feeling of being in the moment. According to this article on mindfulness for seniors, the meditative state that comes from activities such as birdwatching can enhance feelings of calmness, allowing you to focus better, and improve your quality of sleep.
To make things even better, birdwatching can be adjusted to your physical needs. You can either go out hiking to catch a glimpse of a variety of birds, or stay home and set up a birdfeeder to bring the birds to you.
5. Outdoor Painting
Painting is another easy hobby to pick up, and it can be an excellent excuse to be outdoors. Try painting outside to capture natural scenes, like forests or landscapes. Unlike painting people or animals, landscapes and forests don’t tend to move around (unsurprisingly), so you can take all the time you need to complete your art. It’s a great way to spend some time surrounded by the soothing sights of nature, and it helps to keep you sharp.
