During the month of January, people across the United States celebrate National Hobby Month, a perfect opportunity for you and your loved ones to learn about hobbies and their benefits. A hobby is a regular activity done for enjoyment, usually during a person’s free time. Hobbies can enhance your quality of life by reducing stress and providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Hobbies typically fall into one of the following categories: learning, creativity, physical and health.
Hobbies May Improve Your Health!
Setting aside time for your hobbies has proven benefits for your health and well-being. Physical hobbies may improve your health in a variety of different ways including reducing blood pressure and improving heart health. The extra physical activity may even help you shed those pesky extra pounds you’ve been trying to get rid of. Seniors should take into consideration their health and physical abilities when looking to choose a hobby. Hobbies can be enjoyed both alone and with a friend or loved one.
Additional health benefits of hobbies include:
- Helps reduce and manage stress
- Challenges the brain which may decrease cognitive decline
- Supports the immune system
- May support mobility
- May improve social interaction, in turn enhancing mood
How to Find Hobbies You Love
People are sometimes at a loss for what to do with their free time. A new hobby may be just the solution. Not only will you be filling idle time, but you will also improve your quality of life: physically, mentally, and socially. If you find yourself coming up short when contemplating what hobbies you may be interested in pursuing, The Muse offers these four strategies.
- Transform What You Already Enjoy Into a Hobby
It’s likely that you’re already doing things you love. The easiest way to find hobbies that you truly enjoy—and that will make you a better, more well-rounded person—is to figure out how to build off those things.
- Reclaim Your Childhood Interests
When you were a kid, you probably had hobbies you loved—so revisiting them as an adult can be a great way to get back into the groove.
- Take an Assessment
The most fun hobby in the world for one person can be downright torturous for another—and vice versa. People tend to enjoy hobbies that appeal to their own unique strengths, interests, and personality characteristics.
- Start Trying Things (and See What Sticks)
It might take a few attempts to find a hobby that you love, but the key is to not give up. Keep putting yourself out there, connecting with people, and exploring new things that feel exciting to you. Eventually, you’ll find a hobby that feels like the right fit.
Activities for Older Adults or People with Early-Stage Dementia
If you or a loved one has early-stage Alzheimer’s or a related disease, their ability to participate in some activities and hobbies may be limited. Before attempting new activities, particularly those that may require physical exertion, consider the person’s capacity for such activities and consult with your primary care physician.
Here are some activity ideas specifically geared towards older adults and those who may be experiencing memory problems:
- Puzzles and games that can help keep the mind sharp
- Reading books or newspapers
- Listening to or making music
- Artistic activities like knitting or painting
- Baking or cooking
- Watch television or home videos
- Connect with nature through gardening
- Memory activities such as scrapbooking or memory boxes
Many different organizations offer activity books full of engaging puzzles, coloring sheets, recipes, and more. The RUSH Alzheimer’s Disease Center Activity Workbook for Individuals Experiencing Memory Loss is a great resource for step-by-step instructions for various dementia-friendly activities. Or, as we enter into February, you may be interested in this activity book that is themed with Black History Month activities.
National Hobby Month serves as a valuable reminder that cultivating healthy hobbies can be a year-round endeavor. Incorporating activities you enjoy into your life can have many benefits, including improving your physical well-being, or providing opportunities to invest in meaningful connections with your loved ones.
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