Taking up a new hobby is an excellent way to stay active, sharpen your mind, and boost your social life. And, it’s never too late to start. That’s why many people discover new interests in later life, especially as they approach retirement.
You may find that, as you get older and you have more free time and flexibility, you want to explore new things. But it is also likely that you will face new difficulties with your physical and mental health, and this can make certain pastimes challenging for you.
Luckily, there are some excellent hobbies that encourage “healthy ageing” by supporting your physical and mental wellbeing.
A recent study from Saga polled over-50s to find out what the best later-life hobbies are if you want a long and healthy retirement. Here’s what they found.
1. Gardening
Almost half of respondents to the survey listed gardening as their number one hobby and it proved popular with both men and women. It’s an excellent hobby to adopt as you get older because it is great for your health.
That’s because gardening is an active pursuit that requires some flexibility and dexterity, and it is more demanding than you may realise.
Surprisingly, a study from Harvard Medical School shows that 30 minutes of gardening burns a similar amount of calories as playing badminton or practising yoga. And, it’s not just about the physical effects of gardening, as it can also benefit your mental health.
Indeed, regular gardening and spending time in green spaces can potentially reduce mental health issues and help prevent cognitive decline.
2. Spending time with pets
Spending time with pets is almost as popular as gardening, with 46% of people citing it as their favourite pastime, and it can be very beneficial for your health.
Owning a dog, for example, encourages you to get into a daily routine of walking, which can reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease and cancer in later life.
Additionally, spending time with pets may help to combat loneliness and encourage you to maintain a good social life as you get older.
3. Outdoor activities
Outdoor activities, which is a broad category that covers a range of things like walking and sightseeing, ranked first among 43% of people over 50.
This demonstrates one of the key findings from the study – that 51% of people surveyed believed that getting outside and spending time in nature was important for their mental health in later life, regardless of the specific activity.
According to Saga, they are right to think this because outdoor activities of any kind bring numerous benefits including increased physical activity, and improved sleep.
4. Travelling
Travel is a common goal for many in retirement, so it may not be surprising that 37% of over-50s considered it their favourite hobby.
Often, travel is associated with being outdoors and staying active, particularly if you are sightseeing or exploring cities. For many, it may also offer much needed respite from the stresses of daily life, so it can be associated with relaxation.
Interestingly, Saga also identified increased confidence as a potential benefit of travel, and this may be invaluable as you get older and experience changes and new challenges in your life.
5. DIY and arts and crafts
Finally, 28% of people said that they prefer to spend their time doing DIY or arts and crafts. According to the Mental Health Foundation, this can have an incredibly positive effect on feelings of anxiety and depression because it offers a healthy way to express yourself.
Arts and crafts can also encourage social interaction and keep your mind active as you may attend classes and meet other like-minded people.
Being outside in nature could protect your physical and mental wellbeing
As you get older, there are several distinct challenges you may face like bereavement, isolation, and reduced mobility. That’s why it is important that you consider ways to improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
Fortunately, taking on new hobbies can be a good way to improve your quality of life in your later years and the recent study from Saga demonstrates that the specific activity is not necessarily important.
That’s because the majority of people correctly believe that getting outside in nature is one of the most important factors that contribute to positive mental health in later life. This is likely why all the most popular hobbies involve being outside.
Additionally, physical outdoor hobbies may help you to stay active and this means you are more able to visit friends and family and maintain a healthy social life. This then goes a long way to combat loneliness, which may be a more common issue as you get older.
So, when you are searching for new hobbies in later life, you may want to consider something that involves being in the great outdoors.
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Please note
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.