Hobbies for the retired

Although hobbies are not restricted to the age of the hobbyists, as many have been seen still going for trekking or hiking on most rough terrain even in their 60s and 70s, but age does have an effect on the type of hobbies one should opt for when one is retired, say at the age of 60 and beyond.

First of all remember that after an active professional life, suddenly confining yourself to a rocking chair will rob you of your remaining energies in days and make you lethargic, bored, depressed and feeling low most of the time. So the first thing to remember is that replace your official routine with a physical outdoor activity which would make you alert, active and focused on your life.  Here is a choice for such hobbies that would make you physically committed and make you active and still going strong:

• Fishing
• Camping
• Hunting

For those who for some reasons cannot opt for very active outdoors, there is a choice of hobbies that are less strenuous and laborious, but still keep you physically engaged, like:

• Gardening
• Bird watching
• Jogging or even strolling
• Volunteering for community programmes
• Swimming
• Photography

There are many who miss that company of colleagues they had around them when working and still like a few friends around to spend some time together, playing and gossiping.

• Sky gazing
• Reading (Joining a library/book club)
• Playing indoor games with friend (Bridge, Poker or other card games)
• Writing
• Blogging
• Listening to music
• Sports programmes on TV
• Embroidery / knitting for women
• Making scrapbooks

These are just some of the many hobbies for people less active and retired from their jobs. All listed hobbies provide a meaningful direction to one’s “new” life and provide a cause or a effective pastime to keep oneself busy and still productive and useful. Don’t blanket yourself with depression or seclude yourself in dimly lit room as if the life has come to an end. Live each day as a new day that adds to your activities besides physical and mental fitness.