Plan your activities as you prepare for retirement

Congratulations, you have made it to retirement.

Now what are you going to do?

Most Americans dream of retirement as a time they can kick back and relax without having to deal with the pressures of work. But, let’s face it, after a few weeks, having too much time on your hands gets boring.

In recent years, scientists have put tremendous time and effort into answering the allimportant question of longevity. Some of the answers are basically what you would expect: you should refrain from smoking, eat a healthy diet, and engage in moderate physical activity. At the same time, some of the research has produced somewhat surprising results: hobbies can boost brain power and reduce mortality.

While not every hobby is good for every person, there are options for just about anyone regardless of skill level or budget.

The following are some healthy hobbies that are perfect for senior citizens Caring for a pet — Pets provide people a lot of comfort and support. The majority of pet owners report that they feel a strong emotional connection to their animal. Some seniors want to care for a pet on a fulltime basis, whereas others prefer to volunteer at an animal shelter. In either case, spending time caring for and developing a relationship with a pet is a great hobby that offers real health benefits.

The United States is a petloving nation. According to a recent survey from Gallup, 60 percent of American households own at least one pet. While dogs and cats are by far the most popular pets in the country, millions of Americans have other animals as well. No matter your favorite type of pet, caring for an animal can offer significant benefits.

For seniors citizens, pet ownership/ pet care is an excellent hobby. Not only do many people report that providing pet care is life enhancing, but pets have also been associated with offering their owners tangible, scientifically backed health benefits. For older adults, these health benefits are especially valuable.

Creating Art/Doing Crafts — one of the fastest growing hobbies amongst seniors is art? Art increases cognitive skills, sharpens physical and fine motor skills, promotes self-awareness and self-expression, and encourages socialization. It is never too late to pick up art as a hobby. Even if you have never tried it before, arts and crafts offers something for you.

As we continue to live longer, there is an ever-increasing desire for people to find new hobbies that are well-suited for seniors. One cannot overstate the importance of finding enjoyable, meaningful activities that can be pursued well into old age. According to a study published in the Journal of Aging Studies, a strong sense of purpose was found to be one of the six key elements of successful aging.

For many people, art provides meaning. It can be used as a tool to explore one’s own creativity and find a sense of purpose and meaning. Perhaps it is not surprising that art and crafts are becoming increasingly popular hobbies among senior citizens. Art offers a number of different direct benefits, including improving cognitive ability, sharpening fine motor skills, promoting self-expression, and providing an outlet for positive socialization. Dancing — Dancing is another fun way for seniors to socialize and to get exercise. In many communities, there are senior dance classes and other senior-focused dance events available. This is a great activity for people who are looking to get some exercise in a fun and non-traditional way.

Dancing is an excellent hobby for seniors. As an activity, it offers many of the benefits that are considered to be among the keys to healthy aging. For example, dancing promotes physical activity, it provides a healthy mental challenge, and it encourages positive, fun socialization.

One of the most obvious benefi ts of dancing is that it is a fun form of exercise. There is overwhelming evidence that moderate, regular exercise offers tremendous health benefits for seniors. In fact, getting consistent exercise is among the most important things that an older adult can do to improve their health.

Gardening — Gardening is another hobby that almost everyone can enjoy. You may have space in your own backyard to create a small, but productive garden. Even if you do not have space, you can participate in a community garden or use flower pots and planters to turn a patio or window into a container garden.

Gardening is well-suited for people of all different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. For senior citizens, gardening is a healthy and cathartic activity that has been shown to offer a number of different health benefits.

It is never too late to get into gardening as a hobby. Whether you are already an advanced grower who regularly produces a ton of healthy vegetables in the backyard, or you are a beginner who lacks the space for full-time planting, gardening is an activity that is worth considering.

Playing cards and games — For seniors who have restricted mobility, golfing or dancing may be too physically intensive. Playing cards or other games can be an excellent way to get the competitive fire going. Classic games like bridge and chess promote better cognitive functions. Further, in recent years, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of seniors playing video games and computer games.

If you do not exercise regularly, your muscles will get weaker and they begin to deteriorate. This is why physical activity is crucial for health and longevity. While the brain is not a muscle, there is a similar process in place. If you do not regularly engage in a mentally stimulating activity, your mind will simply not function as well. You will not stay as ‘sharp’ as you otherwise could be. For seniors, cards and games are an excellent way to socialize and get mental stimulation.

That is certainly not to say that playing cards and games is a miracle cure. As the AARP notes, it is one important factor that has been shown to help seniors age in a healthy way. Card games, board games, and other games are fun and engaging. They are accessible to many different people, including those with limited mobility.

Volunteering — There are few better ways to spend your time than volunteering for a good cause. Volunteering offers benefits for both the volunteer and for the community or organization that they are helping. Seniors choose to volunteer in many different ways: some work with children or animals, while others put a unique skill that they have developed throughout their life to good use.

Volunteering is a great hobby for seniors. Few people realize the critically important impact seniors make on our communities. With the contributions of seniors, our world is a much better place. Many people rely on seniors to help keep their lives running smoothly, from grandparents to friends and neighbors.

Older adults are among the most frequent volunteers. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, senior citizens collectively put in more than 2 billion hours of community service each year. For people who are looking to give back to their community, there are many

Volunteering is a great way to stay active in retirement while also passing along skills. Here area sportsmen introduce youngsters to shooting sports.