Staying busy is so important when you’re in retirement. Your lifestyle and habits have most likely changed, and boredom can easily creep in. Staying busy will keep your body and mind active. Finding new activities and past times can be daunting, but rewarding. While it may be difficult to step out of your comfort zone, you might just surprise yourself and find something you love. There are many ways to stay busy in retirement, here are a few of our favourites.
Social groups
This can range from reading groups to walking groups. No matter what your interests are, there is a social group for you to join. Social groups can also be online, or in person. If you can join in person social groups, reach out to others in your area and see if they are members of any. It doesn’t have to be a large group, just any group of people with similar interests to you. You can even start your own!
If you live in aged care, there are also plenty of options. Where you live may have pre-existing social groups that you can join. Otherwise, you can also try and start your own. This could be as simple as organising a weekly walk around the village with a group of friends. Another great option is starting a book club. Pick a book for you and your friends to read and meet up to discuss it when you are finished. The options for social groups are truly endless, and very beneficial.
Arts & crafts hobbies
This is another great option for staying busy in retirement. Painting, drawing, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking- whatever you enjoy the most! Having a creative hobby to keep busy is fantastic for filling in your time. It is also a great way to express your feelings and get in touch with your creative side. Arts and crafts have also been directly correlated with many health benefits for seniors. Not only does it boost and support cognitive function, but it is also a great stress manager! There are also links to other health benefits such as improved memory, reduced depression, and increased communication.
Exercising
Exercising and setting fitness goals is a fantastic way to stay busy and motivated. If you’re living in aged care, chances are you maybe aren’t as mobile as you once were. And that’s totally okay! Exercising doesn’t have to mean going for a run or lifting weights. It can be as simple as taking a small walk, seated exercise, or even activities such as Tai Chi. Including any kind of exercise into your daily routine will be beneficial, no matter what it is. You can use it to set goals for yourself and have something to work towards. Having goals and things you want to achieve is the key to staying busy and fighting off boredom. If you can only manage a 15-minute walk, set a goal to get to 20 minutes! Find a reasonable timeline, and work towards achieving it.
Retirement can be a huge lifestyle change. Staying busy and active is key to enjoying yourself and fighting off boredom. Finding a hobby or something you love to do will not only keep you busy, but improve your physical and mental health.
