Cheap Hobbies That Bring Seniors Joy and Fulfillment
Hobbies are important to the average American. People spend about $3,500 on average for their preferred forms of entertainment.
Hobbies are a huge part of retirement enrichment, too, but alas, it seems many of them aren't cheap. A shame, since senior pastimes may have to play second fiddle to age-related financial considerations. To avoid going without hobbies entirely, what are some affordable activities seniors can try?
Cheap hobbies abound, and there's a smorgasbord for seniors to choose from. Let's examine some budget-friendly hobbies for your senior in gorgeous Chula Vista, California, not far from San Diego's Bay of National Wildlife Refuge.
Cheap Hobbies Seniors Can Try
Hobbies are a huge contributor to one's general happiness. Of course, not every hobby is for every person. To make things easy, we've compiled a list of leisure ideas that may appeal to your senior.
Writing a Memoir
Every senior has lived a long, storied life deserving of the pages of history. However, your story is more than public records and recollections from your relatives. Seniors can enjoy an immense amount of nostalgia in writing a memoir, while also passing their story on to the next generation.
So take a trip down memory lane. Pull out those old scrapbooks and diaries, and try to piece together your life from beginning to end. Whether you remember the good times or the bad, it's all part of what made you, today.
This could be an excellent chance to catch up with relatives of all kinds and on all sides. If you can't remember how a certain event or period of your life played out, they may be able to provide additional context. Memory is a fragile thing, so it's better to get it down on paper sooner rather than later.
Writing Poetry
Cheap hobbies can still challenge your mind. The brain is neuroplastic and continues to be adaptable even into old age. Poetry really flexes those mental muscles and keeps them sharp.
Understand that you don't need to have written books to be good at writing. Writing is a skill like any other. It won't develop unless you make the effort.
Plus, poetry is often incredibly therapeutic as far as coping strategies go. It can be a lot healthier than other means of getting your emotions out. You'd be amazed at how challenging it can be to write even a single sentence, too.
Origami and Paper Crafts
We've discussed cheap hobbies that only require paper and pencil, but here's one that might be better for the more visual among you. Origami goes far beyond making paper swans. Even with a guidebook, it can take a person hours to master the technique of measuring out the folds and then, well, folding them.
Paper crafts in general make for excellent social activities, since it's easy to talk and fold at the same time. The challenge of paper folding among peers can lead to hilarious results. And at the end of the day, you get a physical memento from the time you spent.
Outdoor Hobbies
It wouldn't be fair if we only discussed hobbies meant for those who enjoy the quiet comfort of indoors. Plenty of cheap outdoor activities are available to seniors as well. Here are just a couple.
Birdwatching
If anyone tells you birdwatching is boring, that person is simply misinformed. It's more difficult than most people think to find birds and then tell which is which based on their colors and their mating habits. After all, there are scientists who dedicate decades of their lives to studying a handful of species.
Birdwatching is great for promoting healthy aging since it's easy on the joints and takes you outdoors. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent pair of binoculars, either. Since you'll be at a distance from your subjects, it also offers itself to casual conversation with fellow community members.
If you don't want to go outside, then birdwatching is perfectly doable from a window. Find a good spot and make sure you don't have any afternoon glare. Enjoy the comfort of the couch while enjoying Mother Nature.
Weather Watching
Meteorology is a devilishly complex discipline. Figuring out how wind, temperature, and landscape contribute to weather takes big, scary-looking equations. However, it's a great, cheap hobby that doesn't require much equipment.
Tons of people out there enjoy going outdoors and manually tracking weather conditions. There's a communal aspect to it as well, since there is discussion to be had about what weather phenomena you're looking at. More dedicated hobbyists can also invest in a personal weather station for local readings.
Rest assured, there's no need to go out in a rainstorm for this one. You'll be taking note of wind direction, cloud types, and other meteorological data points. You'll appreciate how something as simple as clear skies is not very simple at all.
Mindfulness Exercises
Meditation is a practice many eschew because it seems so boring that it must be impossible. In reality, though, it's a transcendental experience that teaches a person things they might not have known about their own mind. Best of all, it's free.
Meditation takes only a quiet area, a cushion, and a couple of minutes. Either lie down or sit, and then close your eyes. Take deep breaths through the nose, out through the mouth, and immerse yourself in the present moment.
Most people prefer to do meditation outside whenever the chance presents itself. Nothing is more serene than sitting in your community's garden or at the beach while expanding your awareness outward. Learning how to meditate properly can take years and lead to less anxiety and more peace.
Join the Community at the Pasea Senior Living
There's no end to the cheap hobbies seniors can occupy themselves with to pass the time. Indoor activities include things like writing memoirs and poetry. For those who prefer the great outdoors, they can try birdwatching or meditation.
The Pasea Senior Living in Chula Vista offers a gorgeous community where seniors can keep up with hobbies. The proximity to a wildlife reserve certainly makes it great for bird watching and mindfulness exercises -- and much more. Schedule a tour of our community and find a home you'll love.