Hobbies for Seniors this Winter

As the coldest days of the year settle in, it can be hard to find the motivation to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. While it is important that you get outside for at least a little while, you won’t be spending your afternoons enjoying the weather like you would in the summer. It’s important that you find something to occupy your time indoors.

If you’re struggling for ideas to stay mentally active indoors, try these hobbies for seniors this winter. Some of them might be more about polishing old skills, while others might challenge you to stretch your wings and try something new.

Take up cooking or baking

Most everyone knows how to follow a recipe, so why not challenge yourself a little. Take the winter to try new recipes—be they for meals or baked goods—that encourage you to explore your capabilities in the kitchen.

Try some festive winter soups, some hearty pastas, or some comforting pies, and make everything by scratch as possible. Once you’re done flexing your creative muscles, you get a delicious treat to enjoy!

Explore your family tree

It is a long-standing stereotype that older adults love telling stories of times gone by. With the recent bump in the genealogy trend, you can explore your family history even further. Take your copy of your family tree, and get online.

You don’t even have to enter your family history online if you don’t want to anymore. These days, you can purchase a self-DNA kit, take the test, and receive in-depth results about where your family came from, distant relatives, and so much more. From then on, you can dive deeper into your family history by following prompts and making connections.

Practice yoga

Yoga is a practice that is as great for the body as it is for the mind. This low-impact physical activity keeps you grounded while encouraging you to focus in the present moment. The practice has even been shown to reduce stress and anxiety.

The physical benefits are great for people of all ages, but especially seniors. Through yoga, you will slowly build strength, flexibility, and balance, which are great for the joints and muscles. It may even help you avoid falls.

Work with your hands by refinishing furniture

You may have a nightstand with a wobbly leg or a coffee table that was never quite the color you wanted it to be. Instead of getting rid of these pieces, turn them into what you’ve always wanted them to be and refinish them. This craft is especially great if you have a workspace or garage to work in.

Refinishing furniture is the best of both worlds—getting creative while working with your hands. If you’re not a particularly handy person, that’s all right. Start simple, like painting a table or switching out knobs on a drawer. There are hundreds of online tutorial, both written and video, to help guide you.

Try sewing clothes

Crafts like needlepoint and embroidery are great fun, but you only have so much space to display your pieces. As a result, many of them end up in a drawer somewhere. Follow the route to a similar craft and try to sew your own clothes. This way, when you’re done, you have something to wear!

Don’t jump directly into more intricate designs like pants. Instead, start with a simple pattern of a skirt or a scarf. You can find patterns in store and online. If you’re a visual learner, there is likely a video tutorial making the pattern of your choice—just look up the name on Google!

An at-home caregiver may make a difference in your life

Getting to the store can feel like an exhausting ordeal for many seniors. Similarly, coming up with a new recipe and preparing the meal is daunting. And especially in the winter months when you live home alone you may find yourself feeling isolated from friends and family.

An at-home caregiver can relieve all these stressors and so much more. Whether you need help with personal care or simply desire a regular companion, caregivers are trained to offer the compassionate, dignified service you need to live comfortably at home.

For more information on how an at-home caregiver can help you, call us at 773-274-9262. We would be happy to help.