Retirement is the Perfect Time to Discover New Hobbies and Rediscover Old Ones
Retirement is something you’ve planned for throughout your working life. And while you’ve planned financially by saving for retirement, have you actually thought about how you plan to spend your time?
During our hectic working lives, we often forget to set aside time for ourselves to do the things we love. We get caught up in our families and work, taking care of loved ones, and trying to find a healthy work-life balance. And along the way, we sometimes lose touch with our passions.
But retirement is the time to make up for this. With the time afforded by retirement living, you can discover new hobbies and rediscover old ones, sparking your passions and interests, and taking time for yourself to enjoy them.
These hobbies contribute to a healthy retirement, physically, cognitively, and emotionally. They promote active, engaged lifestyles in the following four dimensions: creating, thinking, moving, and socializing.
Bicycling
This outdoor activity promotes overall physical health and well-being. Cycling is also softer on the joints compared to jogging and hiking. Join a cycling group to get active, explore your local surroundings, and enjoy the company of others. The Ottawa region is home to many paths, trails, parks, and scenic waterfronts you can explore on your bike.
Birding
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, or you just like to take strolls outside, birding is a fun outdoor activity to take up in retirement. Instead of walking or hiking at a fast pace, birding encourages you to slow down and take notice of your surroundings. You can go on your own or with a group and refine your senses and knowledge of bird identification.
Book Clubs
Book clubs are a great activity for book lovers. These gatherings allow members to socialize and gain a deeper understanding of the books and the people who are reading them. Book clubs encourage members to read books they may not have read otherwise. And they can learn different viewpoints from others.
Foreign Language Study
Lifelong learning is important at any age. It keeps our minds sharp and helps us learn new knowledge. Among the many topics you should consider studying in retirement, foreign languages are a popular choice. Learning new languages may only seem possible for children, but retirees are actually better students than children. Retirees are focused and committed to learning, and that motivation pays off.
Gardening
Gardening gets you moving outside in a serene setting. Staying active in the garden carries calming, therapeutic benefits. Whether you sit and smell the roses, or reap the bounty of your vegetable harvest, you can have a sense of accomplishment in the garden you’ve worked on.
Genealogy
Take a trip into your ancestral history, learning about where you came from and the stories of your ancestors with genealogy. You can spend months researching your family history, and even connecting with distant relatives. And if you ever travel to your ancestral homelands, you will have a deeper connection with the places you visit.
Music
Music stimulates creativity, emotion, and memory. Like learning a new language, learning to sing or play an instrument may seem far-fetched in retirement. But you will make a better student because adults have the discipline needed to learn music. As you progress in developing your musical talent, you will feel quite satisfied.
Painting & Drawing
If music isn’t your thing, but you have a creative side, consider painting or drawing. The fine arts allow you to express yourself visually and artistically. Painting and drawing are cognitively stimulating while also being relaxing. Take your sketchbook or easel outside to enjoy and be inspired by the beauty of nature.
Photography
Discover your creative eye with photography. This artistic hobby allows you to get out and see the world from a different perspective. As you learn, you can develop an appreciation for photos and the world around you.
Sports & Dance
Sports and dance classes combine socialization and physical activity, making them both fun and rewarding. The following are some of the most popular recreational sports and dance to take up in retirement:
- Golf
- Zumba
- Pickleball
- Volleyball, and
- Prediction events for walking, cycling, running, skating, and cross-country skiing.
Volunteering
This social activity involves learning new things, helping others, and working in a field you’re passionate about. You can volunteer in a variety of fields, such as social services, or working at a museum, library, or arts centre.
Walking & Hiking
Getting outdoors is both good for the heart and the soul. Walking and hiking promote physical and cognitive health, while allowing you to connect and find peace with nature. If you go with a group of friends, you can get some socialization time in as well. Groups are also useful for encouraging each other to keep going.
Writing
Writing engages your emotions, memories, and creative side, keeping your cognitive skills sharp. It also helps to put your life in perspective. Whether you choose to journal, or write a memoir, poetry, or a work of fiction, writing and finding your voice is therapeutic. It also gives you something you can pass on to your children and grandchildren if you wish.
Now that you’ve started retirement, it’s time to focus on yourself and do the things you love. These hobbies will help you stay active, creative, and social. By discovering and pursuing your passions during retirement living in Ottawa, you can maintain a healthy, happy, and fulfilling lifestyle.