How you spend your time in retirement is entirely up to you — and the possibilities are endless when you’re open to trying new things! Retirement is a time when older adults reconnect with hobbies from the past and discover new ways to use their time and talents. Whatever happens to be on your bucket list, you’re sure to find plenty of opportunities to spark your interests and pursue your hobbies in a senior living community.
Benefits of Pursuing a Hobby
Having a hobby can positively affect your life in numerous ways, from staying active to keeping your mind sharp and connecting socially with others. Plus, it’s something you can look forward to doing. Here are some of the perks of pursuing hobbies as you get older:
- Find a sense of purpose: The more you learn while doing your hobby, the more satisfied you’ll be with your progress and have a sense of accomplishment.
- Tackle new challenges: A hobby lets you enjoy the process of learning something new without feeling discouraged if you’re not good at it right away. It can also encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone by picking something that challenges you in new ways.
- Discover hidden talents: Until you try something, you’re never really sure what you can do. A hobby can help you discover something you’re good at.
- Let go of stress: Doing a pleasurable activity can help you relax and take your mind off other things in your life.
- Boost your self-confidence: Learning something new and pushing your limits to achieve things you might not have thought were possible can give you a feeling of being able to do anything.
- Gain new perspectives: By taking up a hobby, you’re certain to be exposed to new opinions, ideas and ways to look at life. You could even make new friends.
- Sharpen your memory: Craft hobbies like sewing and beading can improve your focus to help ward off depression and could protect your brain from some types of memory loss.
- Share your excitement with others: Doing something because you actually want to do it can create excitement that can carry over into other areas of your life. It also provides shared experiences with others that adds to the fun and fulfillment of pursuing a hobby.
How Senior Living Supports Hobbies
When you choose a vibrant senior living community like Friendship Village Chesterfield or Friendship Village Sunset Hills, you’ll have a host of amenities designed to connect you with the things you love, plus a full calendar of activities to inspire your next chapter in life. Here are some of the ways our community supports you in pursuing your hobbies:
- Dabble in creative arts: Experiment with artistic and creative endeavors in our creative arts studio or woodworking shop at Friendship Village. Some arts and crafts ideas include painting, jewelry making, paper crafting, knitting, quilting, ceramics and woodworking.
- Attend concerts and shows: If you enjoy music, art and culture, you’ll love the variety of live entertainment shows on campus, plus opportunities to attend theater shows, concerts and art exhibits in the surrounding area.
- Join a club: You’ll find lots of clubs to join in a senior living community, including book clubs, gardening clubs, Bible study groups and more. At Friendship Village Sunset Hills, we offer a train club for train enthusiasts, and you’re always welcome to start your own special-interest clubs.
- Focus on your fitness: Have fun and get fit at the same time with a low-impact exercise routine like walking, swimming, yoga or tai chi. Our wellness program is designed to heighten the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of our residents.
- Spend time outdoors: With walking paths and beautiful outdoor spaces, we make it easy to stay connected with nature. Go bird-watching, learn about plants, go on a nature hike or simply spend time enjoying the beautiful grounds, gardens and courtyards.
Friendship Village is a wonderful place to find new friends and explore new hobbies. But you don’t have to take our word for it! Watch Ellen’s testimonial video to find out what she loves about the active lifestyle at Friendship Village.
Join in the Fun at Friendship Village in Chesterfield and Sunset Hills, MO.
Friendship Village is a faith-based, not-for-profit community that has been setting the standard for senior services in Greater St. Louis for over 40 years. Our senior living communities in Chesterfield and Sunset Hills provide unique opportunities to blaze your own trail in retirement. Contact our team to arrange a personal tour and learn more about our life-enriching activities.