20 Exciting Hobbies to Explore as a Single Senior in Retirement

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Retirement is fantastic because you can live your life on your terms. However, boredom is a common pitfall. You may need to find something to shake things up a bit. If you’re a single retired senior looking for some new hobbies to explore, this list should spark a few ideas. Let the fun begin!

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1. Learning a new language.

Learning a new language is a great way to expand your brain capacity and help defend against cognitive decline. It’s also easy to do with all kinds of language learning platforms. You can even chat with people who speak the language you are learning!

Some great apps and websites to learn new languages include:

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2. Grow an herb garden.

If you have a green thumb but not a lot of space, why not grow an herb garden? They are easier to start and keep going, don’t take up a lot of space, and can make your home smell wonderful. Having fresh herbs to cook with is a plus, too.

3. Write.

If you have a passion for the written word, there are all kinds of writing you can do. You can start your own blog, write greeting cards, or take on freelance projects. Other options include writing songs, poetry, or a book. You can learn how to be a copywriter (business emails, newsletters, brochures, etc) or ghostwrite. If you want to write a book and it seems daunting, don’t fear. Many writing software programs can help you get that book out of your head and onto paper. When I wrote my first romance, I used the software program called The Novel Factory. This program takes you step by step when writing your novel, and I highly recommend it to beginners.

4. Color.

Coloring is a fun and relaxing pastime from childhood. It’s relaxing and studies show it helps relieve anxiety and depression. A box of crayons or colored pencils and a coloring book aren’t for kids anymore. These days, you can buy adult coloring books with unique and intricate designs to color. You can find all kinds of themes like Celtic symbols, cats, fish, etc.

Check out these coloring books on Amazon:

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5. Watch documentaries.

Curl up on the couch and watch a documentary or docuseries. Docuseries are a documentary that is broken up into episodes over a period. For example, several years ago, Leah Remini from The King of Queens had a series about the aftermath of Scientology that aired over several episodes for three or four seasons. You can watch documentaries and docuseries on streaming services like Tubi, Roku Channel, and Netflix.

6. Travel.

Plan a trip to somewhere you have always wanted to go. This could be somewhere here in the states you have always wanted to visit or somewhere out of the country. Enjoy yourself and have the time of your life.

7. Take a hike.

Research some fantastic hiking trails near you and head out to nature. You could also plan a vacation and go to some of the best hiking trails we offer in our country. For extra fun and safety, take someone with you.

8. Learn to dance.

There are all kinds of dances you can learn, like the waltz, tango, salsa, or line dancing. Choose something you want to learn and invite friends to join you. If you are going to classes alone, try to make some new friends.

9. Learn about trading and the stock market.

Take time to get financially savvy and learn about trading and the stock market. You can read all kinds of books on this topic, from learning how to buy and trade as a beginner to more advanced books. You can also listen to experts on the topic and watch business news channels that report daily on the topic.

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10. Take an exercise class.

Keeping active as a senior is important, so why not take an exercise class? There are all kinds of classes you can take, like water aerobics, yoga, pilates, weight lifting, etc. Peruse the classes offered at gyms around you or your local YMCA or YWCA and see what interests you.

11. Take cooking lessons.

If you love to eat and try new foods, take a cooking class. Look for cooking stores that offer classes or other businesses that offer cooking classes. In the town I used to live in, there was a store called Prep, Freeze, Cook and you could book a class for ten people and prepare meals to take home and freeze to cook later.

Some online cooking classes you can take include:

12. Foster or adopt an animal.

There is nothing like having a pet in your home. If you love animals, consider either fostering or adopting a cat, dog, rabbit, etc. Animals bring warmth to our homes and are constant, loving companions. If you aren’t able to make the full commitment to adopting, consider fostering an animal. Some animals don’t do well with shelter life and would do better in a home environment. When you foster, most rescue groups will provide you with everything you need for the animal but always double-check with your local rescue group for full details.

13. Learn something musical.

If you have always wanted to learn a musical instrument, book lessons at your local music store or hire someone online or private to teach you. However, learning something musical doesn’t stop at instruments. There are other elements to music like lyric writing, music production, music theory, sound engineering, etc. The website SongU offers courses on different aspects of music, including writing lyrics, the business side of music, the tech/production side, etc.

14. Practice yoga.

Yoga is a great way to relax and calm the mind. This is something you can do at home via YouTube videos or a DVD or you can join a yoga class to practice with others.

15. Go swimming.

Swimming is a great way to stay active and make new friends. You can go to your local community pool in the summer and look for an indoor pool to use in the colder months. Even better, if you have friends that have a pool, it gives you an extra reason to get together more often.

16. Paint.

Being creative is a great stress reliever and mood booster. If you have a passion for painting, grab an easel and supplies and get to work. If you are new to painting, you can find classes to take online or maybe at your local art and craft store. You can do this as a hobby and paint for friends and family or to make more money.

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17. Photography.

If you have a passion for photography, spend your time exploring different places and taking lots of new shots. You can take classes as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced photographer. This is something else you can do as a hobby or earn money from by selling your photos to stock photo sites. A stock photo site is where people can buy photos to use on their websites, blogs, etc.

Some websites to share your photography include:

18. Candlemaking.

Take classes on how to make candles. Candles are very versatile in their various scents and sizes. You can make them for gifts or sell them at craft fairs and other events to make some money.

19. Attend a live music event.

Have an artist or band you have always wanted to see? Then get tickets and invite a friend to go with you! You can also attend concerts by local artists throughout the year. Whether you are supporting a famous star or a local indie artist, have fun.

20. Go to museums.

Take some time to visit some museums you have always wanted to go to. Clear a Saturday and visit one in your area or plan a summer road trip and hit various ones along your route. Better yet, get a group of friends together and go on a museum road trip. You will have lots of fun learning, laughing, and enjoying the various landscapes along the way.

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