Pick a Hobby This January for National Hobby Month

The weather outside is frightful, but indoor hobbies are so delightful! January is national hobby month and the perfect time to explore hobby opportunities for a senior family member or caregiver that might be interested in joining in on the fun. Learn more about why hobbies are essential for stimulating the mind and the body.

Hobbies Are Beneficial for Everyone

Hobbies keep the mind and body active. Keep your mind sharp by trying puzzles, painting, or scrapbooking. While physical activities can be challenging for particular senior family members, some movement, even if assisted, is better than none. Hobbies that gently move the body include yoga, aquatic therapy, and walking.

Hobbies Are for Mental Stimulation

Mental stimulation can be achieved through conversation, games, and other interactive encounters. However, personal interaction is not always possible, particularly when quarantine may sometimes limit availability.

Puzzles

Some senior family members say that they love to spend the afternoon working on large elaborate puzzles with many pieces. Still, there are also word, picture, and whodunit puzzles to enjoy. Puzzles also can be verbally engaging and welcome light conversation.

Painting

A brush, paints, and a palette have changed the lives of many who took up painting late in life. People report that they were never provided a creative outlet before in their lives and greatly enjoy it now. Further, many military veterans enjoy painting as an outlet for controlling PTSD and communicating emotions that are otherwise too difficult to put into words.

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is an ideal activity to help build and retain memories with creativity. Arranging photos, mementos, and memories in a unique way while reminiscing can be therapeutic. Enjoying scrapbooks once completed can also stimulate the brain by talking about old memories.

Hobbies Are for Physical Stimulation

Exercise aids in digestion and restful sleep. Physical activity helps lubricate the joints and muscles, decreasing stiffness and overall discomfort. There are numerous physical activities that you can try until you find one that you like and that works with your fitness level.

Yoga

Yoga can be adapted to any fitness level. Gentle stretching and accessible poses help build muscle and control. Yoga is also very relaxing and excellent for light exercise.

Aquatics

Aquatic therapy is gentle stretching and aerobics that happen in a pool. These exercises are done in a pool to increase weightlessness and help move the body easily. This helps to relieve pressure on joints.

Walking

Twenty minutes of walking can increase mental cognition and bodily functions, like metabolism and digestion. Keeping your heart active is essential for longevity.

Hobbies provide an outlet for energy, creativity, and emotions. Moreover, when unexpected events like the pandemic happen, regular activities like hobbies can help keep everyday routines in place. Take time this month to find a new hobby or reinvest in an old one, for your mental and physical health or for that of a loved one.