Fun and Easy Hobbies for Older Women
One of the biggest benefits of aging is the amount of spare time we have. This means that we can now fill our spare time doing things that we are passionate about or are interested in learning more about. Finding a hobby that you love is important because it can keep your mind and body healthy, happy, and active. But I’ve heard from many of my readers that they don’t have a clue where to start to find something new. So many of us have spent our time working or caring for others that putting ourselves first is a foreign concept. After sharing that I recently started back knitting, I decided to see what other hobbies are out there for us. If you’ve been looking for something fun to try in your spare time, I’ve compiled a list of some fun and easy hobbies for older women to try.
Hobbies for Women over 50 and 60
Pickleball
Pickleball is a game that is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong that can be played as doubles or singles. It’s very popular as it’s easy to learn, and the equipment list is very short, as you only need a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. This game is slower paced than tennis, the short-handled paddle is easier to use, and the court has less ground to cover, making it easy for beginners to learn and, perhaps, excel quickly! It’s a great workout for your body and your brain since it gets your feet moving, it’s social, and puts your hand-eye coordination to work. We took a few pickleball classes when we first moved here, and it was a blast, so I may look into it again this spring.
Gardening
Whether you are just looking to beautify your landscaping or to grow your own food, the best part about gardening is that it can be whatever you’d like it to be. ..if you don’t have a black thumb as I do. Gardening encourages you to spend time in nature, which can be a major stress reliever! Plus, a busy day in the garden is just as tiring as a good workout session, and the creative aspect of designing your flower pots, beds, and window boxes is great mental stimulation. Please don’t forget your sunscreen and your hat to protect your skin from harmful UV rays! If you’re looking for more social interactions, join your local garden club, which often meets on a monthly or bi-weekly basis.
Golf
Spending a few hours golfing outdoors with some female companions is a wonderful way to combine a social and physical activity packaged into one fun-filled hobby! Golf requires mental focus and critical thinking while allowing you to reduce stress. If you are brand new to golfing, I recommend getting started with a few lessons at your local golf course or country club to help you learn the basics, like what clubs to use and when, and how to swing your clubs. Or if your husband plays, this could be a great bonding opportunity! Most courses have a practice putting green and a driving range so you can take your skills for a test drive before using them during an actual round on the course.
Needlepoint
If you decide to try this crafty hobby, you may get hooked on it. I used to pick up canvases on all our vacations to stitch up as souvenirs. Needlepoint is a great way to get creative and a hobby you can do while you’re cuddled up watching your favorite show, on a long car ride, or during the cold winter months when you’re stuck indoors. I like to do mine stretched and stapled to a frame which helps keep it straight. Here are a couple of beginner kits to get you started.
Exercise
While I don’t know if I would consider it a hobby, I do think filling your time with some form of exercise is important. While it could just be going on a 30 min walk each day, you can also get your body moving with an exercise class. It is wonderful for weight management, lowering your blood pressure while improving your heart health, and reducing your risk of disease. There are so many classes to choose from, including yoga, pilates, barre, water aerobics, line dancing, and more that are great for older women. You can of course, do these activities solo, but doing them in a class-style environment allows you to get out of the house, stay accountable, and make new friends. I’d suggest checking out your local community center, YMCA, or gym. I’ve also found some great classes you can take online.
Reading
Whether you like reading non-fiction to learn more about a topic or transporting yourself into an imaginary world via a juicy fictional novel, reading is so beneficial for your brain. I typically love reading with a real book in hand, but I also have a Kindle Paperwhite that is so nice to slip into my purse for traveling. Or if you prefer to listen to audiobooks, I would suggest joining Audible (Amazon’s Audiobook Store and Membership)! I’d love to hear what some of your favorite books you’ve read are in the comments below though.
Puzzles, Crosswords, and Sudoku
Preserve your brain function and memory skills by spending some of your spare time doing puzzles, crosswords, or sudoku. They also help improve concentration and thinking skills. It’s so easy to spend our spare time in the doctor’s office waiting room or drive thru waiting for our coffee to scroll through our phone, but what if we picked up a crossword or sudoku book instead?
Card and Dice Games/Bridge
Stay socially engaged and mentally challenged by joining a bridge game. If there aren’t any local to you, invite a few friends to learn the game with you. If you aren’t a fan of bridge, you could try bunco, spades, or even poker! We are avid card players in our family. My sister-in-law even travels with cards in her purse:).
Volunteering
If you’re looking for a hobby to promote personal growth and enrich your life, look no further than volunteering. Donating your time, energy, and resources to others is so fulfilling and rewarding.
I started playing guitar again after I retired and have enjoyed classes and playing with others. Someone I know is learning Vietnamese because he likes the food and the people are friendly. I have always been a reader and a walker, and added weights and yoga to my exercise routine. I highly recommend learning an instrument or a new language!
Jennifer, I love jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and reading. I have a Kindle Paperwhite and I would be lost without it! I love suspense novels and mysteries. What kind of books do you read?
I read mostly non-fiction. Books on style, color, self-improvement, Feng Shui, biographies, organizing, etc
This is a great list of suggestions! I have recently started French lessons using Duolingo. My goal is to be able to read simple books in French. Nice to have a challenge.
I loved A Man Called Ove, good story. I also use the free library online. I’ve tried a lot of things, Book clubs, Bunco, MJong, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hula, yoga, Ballroom dance, line dance, African, Belly Dance, and performing on stage, Zumba, Spin, Weight classes, Water classes, Hiking, Surfing, Bocce (long time ago, my husband is Italian)Biking, Tennis, and walking. I sew, weave, spin yarn, and draw. I don’t garden as much since we moved to a super hot location, but I used to do much of the gardening. Ive added photography lately , as I like to post on Instagram for fun. Dancing and exercise , has been my constant for over 40 years. I have burnt enough food and pans, to exclude cooking š oh well there is a limit to my talents, he, he.
Lol!
I recently read somewhere, āwhat do you have an abundance of?ā My answer ātoo many unfinished projects.šā. I love gardening which, thankfully, is something I can do almost year-round where we live. I also like to read, knit, crochet, needle point and quilting. But, like I read in someone elseās comment, arthritis is making needle work difficult. Itās important to me to stay busy so I am now trying my hand at refinishing a small piece of furniture. I wish I liked exercising, but I donāt, not even a little.š³š«£
I’ve enjoyed reading on my Kindle (get free books through Book Bub or at least pay no more than $3.99/book), Tai Chi at the nearby Senior Action Center, walking on our treadmill plus weight bearing exercises. My husband and I enjoy going to performances at our local theater & walking with friends at parks. Genealogy has also been a hobby of mine for 12 years & I just love it. Since retiring early in 2020 (a week before the pandemic hit), I’ve revisited the interests of my childhood & college years: taking Spanish classes & art classes. I also have Spanish language exchange partners in Bogota, Colombia & Costa Rica whom I met through the Tandem app! It’s been so interesting practicing one another’s language & learning about each other’s cultures. I’ve also been a part of a Bunco group for 24 years and do some volunteering in my congregation. Retirement has been fun!
LOTS of reading, Mah Jongg in person and online, knitting and other needlework, yoga, crossword puzzles, NYT spelling bee and wordle bible study both in a group and on my own, jigsaw puzzles.
Yay for Mah Jongg. I suffered with Bridge but LOVE MJ!
I play at least once a week and also on realmahjongg.com.
Hi Ladies,
I also love Wordle on my phone. I really love to cook now that I have more time.
I like all sorts of word games and I really like Lumosity for keeping my brain active and functioning. I also love photography and would like to set up a website to sell some of my pieces.
I live adjacent to a golf course, but I have never golfed. My two hobbies are genealogy and gardening. One for the mind and one for the body.
I wish I made time for gardening. I have a feeling I might like it.
Just a note to any seniors thinking of playing pickleball – it is now the #1 sport that causes injuries, especially to seniors. I can attest to it myself. It has totally ruined one of my knees, and now I’m having shoulder problems. I’ve played tennis my whole life and never had any issues but pickleball has been a whole new ballgame (no pun intended) for creating aches and pains. On the court I’ve seen concussions, 2 bad wrist breaks (with exposed bones, gulp, wonder we didn’t all pass out on the court!) and numerous falls. Every time I tell a doctor I’m playing I hear “UGHHH, you’ll be seeing me soon.” So, even tho I love it it’s not as harmless a sport as it’s made out to be.
My husband broke his wrist at pickle ball and wonāt have anything to do with it now.
Knitting, reading, volunteering to name a few. I also started weaving potholders again after many, many years. What a blast. I purchased the loom and loops from a company called Acorn & Twigs. They offer 7ā and 10ā looms; I opted for the larger one. Iāve made some for myself as well as family and friends. So fun.
Alsoā¦check to see if your Medicare plan includes Silver Sneakers. I was able to join a local fitness center for just $10. So many of the classes are free with Silver Sneakers.
All lovely ideas, Jennifer. You’ve covered the gamut of sedentary and non-sedentary pursuits. My only question is “what spare time???!!!” Smiles!
Exactly!! š
I did all types of needle work, quilting, sewing for grandchildren and knitting until my arthritic hands just couldnāt. I listen to audio books and color with art pencils in adult coloring books I found on Amazon. I love Joanna Basford books the best. I will try to get to the library to get a card so I can get ebooks and audibles free. Great idea and will save a lot of money!
I joined a Newcomers club when I moved here and through that joined a book club, garden club and decor club. I also joined the Horticultural Society. Over the years groups have fallen apart. We all got what we needed from those groups and have remained friends. Iām currently looking for a new book club to join. I always have a book on the go and love to meet with others to discuss. I walk my dog every morning without fail. I tried different exercise groups – yoga, Pilate, Tai Chi, Zumba and Aquasize. The pool work out is my favourite. Itās easy on my arthritic joints. I spend hours in my garden. It is my Zen place. I think I will take up bridge again. I played a lot in my late 30s & 40s, then it dropped off with a busy life and multiple military moves. A refresher course will introduce me to new groups to join.
Wonderful post with ideas I wouldn’t have thought of!
I used to do needlepoint and knitting. I enjoyed needlepoint more and still have some pieces to complete; although that hobby has been on the back burner for many years.
I also used to make jewelry that I sold at craft shows. That was a fun and social hobby. Again, it’s been on the back burner. What I’ve enjoyed lately is making silk flower arrangements for our home, including seasonal and holiday arrangements. They may be “out” as far as decor, but not for me!
I also enjoy organizing. That may not really be a hobby, but it’s very satisfying and I sure spend a lot of time on it! Ha!
I really need to “pull” exercise into my retirement equation. I truly hate it, but need to do it! Your post is inspiring!
Iām pushing myself to do the exercising. I just have to.
Great post. Before I retired I started playing tennis. Love the challenge. I have played competitive as well as just for fun. I learned how to knit and crochet when I was younger, but now retired for several years I knit for a ministry at church that gives a beautiful box of garments and a card, etc. for mothers who loose their babies. What a blessing to know we can bring some joy to them at a difficult time.
Lately I have started putting puzzles together and really like working with the ones that are sectional. My Kindle goes with me for reading while waiting for various appointments. Retirement is good and I find many things to do.
This is such a fun post today — what an active and creative group of women here! I am not retired yet, but I simply cannot understand when people say how bored I’ll be when I do. Are you kidding? There are so many activities to look forward to (which I do now but plan on spending more time doing when I retire). I make greeting cards and collage art, love word puzzles, gardening and walking (just to name a few).
This group of women is amazing!!
After retirement, I have been able to enjoy many creative activities. I love reading, cross stitching, quilting and gardening. The projects just seem to multiply.š
I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments – I’ll have to check back later to see what other hobbies have been added!
I enjoy reading, especially during the week between Christmas and New Years. Maybe the Christmas to New Year reading is a holdover from my school teacher days when hours of uninterrupted reading were quite the luxury. Year round, I enjoy reading the Bible through – I learn something new every time.
My husband gave me a pickleball set for Christmas last year, and we played frequently last spring. It’s great fun, but we haven’t branched out to find others to play with.
I’ve played Bunco off and on for years. My group tends to laugh – a LOT- when we play. Good strong belly laughs are SO beneficial!
I’ve never been able to get the hang of crochet, but enjoy knitting from time to time. My favorite knitting projects are dishcloths. I can finish one over the course of a few evenings and then have a useful item (and it doesn’t really matter what it look like). Confession – I actually know only one knitting stitch, (and that’s all I care to know right now) along with how to cast on and bind off (is that the right term?), but it’s enough for me! š
I have a pottery studio. Pottery is messy and muddy (or maybe it’s just me…), and working the clay is sometimes difficult for my hands (I have some arthritis in my fingers), but it can also be great exercise for my fingers. I thought when I retired 5 years ago, that I would do pottery “all the time”, but it hasn’t worked out that way.
My newest interest is woodturning! I’ve taken a few classes and think that it’s so much fun. My goal is to create a turned Nativity set.
I would LOVE a line dancing class! My local Y has a class a couple of times a week, but not at a time that works for me. Occasionally I’ll play a Youtube video and dance along, which is good exercise, but not as much fun as dancing with a room full of people.
Bind off is correct! You are busy.
Here in the frozen tundra, cabin fever is real so I try to exercise both my body and my mind. I love doing jigsaw puzzles in the winter but my current project is a Diamond Art picture (just like paint by number but youāre using diamond shaped beads). I am also trying to learn a bit of Spanish for an upcoming trip, and am participating in a program to read the Bible in a year. Iām also contemplating learning to play the ukulele just for fun and trying to get the nerve to tackle 30 years of family photos! So many choices to keep our minds active!
Jennifer, thanks for this thoughtful message. In retirement, Iāve enjoyed a lot of these activities – golfing, knitting, Mahjong, Canasta, book club, gardening – and the benefits you mention are absolutely spot on. Itās so important to challenge our brains, exercise our bodies and enjoy socializing with ithers. Thanks for a great message.
Hi Jennifer! I started playing golf when I retired at 60. My friend talked me into trying it with her, and I am hooked! During warmer weather, I play with a couple of lady friends once a week, and we play with our husbands as a group on Fridays. I also play with my husband and our golf-fanatic son, who is a high school coach and a great teacher (and is also very patient with his mom!) I enjoy reading, usually on my Kindle, and doing Wordle and the New York Times spelling bee and crossword puzzles. I used to cross stitch quite a bit and was just thinking about finding a project to get me through the winter. I found when I made a few ornaments recently that I don’t see as well as I used to and require good lighting! I need to get motivated to spend some time on our treadmill, too. We get together with a small group of friends at least once a week for dinner and often play cards as well.
I love knitting! Though I now have Rheumatoid Arthritis, my physicians, which also include a hand surgeon, have promised to keep me knitting! I also enjoy reading either a real book or on my Kindle. However, spending time with my two incredible teenage grandchildren brings me the most joy! Whether itās going for coffee together, cheering at their baseball games and tennis matches, or just chatting, itās the best. Iām lucky that we are able to see each other several times a week, and we love making memories together!
Now that I am retired, I have time to read what I want to read (rather than student work). I also have time to work out more (at home since I don’t like a gym setting) – yoga, vibration plate, arms and upper body weights, low impact HIIT (AARP on youtube). I also love to bake and cook. I just started to bake and donate mini loaves to a local church. I baked 110 mini loaves. I am going to start on the next ones this week (freeze until I have 110 to donate.) I also knitted some hats for preemies in the NICU. I hope to do more mini loaves and hats. We also try to walk as often as we can.
My husband loves to do the outside work (gardening, landscaping, vegetable garden) so as the weather warms, he will be back outside. As the harvest comes in, I freeze and can.
None of my activities are social oriented, and I know I should get out more to meet new people. I am really not one to go out and find new friends. Just getting to know our neighbors (we are in a rural area so not a neighborhood.) We love having them over for dinner and conversation.
The days do seem to fly by, and we are busy most of the time. I do need to learn to take things slowly now that I am no longer working. It’s a hard habit to break.
Learning to slow down is harder than I imagined!
Iām surprised no one has mentioned ācreating artā. I always loved to draw as a child, took a few art studio classes in college, but then for 20 years didnāt have time to touch any art materials. Started taking drawing and painting classes 20 years ago (when I quit full-time work). And have met many (mainly women) in those classes. Almost all were near-beginners at first. Although I no longer need classes from a technical/knowledge standpoint, I find that occasional classes let me see what others are choosing to work on and opens my eyes to possibilities.
I also garden, golf, read, cook.
I’d like to respectfully add learning to play a musical instrument. It is never too late! Adult learners have many advantages over children. I happen to be a private music instructor. Currently approximately half of my students are over the age of 60. Some are returning to music lessons after a long hiatus from lessons in their youth. Others are studying music for the very first time. I love working with my older students and seeing the pleasure they experience in making beautiful sounds.
Love this post, so many great ideas.
Yes! Playing a musical instrument is such a fulfilling pursuit, and is also a proven way to maintain a healthy brain: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2017/january/playing-an-instrument-better-for-your-brain-than-just-listening. So grateful for my wonderful Steinway grand and the time to play all that music I never had time for!
Thank you Jennifer for the great ideas. I love Libby which is a digital book library linked to your account with a partnership with Amazon. I read avidly and it has saved so much money for me and l put bestsellers on the waiting list and think ahead as to what l want. Books l have loved are The Thursday Murder Club,Mrs .England by Stacey Halls and Lucy Foley. I am working on a quilt for my daughter and l am thinking of joining a walking club. My mother is in a local orchestra playing the flute at 89 as she played in her younger years and loves the interaction!
Thatās fabulous! Your mom sounds amazing.
I have boxes of yarn I collected from thrift stores for pennies on the dollar over the years. As someone prone to overeat in the evenings, I enjoy occupying my hands with crochet projects that I create and then donate to shelters and hospitals. Projects can be small, medium, or as large as I want and are always appreciated.