If you or someone you know is struggling with boredom or monotony in their retirement life, it could be that your activities aren’t truly engaging your brain. By the time many of us reach retirement age, we think we’ve done all there is to do, or we believe that we’ve already figured out what we like best. Unfortunately, this line of thinking could lead many retirees down a path to disengagement as they age.
Gregory M. Stevens, President of Vantage Point Retirement Living, headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, says, “It’s important for older adults to realize that not only can they learn new things, but that they should. The mental engagement and stimulation that takes place when we learn something new over a period of time does wonders for cognitive health. Considering the prevalence of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, brain health needs to be top on seniors’ lists of healthy aging strategies.”
Benefits of Starting New Hobbies During Retirement
If you think it’s too late for you to learn a new hobby, we encourage you to think again! Brain experts from the Association for Psychological Science say that diving into a new area of interest that promotes intellectual challenge and stimulation is one of the best ways for seniors to keep the mind sharp.
In fact, a study completed by the University of Texas shows that older adults who engage in a new hobby, such as quilting, woodworking or anything they haven’t done before, experienced less cognitive decline than those who only participated in familiar activities with little mental stimulation. While listening to music or spending the afternoon visiting friends are certainly healthy ways to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, these do not offer as many cognitive health benefits as learning something new.
In addition to keeping the brain sharp and warding off cognitive decline as you age, learning a new hobby can provide multiple benefits to your retirement lifestyle, including:
- A Chance to Pursue Old Interests – Maybe years ago, you imagined it might be fun to learn how to crochet or take a sculpture class. As with many ambitions or ideas, life got in the way. Retirement can be the perfect opportunity to finally try the hobbies you never got the chance to amidst raising a family or working on your career.
- Meaningful Relationships – Some of the best friendships and connections form when people learn something together. Whether you make friends with someone in your painting class or find a trusted mentor in the person who gives you gardening tips, a new hobby can be a great avenue for social connections.
- A Sense of Achievement – Being fully engaged in the learning process certainly does away with boredom, but it can also give you the chance to boost your self-esteem through a sense of achievement. You’re never too old to keep growing, and the experience you gain from learning and practicing new skills, setting goals and achieving them can give you a great sense of accomplishment.
- Staying Physically Active – Even if your new hobby doesn’t revolve around a sport or exercise, getting involved in a hobby can help you get up and move on a regular basis. Gardening or fishing takes you out of the house for fresh air and sunshine. Activities that require sitting most of the time can still get you moving as you gather supplies. It’s easy to think of ways to incorporate physical activity into almost any hobby.
- A Way to Find Purpose – When we feel stuck in our day-to-day routines, it can be easy to lose our sense of purpose. Starting something new can provide excitement in your daily life, unlock creativity and give you a newfound source of energy. The hobbies that you do may not seem like life-altering activities, but they can add greatly to your quality of life, making them a valuable source of joy and fulfillment.
Making a Life You Love
If you need a way to refresh your retirement lifestyle, starting a new hobby could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Start brainstorming hobbies to try that would offer you the mental stimulation and daily joy you desire to build a life you love!
Perhaps you see your new hobby taking place in a new environment, free from the time-consuming and expensive hassles of homeownership. Moving to a retirement community can eliminate the worries of daily life and give you the time and energy to pursue what you really love. To learn more about retirement living, reach out to the team at Vantage Point today!
Experience That Matters.
With headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, Vantage Point Retirement Living is a senior living development and management company that has been ensuring area seniors enjoy vibrant, carefree and healthy lifestyles since 1995.
The company is widely recognized for its hands-on, personal involvement within its associated communities, as well as for offering amenities and services that allow seniors to lead stimulating, active lives.
Vantage Point Retirement Living is a family-owned and -operated organization born out of a passion and enthusiasm for seniors. While Vantage Point Retirement Living may be considered a family business, its leadership team has decades of industry experience behind them – bringing together the best of both worlds to provide area seniors with the most extraordinary retirement living experience.
Extraordinary Lifestyles.
Whatever your interests and needs may be, exceptional living is just the beginning at a Vantage Point Retirement Living community. Whether it be Active Adult Living, Independent Living, Assisted Living or The Compass Memory Care™, living at a Vantage Point Retirement community empowers you to take control of your life while embracing your future with confidence and peace of mind.
We currently own three gorgeous communities in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with four more under development and set to open in 2020.
Values You Can Trust.
In an industry increasingly dominated by large, national corporations, Vantage Point provides a trustworthy, local and family-oriented alternative for people seeking a community they can proudly call home – for themselves or a loved one. Our core values of trust, teamwork, family, friendship, individuality, dignity, respect and compassion enable us to create best-in-class communities designed to enhance the health, well-being and overall quality of life for seniors and their families.
To learn more about Vantage Point Retirement Living and the extraordinary lifestyles we provide, contact us today!
