The best hobbies and activities for seniors

As we get older, staying active and keeping our minds engaged are two of the most important considerations in life. What better way to keep your mind and body active than by getting involved in a new hobby? The CSi Property Group has some suggestions about fantastic hobbies that senior citizens can get involved in.

What sort of hobby will be right for you?

With hundreds of hobbies to choose from, it's important to take some time to think about what will work for you. Think about any physical limitations you might have, as well as what you're interested in and whether you'd prefer to be inside or outside. It's also worth considering whether you'd like a hobby you can get on with on your own (think painting, candle making, or scrapbooking) or activities that you'd do in a group, like card games, dancing or playing bowls or golf. Of course, if you choose a crafty hobby like painting or scrapbooking, you could always find or create a group of like-minded people to enjoy your hobby with.

Hobbies that will get you outdoors

Even if you've never had an especially green thumb, retirement can be the perfect time to take up gardening, even if it's on a small and manageable scale. You can start by planting some basil, parsley and coriander in pots. Seeing something you've planted start to sprout and grow can bring you immense satisfaction - and you can use your herbs for cooking if you are living in an independent-living unit in one of Gauteng's retirement villages.

Depending on the amount of space and sunshine you have available, you could also choose to grow flowers. Good options to try include pansies, marigolds, begonias and violas. You can speak to staff at your nearest nursery to find flowers that are perfectly suited to your area.

Birdwatching is another great option, especially if you live somewhere with a garden. If you're going to make birdwatching your new passion, an online where-to-start guide to birding in South Africa suggests that you start by simply watching the birds in your garden and starting to identify the different families, which are typically doves, sparrows, barbets, thrushes, weavers and ibises. Having a good bird book (and looking through it regularly) will help you start to identify the specific birds that you're seeing.

Even something as simple as walking can become a hobby. Challenging yourself to get in some more steps every day will keep you motivated and help to keep you healthy. One of the many things that make Gauteng a great place to retire is that many of its retirement villages offer walking trails and other great opportunities to exercise. If you have any mobility issues, speak to your doctor before starting any new exercise programme.

Hobbies for those who prefer to be indoors

There are loads of ways to stay creative in your retirement years! Scrapbooking is a popular hobby, and also a way of reliving some of your favourite memories as you work with photographs and memorabilia. Painting can also be a great pastime, even if you don't have any traditional artistic ability. Keep your eyes open for acrylic pour painting classes, in which you pour paints into one another and then tilt the painting surface to create a stunning work of art.

If you live in a retirement village, you may not have to look far beyond your front door for an array of activities to get involved in - whether you prefer inside activities or getting outdoors. Make an effort to get involved in village life, whether that means going to games evenings or movies, entering a bowling competition or enjoying a round of golf.

The first step to enjoying a fulfilling and active retirement is finding the right home. The CSi Property Group has an array of retirement properties available to buy and to let in Gauteng. Contact us today and let's find the retirement home that's right for you.