What stopped you from starting a new hobby a few years ago shouldn’t stop you now.
Back then, you were probably too busy with work, and the more important job of raising a family.
But right now, chances are, you have more time on your hands.
Starting a new hobby at this stage of your life makes sense. Physically and mentally, there’s nothing to stop you and, finally, time is on your side.
The benefits of starting a new hobby now are numerous:
- An active interest means an active mind and body; we need to keep ourselves mentally and physically sharp, and a hobby is a fun way of doing that.
- Mastering a new skill gives us a tremendous sense of pride and achievement
- Many activities give us the opportunity to meet new people. For example, over-60s cycling groups combine a good deal of physical activity with socialising.
- A hobby is a great stress-reliever.
People all over the world share our belief that there’s no time like the present when it comes to hobbies. For example, a major British survey revealed that the vast majority of people over 60 years begin to explore new interests. 71% of those surveyed said they’d tried something new once hitting the age of 60, and that ranged from dancing, learning a new language, and outdoor activities such as mountain climbing.
Participants in the survey were also asked what other hobbies they would like to do. How do these responses line up with what interests you?
Here are the figures, and a few key benefits.
- 25% wanted to learn a new language; a great way to engage the brain
- 22% wanted to dance; exercise, co-ordination and social activity
- 21% wanted to learn a new skill; you’d be surprised how quickly you can master this
- 10% wanted to take up bike riding; exercise and the chance to do it with a group.
- 8% wanted to try acting; learning lines is great for the memory
- 8% wanted to do more DIY around the home and garden
- 7% wanted to try yoga; perfect low-impact exercise
- 6% wanted to take up a new sport they had never played before
Finally, the survey asked over-60s to describe their current lifestyle, and this, more than anything, confirms what we already know – life over 60 is far from over:
- 38% described their lifestyle as interesting
- 20% said it was fun
- 24% said it was rewarding
That’s 82% of respondents with a pretty positive view of life over 60.
As for the other 18%?
Maybe they were too busy having fun with their new hobbies to reply....
