Healthy aging isn’t just about physical fitness. It’s also important to stay mentally fit. The good news is that keeping your brain sharp doesn’t have to be a chore. Fun retirement hobbies may help boost your brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
The Science Behind Cognitive Decline
If you want your muscles to stay strong, you need to exercise them. If you want your mind to stay strong, you need to exercise it, too.
The University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences explains that some age-related declines in cognitive ability can be considered a normal part of aging. As a result, you may have more trouble remembering things, navigating your way, solving problems or expressing yourself as you age. Dementia, on the other hand, is not considered a normal part of aging – but it is fairly common. According to the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 10% of U.S. adults aged 65 and over have dementia, and an additional 22% have mild cognitive impairment.
The Connection Between Hobbies and Health
Regardless of whether it’s normal, most people want to avoid any type of cognitive decline as much as possible. According to the National Institute on Aging, many genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors can contribute to a decline in cognitive ability. You can’t control your genetic factors, but you can make changes to improve your environment and lifestyle. You can:
- Take steps to improve your physical health and manage high blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet with fruits and vegetables; whole grains; lean meats, fish and poultry; and low-fat/non-fat dairy.
- Get physical exercise.
- Keep your mind engaged.
Participating in hobbies is a great way to accomplish many of these goals.
Finding Hobbies to Help You Stay Sharp
When you’re looking for a new hobby that will help you stave off cognitive decline, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will you learn something new? There are many ways to engage your mind, but Scientific American says that older people receive significant cognitive benefits from learning new skills. Instead of sticking to the hobbies you’ve done for years, push yourself to try something new.
- Will you be able to socialize? According to Harvard Health Publishing, scientific research has uncovered a link between engaging in social activities or having a strong social network and a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. A hobby that helps you stay social and make friends could be great for your brain health.
- Will the hobby help you stay physically fit? A hobby that helps you get some exercise could support physical health and brain health.
A hobby doesn’t have to check off every item to be worthwhile. You can also pick up multiple hobbies, for example, one that’s more social and one that’s more physical. You also need to consider the fun factor. If you don’t enjoy a hobby, you probably won’t stick with it, and then you won’t see any benefits.
Seven Hobbies to Consider
If you want to pick up a new hobby but you’re not sure what to try, consider these seven retirement hobbies:
- Gardening. Watching your garden grow can be very fulfilling. You’ll also get exercise, and you’ll probably learn a lot about what different plants need to thrive. If you grow a vegetable garden, you’ll also get healthy food.
- Sports. Many sports provide both physical exercise and socialization. You could take up golfing, bowling or pickleball.
- Music. Have you always wished you could play the guitar? It’s never too late to learn, and playing a musical instrument could help you stay sharp.
- Book clubs. Reading is a fantastic way to exercise your brain. When you join a book club, you also get the benefits of socialization.
- Board games. If you play a lot of new games, you’ll always be learning new skills. Board games are also a great social activity.
- Photography. If you have a smartphone, you already have a camera, but if you really want to get serious about photography, you can purchase a dedicated DSLR or mirrorless camera. In addition to learning a new skill, many types of photography require you to move around, including landscape, street and wildlife photography.
- Cooking. Taking a cooking class can be a good way to learn a new skill and socialize. It’s even better for you if you make healthy food.
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