January is the start of an exciting new year, but for a lot of seniors, this cold month can cause depression and the feeling of loneliness. To prevent this from happening to you or your loved ones, stay busy! What do you like to do in your spare time? Whether you do a lot or nothing at all, it is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby! There are so many great hobbies that can benefit seniors through stress relief, brain stimulation, and physical exercise. Since January is National Hobby Month, take advantage of it by starting some new activities. Venture outside of your comfort zone and try something you’ve never done before.

Try one of these senior-friendly hobbies this January

Play Games

Hobby Month crossword

A great way to keep your brain stimulated is by playing games. Picking up hobbies such as crossword puzzles, board games, and playing cards keeps you thinking and keeps your brain healthy. Games like this can be very beneficial because it exercises your memory and decreases the chance of losing cognitive functions. It’s also a great way to bond with family and friends. When it’s too cold to go outside, pick up a deck of cards and spend some time with friends and family!

Get Creative

Arts and crafts is another great way to stimulate the brain. Relieve some stress with this hobby and let your creative side show! Whether it’s painting, knitting, scrapbooking or even cooking. There are so many artistic and simple hobbies you can pick up! There are also places you can go to learn how to paint, cook, or make pottery. This will get you out of the house and help you meet new people! This is also a fun hobby to do together with your friends or family. It gives you a chance to spend time with them and socialize all while doing an activity that everyone can enjoy, especially the grandkids!

Walking

Spend the occasional warm winter day outside! Walking is a very healthy activity for you physically and mentally. It is the perfect way to exercise and clear your mind. It’s also a fun hobby that can be spent with friends and family. It gives you good quality time with your loved ones while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Always make sure that the weather conditions are safe before leaving for your walk. Before you decide to add walking into your daily routine, make sure you are protected. It is important to always carry a medical alert device in the event of an emergency. During this National Hobby Month, don’t leave home without your medical alert device to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Gardening

In some areas, January is too cold to garden. But for those in areas where it is still warm, gardening is a very therapeutic hobby to pick up. Gardening helps relieve stress and also increases mobility. It’s a fun and healthy way to get some exercise and also spruce up your yard! Picking up a hobby like gardening encourages you to spend time outside and soak up some vitamin D. By growing different herbs and plants that you can bring into your kitchen and use, you are able to turn this fun hobby into a healthy lifestyle. If it’s too cold to garden outside, some great indoor plants include:

  • Lemons
  • Kale
  • Microgreens
  • Herbs
  • Avocado

Volunteer

Hobby Month volunteer

Volunteering is a hobby that is not only fun but benefits your community. There are many different organizations that are always looking for new volunteers. It’s a good way to spend time outside of the house and meet new people. It is proven that volunteering reduces the chance of depression in seniors because it gives a sense of purpose. Many seniors feel like they have nothing to do after they retire, so volunteering gets rid of that feeling. The physical activity also puts you at a lower risk of high blood pressure and promotes longer life. Some good places to volunteer are at the library, food banks, and with local organizations. Get involved with a new hobby and benefit your community this January!

Don’t let this month pass by without picking up a new hobby! There are so many fun hobbies that seniors can do in their spare time whether it’s at home or out in town. It’s important to take charge of your life by participating in activities that make you happy and promote a healthy lifestyle. BlueStar SeniorTech offers different products and services to keep you or your senior loved one safe, healthy, and connected while you are enjoying that new hobby. Visit our website or call a product specialist at 800-300-1724, option 1 to find out more about the products that will keep you safe.