15 Cheap Hobbies For Those Seniors That Are Active
Hobbies have stood between man and the depths of insanity for time immemorial. Whether the hobby has been chucking spears at wooly mammoths or feeding ChatGPT naughty prompts, we (and our ancestors) must find worthwhile ways to spend our downtime.
Active hobbies are significant for seniors, as cognitive and physical decline becomes a more significant hazard the older we grow. Considering the finite nature of retirement savings, it’s ideal for senior-centric hobbies to be cheap—just like these.
1. Pickleball
The sport of the retirees used to be tennis. While pickleball’s origins date back to 1965, only recently has the sportreached pandemic-level adoption rates. The smaller court, less aerodynamic ball, and lesser demand for spryness and agility have made pickleball the official sport of AARP.
While the average age of pickleballers is around 35 years, the sport’s popularity among seniors is both self-explanatory and very real. Those with a competitive itch must be warned, though: Pickleball can be more addictive than sugar.
2. Volunteering
The beauty of volunteerism is that there’s a suitable mission for everyone. Healthy, active seniors might help build homes for Habitat for Humanity, while others may get their fill of exercise ladling soup at the local homeless shelter.
Community gardens, hospitals, and humane societies are among the many philanthropic outlets where you can serve humanity without sitting on your rear end all day. Not only can you be physically active, but you can also actively enrich the lives of those who need you the most.
3. Gardening
We’re fans of the phrase “get your hands dirty,” and we mean it this time. Gardening is proven to lower stress, and it can also benefit your health if you actually eat what you grow (and go easy on the pesticide, which is another perk of planting it yourself).
Consider designing your garden in a way that is sustainable for seniors. You might consider raised garden boxes that don’t require bending over to get on your knees whenever you need to pull weeds, plant a new lily, or pick your rosemary. Keyhole-designed beds, which are U-shaped, are a common recommendation for seniors.
4. Local Road Trips
By the time you hit about 37, the desire to weave through traffic at high speeds—or even drive more than 30 minutes at a time—is typically out of your system. Let’s be realistic about senior road tripping, then.
Seeing new things has immediate benefits for your mental health and outlook. You’ll also enjoy a sense of anticipation that comes with planning local jaunts, discovering new restaurants, wineries, and parks, and then planning next month’s mini-road trip. You don’t have to drive cross-country like Easy Rider. But regularly traveling outside your immediate vicinity will keep you young.
5. Biking (There Is No Shame in Three Wheels)
We sincerely hope that the video of Joe Biden toppling over on his bike did not have a chilling effect on senior cycling. Let’s just say this upfront: There is absolutely no shame in riding a three-wheeled contraption—we encourage it.
Older adults tend to walk less, and running is a high-impact exercise that is impractical for many seniors. Cycling allows silver foxes to engage their cardiovascular systems, see new sights, get sunshine, and feel alive without punishing their knees, hips, and other joints.
6. Yoga (Hot or Not)
Yoga is so hot right now. No, seriously, hot yoga has become increasingly popular (and increasingly sweaty) over more than a decade. Hot or cold yoga could be the ideal fit for seniors seeking exercise that delivers high-impact circulation and sweat without high impact on the body.
Aging is not always graceful or easy, and some added psychological grounding and peace might be just what the shaman ordered—go ahead, call me a hippie, and scroll to the next slide if you like. I’d understand, man.
7. Amateur Acting (or Professional Acting, If You’re Good)
What is retirement for if not trying out the hobbies you spent your life neglecting? You told yourself you “wouldn’t be any good” or “had to dedicate your time to a real job.”
Well, now you’re in your 60s, 70s, or 80s, and you realize that life is far too short to have never pranced around on the local community theater stage.
8. Metal Detecting
You know what’s better than long, leisurely walks on the beach? Long, leisurely walks on the beach that end with buried treasure.
The metal-detecting crowd receives plenty of razzing, and you might not have the self-esteem to don the headset and detector on a densely populated beach. Our federal government notes that “Metal detecting is a legitimate means of locating gold or other mineral specimens and can be an effective prospecting tool for locating larger mineral deposits.” Regarding hobbies, those that could lead to “locating gold” are worth our collective attention.
9. Museum-ing
You must reach a certain maturity level before truly appreciating a museum. Whether you’re marveling at a centuries-old oil painting, striding by exhibits featuring the indigenous people who once hunted wildlife where the local McDonald’s is now located, or are standing while listening to a lecture on a recent book release, museums are hubs of intellectual satiating culture.
As an added bonus, plenty of museums offer a senior discount, and you can stay there for hours if you so please. Few hobbies provide as much value (or as many steps on your Apple Watch) as a top-notch museum.
10. Snapping Photos
Sometimes, we need a reason to honestly look at nature. Otherwise, we often fail to appreciate its true improbability and majesty.
Spending the money for a reasonably capable camera can open a whole new world for a hobbyist. You might be more likely to see new parks, get outside earlier and later in the day, and research regional wildlife as symptoms of your newfound love of photography. And, trust us, you’ll move plenty as you chase the perfect shot.
11. Dancing (Patrick Swayze Wishes He Still Could)
Whether you prefer to stick with the dancing styles of your youth (The Twist never goes out of style), want to try out the salsa or another exotic mode of motion you’ve never learned, or just want to move around, dancing is a low-risk hobby that you can enjoy at any age.
Some retirees take classes. Others simply make an effort to see live music and get out on the dance floor. Whatever you do, make dancing a recurring portion of your hobby rotation because it’s cheap and great for hip health.
12. Babysitting (Even If There’s No Relation)
Have you seen the articles about “Grandparent Burnout?” What complete and utter nonsense.
Common sense and generations of anecdotal evidence tell us that proximity to youth keeps the senior feeling young. Those who spend time around their grandchildren get more exercise, get flooded with “feel-good hormones,” and experience social interaction that reduces the risk of cognitive decline.
If you don’t have grandkids, consider babysitting in your free time. It’s good for you.
13. Camping
There’s no upper age limit on S’mores.
The camping scene is chock-full of jolly seniors, many of whom prefer to spend nights in their RVs and pull-behind campers. There are also plenty of easily accessible campgrounds where, if you can pitch a tent, you can get back in touch with youthful nights spent underneath the summer sky. It may seem rugged, but camping might provide enough challenge and adventure to keep you young.
14. Fishing
As the pace of life inevitably slows over time, why not embrace a famously slow-paced hobby? You probably won’t be fighting Marlin (especially if you’re fishing on a budget), so invest in a comfortable camping chair, stand occasionally (these are active activities, after all), and post up by the shoreline for a few hours.
A bait bucket of live shrimp won’t cost you much. Once you have the rod and reel, you have all you need.
15. Hitting the Gym
You’re never too old to work out. As someone whose dad has embraced a later-life workout revival, I know it’s one of the most reliable ways to promote longevity, look as young as possible, and give yourself a daily reason to get up early and pump blood.
Resistance bands, squats, planks, pilates, stretching, and other equipment-less workouts are cheap and can be done from the comfort of your living room.
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