Part of my retirement has been figuring out hobbies. For years I was a workaholic and didn’t have many outside of work interests – no hobbies, no clubs, no exercise program. When I started my own hobby-exploration, I wasn’t even sure what a range of hobby options there was!
Although my days now do include hobbies, clubs, and an exercise program, I still enjoy looking at articles that talk about what hobbies are. A recent article defined a hobby as “a routine activity that can boost brain health and add structure to your life”. Loss of structure can be an issue in retirement (or other major life transitions), so exploring hobbies is an important aspect of retirement transition.
Of course, the right hobby for you is not necessarily the right hobby for someone else! I was intrigued with the range of different types of hobbies based on personality traits:
- If you are always curious and interested in new things, look at creative hobbies. Consider visiting museums regularly, taking nature hikes, taking up photography or cooking or painting, reading, traveling, or doing arts & crafts.
- If you are mindful of details, like schedules and planning, look at results-driven hobbies. Consider gardening, writing, playing chess or mahjong, engaging in trivia games or escape rooms, doing volunteer work, or becoming a non-profit board member.
- If you enjoy meeting new people, look at social hobbies. Consider high movement classes (dance, Zumba), group art classes, hosting game nights or book club, attending concerts and festivals, joining a debate club or Toastmasters, taking an Improv class, joining a band or choir or sports league, engaging in a community garden.
- If you like solitude and time spent alone, look at solitary hobbies. Consider training for a marathon, creating and maintaining a blog, tending house plants or a vegetable garden, learning a new language, quilting or knitting, taking up fishing, doing crosswords or puzzles.
Really understanding your interests and personality is critical in crafting a retirement lifestyle. I personally like engaging (dabbling!) in a wide range of hobbies. Others might like to focus on a single area and develop more mastery.
Did you begin new hobbies in retirement? Are you looking to start a new hobby now?
Picture Credit: Output from a dried-flower crafting workshop – an exploration into a possible new hobby!
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Thanks for this. I’m still figuring it out. I’ve always been good with hobbies even during my years of working. Now that I’m not working, I have all this time and thinking “to what purpose?” 🤔
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I don’t know that I took up too many new hobbies in retirement. I had waaaaaay too many interests as it was, Hahahaha. However, I was able to indulge in my interests much more than I could when I was working. I have played about 30-40 rounds of golf per year and I do more woodworking (in spurts) than in the past. I guess I did take up meat smoking after I retired and have greatly expanded that in the last several years to the point where I have developed a fair amount of expertise. I also do a lot more cooking of all kinds now. During the pandemic, I also took up mixology and enjoy trying all manner of new cocktails. I would like to learn to play piano and hammered dulcimer, but I have not made much progress on those yet. I also really enjoy playing Words with Friends (which I probably do to excess) but it’s fun and competitive.
One thing I need to do is reinvigorate an exercise program. Prior to the pandemic, I was going to a trainer twice per week, but in March 2020, that ended. Since then, I have not had a consistent, organized exercise program, but I will be starting again as of November 1st. I think it is really important to maintain strength and fitness as I age. I have just seen too many negative examples of what happens if you don’t.
I’ve also thought about taking up welding and 3-D printing, but I’m holding off on those for now.
Another thing I lost as a result of the pandemic is choral singing which I really enjoyed. My choir is meeting again, but I have been reluctant to go back because I am the main contact for my 93 year old mother and I am being super cautious about exposing her to any pathogens. I would like to go back and I probably will, but I’m just not sure when.
So, I have plenty to keep me occupied and no doubt will find more over time.
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Bob, Your dedication to each and every one of your hobbies simply amazes me. I’m much more a dabbler. At this point of my life I have no desire to reach mastery in anything – not sure why, but am learning to not fight it. I can admire those who strive for it. And believe me I wish I lived closer as I’d be requesting a night of smoked meat and a fun cocktail!! And yes, please get back into your exercise program. I actually feel healthier now that I ever have – even if my exercise program is dabbling in things (currently cardio drumming!)
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Quilting is only as solitary as you want it to be. Pre and post pandemic it can be a huge social thing. I want to learn something new but am trying to decide if more supplies seem warranted. I did an on line course and didn’t like that. Shall see what transpires I guess.
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Bernie, Yeah, supply purchase can be a big challenge for new hobbies. For me, it’s where to store things! I’ve said no to flower drying right now, and card making. I need to use up the supplies I’ve bought for other crafting activities!
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I am frugal/environmental friendly so it’s always a “do I need this”. If you’ve got a spare minute or two Google “quilting stash” and see some images of what some quilters do.
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I started metal detecting as a retirement hobby about 3 years ago. It can be a solitary hobby when I go out by myself searching for treasures. Then, it can be a social hobby when I go to a monthly club meeting and participate in group seeded hunts. I have enjoyed it so much!
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What a fun activity that balances solitary and social. Locally, there’s always requests for metal detecting to find lost jewelry on the beaches. There’s a group that works to help people with that need…. adding a philanthropic component.
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Hi Pat, I have experimented with multiple things in each of these categories over the years. Lately, I have narrowed it down to blogging, tennis, fitness (gym), photography, mahjongg, and book club. Conspicuously absent is volunteer work, which I have done more than my share of and no longer feel compelled to do.
I have served on charitable committees, built homes for Habitat for Humanity, sold books for our local library foundation, tutored new readers, and stitched dresses for little girls in Haiti. I still like to sew but can’t classify it as a hobby since it is just an occasional (as the mood strikes me) thing. I have found that my interest level in any given pursuit is about 2 years, and then I am ready to move on to something new.
That is the beauty of retirement. We can use the time to dabble or to perfect, whatever we choose. My goal is to experience many things and perfect nothing.
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Suzanne, I adore the phrasing of you can “choose to dabble or to perfect”! Going to use that in the future for sure.
I’m actually in the phase of increasing my volunteer work… for the first time ever. I’ve not taken on a leadership role (said no twice now), but am definitely a willing-worker. I’ll see how it goes.
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I’m good with solitary hobbies, no surprise about that. I do want to get into a routine of going to a museum monthly. That’s one thing that I stopped doing during the pandemic– but now go back to doing. Thanks for the idea/reminder.
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Ally, you’re welcome! I love picking up ideas from others. I don’t have a monthly museum plan, but do try and go about 3-4 times per year to various ones, usually when I’m intrigued with their special exhibit. There’s a new one opened locally (arts & crafts theme) that’s on my radar this winter!
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Great article. Had never considered how hobbies can be subdivided as you have done above. I am more a solitary, creative hobbiest. Is that a word? Retirement has certainly had me trying new activities and developing new interests and given me time to enjoy old favorites like reading. Hoping to get back to writing more often as we move into the hibernation months!!
I pinned this on my ‘Life After Retirement – an Oxymoron?’ Pinterest board. I am sure others will find it helpful, too.
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Leslie, I like the word hobbiest. Below I coined the term dabbler-ism. LOL. I’ve enjoyed trying new things in retirement and I intend to keep trying new things as I go on.
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I love this blog Pat. I’ve been thinking about hobbies all wrong. I had it in my head that a hobby had to be something I spent a lot of time doing and was good at – like my husband’s amateur radio hobby, or photography. I have many hobbies after all. I’m definitely a dabbler. I like the full range of hobbies you described, and am happy to be able to spend more time doing them. After retirement, I picked up spin classes, long distance walking and trail hiking. When daylight savings ends, I think I’ll brush up on my piano skills.
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Tracey, I’ve learned to embrace my dabbler-ism. I have no desire to achieve mastery in any of my hobbies. I like spending a bit of time here and a bit of time there. Others might enjoy the focus on single hobby. It’s wonderful that we can all do what brings us joy.
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I resumed blogging after I retired and it really soothes me. I enjoy being able to get my feelings out. I’m that Intovert who likes solitude. 😊
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I understand introverts as I am married to one. I lean towards introvert myself but I do like small group activities. Just let me have my quiet time after! Blogging is one of my hobbies and I find it soothing as well.
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My personality falls into the first and last categories. I started my quilting hobby about 7 years before I retired and now I’m able to spend so much more time on it! I’ve started a monthly sewing club in my neighborhood which will ‘get me out of the house’. I’ve also joined the neighborhood book club and I’ve visited a few local museums. I researched all the museums I could visit with a ‘day trip’ and plan to visit those over the next year.
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Sharon, What a great idea on the museums! Being in a new city, we are exploring local museums and enjoying them. Have not expanded to a “day-trip” approach yet.
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I haven’t started any new hobbies since I retired but I’ve definitely expanded those I already had. Oh wait, I did start blogging after retirement so that’s not quite true. My hobbies fall mostly into the solitary category. I’d love to have friends who do what I do but none of them do. But that’s ok. I love my sewing, cross stitching, knitting, card making, blogging, reading. I don’t bake enough to call it a hobby – we don’t need the calories!!!
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It’s lovely that you had hobbies to expand. I had very few hobbies and exploring was a big part of my early retirement. I’ve never tried card-making (didn’t even know it was a thing) but recently was talking with someone else who has it as a hobby. I’m a bit afraid of picking up another crafting hobby that requires stuff….just no space for it!
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Oh yes, it does require space because there’s so much stuff. Since I’ve been doing it for years, I’ve been able to somewhat gradually amass what I need. I don’t even want to know how much I’ve spent!!
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Cooking, gardening, walking, word games (wordley, scrabble, scattegories), card games, reading, yoga, tai chi chih. There’s a nice mix of solitary & social activities. If I think I have nothing to do, there’s always a list of things left undone. Even better, go for a walk or read a book.
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I also have a mix of solitary and social activities. I’m an introvert by nature and after a full day with people, I need that solitary time! I have Tai Chi on my try-someday list!
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Blogging, refreshing French and Spanish, learning the mandolin. But these had all involved other people!
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Wow – both French and Spanish! I’ve always been so impressed with people who speak multiple languages. I used to joke I spoke American and British. I had a British boss and multiple British co-workers. 🙂
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I spoke British when I lived in the UK
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Hi Pat – Midlife has led me to some new hobbies that I’d never thought of – I like the idea of exploring something and deciding if it’s a good fit. I’ve taken up Tai Chi, an exercise class, stained glass, calligraphy, collaging, neurographic art, and I’m adding in my scooter that I love – all little things that the extra time I’ve gained over the last few years has allowed me to discover and enjoy. Life post-50 is such a joy.
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Leanne, Yes! I am also finding joy in retirement, for sure. Tai Chi has been on my list to try and someday I might find a class. Right now, I’m enjoying my Zumba, cardio drumming, and yoga. I tried calligraphy but found it too frustrating to get over the huge start-up curve. I still have all the books and pens, so I might come back to it at some point. I think my next explore might be origami… someone gave me a kit on that and I have not opened it! So many things to try.
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