10 Hobbies to Stimulate the Brain in Retirement

When it comes to the brain, is it true what they say, use it or lose it? The old adage commonly thrown around groups of retirees does indeed bear weight. Without the constant brain stimulation from working, raising a family, and regularly problem-solving throughout the day, retirees can find themselves at a higher risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive decline as they age.

Worry not! You don’t have to be reading War and Peace every day to get your brain the exercise it needs to stay sharp. Try these 10 fun activities and hobbies instead:

1. ​Exercise: From low-impact activities to heart-pumping sports, physical fitness isn’t just a great way to keep your bones and muscles strong. The boost in blood circulation and increased balanced, flexibility and coordination all call on some serious action from your brain too. Daily exercise should include activities that help get your heart rate up and stretch your muscles - brisk 20 minutes walks, moderate hikes, bicycling, swimming, playing tennis or golf, tai chi, even mowing the lawn.
2. Coloring: The peaceful, artistic nature of coloring translates easily from child to adult. Coloring has been shown in adults to improve mood, lower stress levels, and help stimulate brain activity. Free printable coloring sheets showcasing beautiful flowers, symmetrical crosses, animals and other symbols can be found online.
3. Playing Music: Energize brain function with a high-demand cognitive task like learning a new instrument or singing music. Studies have shown that the reasoning and recall required in learning new skills like this enhance episodic memory in older adults. Weary of picking up a guitar? Try regular karaoke dates with your friends instead.
4. Cooking: Hungry for combating dementia and Alzheimer’s? Cooking and baking feed your mind just as much as your stomach. From using your memory in recalling recipes, to measuring, counting, and employing fine motor skills in chopping, stirring, and mixing, your brain is stimulating neural pathway connections. Cooking also employs the use of other senses like smell and taste which are important brain stimulation too!
5. Games: In addition to your tried and true favorites like Bridge or Rumicube, playing games like Trivial Pursuit and Charades promote active recall and tap into your cognitive reserve. Digital games like Pokemon Go, where you use your mobile device to capture virtual characters in real-life settings, have been shown to not only amuse players young and old, but help seniors exercise their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
6. Yoga: A gentle exercise that fosters mindfulness as much as it involves physical activity, gentle yoga (and chair yoga) serves seniors well. With a focus on meditation, deep breathing, and self-actualization, gentle yoga helps reduce stress levels, fight memory loss, stretch muscles and practice balance and flexibility.
7. New Hobby: Take up a new hobby that requires you to use fine motor skills - like crocheting, painting, quilting, or scrapbooking. Regularly engaging the small muscles that control the hand, fingers and thumb is vital to keeping that function strong as you age.
8. Conversation: Engage in regular conversations to help keep your mind sharp. Talking, listening and problem solving are the type of stimulation that lights up many key areas of your brain, and sharing stories from your past, with your grandkids for example, sparks memory function too.
9. Origami: The ancient Japanese paper-folding art form is an inexpensive hobby where seniors can explore the creative sides of their brains and work out their fine motor skills. Free instructional videos and origami guides can be found online, and this is a great activity to do with your grandchildren.
10. Learn a New Language: Becoming fluent in a new language is much harder as you age, however, learning basic vocabulary, phrases and conjugation of a foreign tongue is a sure-fire trigger of brain stimulation. Free digital apps like Duolingo help you learn language on the go, especially beneficial if you plan on visiting another country.

How will you embrace the freedom of retirement? Start with finding fun, engaging hobbies that vitalize your brain and help you stay active!