I and A Mag Oct19

Still Working?
ITS THE TIME TO PICK A RETIREMENT HOBBY
Sociable hobbies
Joining a choir can be one of the most rewarding
ways to spend your leisure time. It’s estimated
that a staggering 2.8 million Britons now belong
to a choir, and recent research has shown that
group singing is a particularly fast way to create
social bonds – in other words, it’s a speedy short
cut to making new friends.
Retirement beckons, and with it the opportunity
to do the things you’ve always wanted to do
but haven’t had time for. However, research by
the Skipton Building Society has shown that
we don’t always follow up on our dreams of an
active retirement: apparently many of us start
to feel bored and undervalued within just ten
months of stopping work.
More than half of the retirees surveyed said they missed the
camaraderie they enjoyed at work, while four in ten felt that
staying at home didn’t provide enough mental stimulation.
But instead of feeling motivated to do something with our
precious time, it seems that we simply remain at home and
allow ourselves to become more and more discontented.
According to the Age UK Index of Wellbeing in Later Life, the
rate of our general wellbeing can increase by 20% if we simply
engage with the world around us, whether that’s through
social activities in the community, physical activities or creative
pastimes.
Finding the right hobby can help you make new friends and
give you a sense of purpose, which ultimately benefits both
your physical and mental health. But how do you decide which
hobby is the right one for you? There are so many choices, it’s
often hard to know where to begin.
Sometimes it helps if you start your search from another
perspective: for example, by looking at the social aspects of
a particular hobby. If you are a naturally friendly person, you
may prefer a pastime that puts you in touch with a large group
of people, but if you enjoy your own company it may suit you
better to take up an activity that you can pursue alone, in your
own time.
You should also think about where you’d like to spend your
leisure time. Would you prefer to be outside, enjoying nature, or
indoors, where you can fit your hobby around other activities?
Other ways to meet people include volunteering
at an animal shelter, joining a group such as a book
or film club, helping at a charity shop, signing up
to your local amateur dramatic society or starting
a social media group such as a neighbourhood
watch.
Home alone
If you’re looking for the kind of hobby you can
enjoy at home, then creative hobbies such as upcycling
furniture, card-making or jewellery-making might be just what
you need to fill your time. Get inspired by the speedy arts and
crafts videos available on YouTube or scour charity shops and
second-hand bookstores for cheap ‘how to’ books that can
teach you a new skill.
Buy vintage jigsaws and share the completed pictures with
friends online, write poetry or short stories, take up knitting or
baking or learn to fix up an old car. Alternatively, find a pen pal
at home or overseas with the help of clever phone apps that
make it easy for you to chat to people all over the world.
A surprising number of people of retirement age are also
getting into video gaming. You can start slowly with online
games such as chess.com, thejigsawpuzzles.com and progress
to games such as the puzzle game Portal or the haunting
adventure game Journey.
The great outdoors
Exercise is important for health, so if you are relatively mobile
you might enjoy an outdoor hobby. Whether you choose
something like metal detecting (which you can do on your
own) or Nordic walking (which you would normally do as part
of a group), there are many hobbies that encourage you to
explore the great outdoors and get fit in the process.
While you would need a certain amount of money to buy
equipment to go fishing or metal detecting, there are other
outdoor hobbies, such as foraging, where you can actually
make money without buying expensive kit (but do check on the
location as foraging is not allowed in some areas). Trainspotting,
birdwatching and amateur astronomy are also popular hobbies
that will encourage you to get out and about in the open air.
Although you may be tempted to put off choosing a hobby
until you’ve finally finished work, the evidence suggests that it’s
a good idea to have a plan in place that you can put into action
as soon as you retire. With a little forethought and preparation
you should be able to walk out of work and straight into a life
that’s filled with exciting new possibilities.
by Kate McLelland
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