In today’s digital world, seniors can learn nearly any skill online. Even better, many classes, courses, and tutorials are free or cost very little money.
You can focus on fun activities or hobbies that prep you for a job — or a little of each! Learning online is a good use of your downtime, and it’s one thing you can do from the comfort of your home.
Do What You Love
If you’re looking for a way to maximize the happiness you feel when you’re immersed in your hobby, consider starting your own business.
While business ownership is not for everyone, the ability to make extra money or replace your income by doing what you love (and sharing it with others) can make entrepreneurship an attractive option.
If you think it seems like a lot of work to turn your hobby into a business, you’re right. However, there’re various online resources to guide you through the process step by step.
And it’s easier (and less expensive) than it sounds! For example, filing a California Statement of Information — one of six steps in creating a California LLC — can be done entirely online and only costs $20.
The Benefits of Learning a Hobby
In fact, acquiring a new hobby can be beneficial for you. Here’re some ways learning a new skill online can improve your life.
- It can improve your health. According to psychologist Joyce E. A. Russell, research shows “people who have hobbies are generally healthier, and have a lower risk of depression and dementia.”
- Psychology Today has a list of psychological benefits hobbies provide, including achieving “flow” in your life and helping you cope with stress.
- Regaining your sense of control and finding purpose are two reasons to acquire and master a hobby, according to LifeHack.
- Creative hobbies, including dance, can provide therapeutic relief for seniors in recovery from addiction and others.
- Hobbies can also improve socialization, especially if you take them on with a group of friends. Regenerative Medical Solutions states they’re a great way to meet new people, make friends, and broaden experiences.
Fun Hobbies You Can Start Today
So what are some of these hobbies? Here’re a few ideas to get you started.
Drawing
According to this post at Steps to Health, drawing can boost your concentration, improve your motor skills, and help you process your feelings. There’re tons of drawing styles to choose from: sketching, different painting styles, cartoon art, charcoal, pen drawing, and more. What a great way to boost your creativity!
Playing a Musical Instrument
Learning a musical instrument has been shown to improve academics, including reading, comprehension, and math, just to name a few. Discover even more benefits of playing music at Effective Music Teaching.
When you find an instrument you want to learn, you’ll need to buy it, but you can also learn keyboard skills and chords directly on an iPad.
Do not invest too much in an instrument until you know you will continue with this skill. You can also learn to play the instrument you were born with – your voice.
Photography
Photography is something anyone with a smartphone can learn. It has the added benefit of becoming a marketable skill if you master it. There’re many photography courses to choose from, and you can practice the skill daily while sharing your work online.
If you excel in this, you can consider investing in a quality new or used DSLR camera and start taking pictures professionally! If you’re a traditionalist and prefer to use a non-digital camera, you can build a darkroom at home on a budget.
Dancing
You can learn to dance at home or in a classroom. While dancing in a class allows you to socialize, learning online is an excellent way to get started because you can pause and replay any complicated steps or moves.
Choose what style you want and whether you’ll do it with a partner or not. To get started, pull up a YouTube video to learn dance routines from your favorite artists.
Learning a new skill online is fun, easy, and affordable. It can even benefit your career and mental health. There’s no reason not to get started today! Here’re five enjoyable hobbies for active seniors.
