Having a hobby is more than just finding an activity to fill your free time. Hobbies keep you mentally, physically, and socially active, can be great stress relievers, and allow you to explore new interests and passions.

There are endless hobbies to pursue and explore, and we’ve already shared several that can promote healthy aging and wellness during the summer. Now that winter is here, though, the cold and snowy weather that some places are experiencing can make it difficult to hike, garden, or work outside in the woodshop. 

Having hobbies is important whether you live in a house, an apartment, or an independent living community. To keep you busy and entertained during the winter season, HarborChase Senior Living is sharing even more hobbies that promote healthy aging (and can be done indoors!).

1. Redesign Your Space

Who says spring has to be the only season for cleaning? While the end of winter typically signifies the time when people are motivated to deep clean, there are many reasons to start long before winter is over. With the windows closed all season, dust and grime can build up and cause allergies. Plus, winter is cold and flu season and deep cleaning can remove any germs or bacteria. 

To make cleaning fun, think about rearranging or redesigning your space! You’ll be surprised at how much a new pillow, rug, or blanket can change the feeling of the entire room. For ideas and inspiration, you can look online at places like Pinterest or Good Housekeeping.

2. Take the Heat to the Kitchen

You might think that cooking is something you have to do every day, but when you make it fun and use your creativity, it can become a hobby! Winter is a great time to experiment with indulgent comfort food recipes and festive baked goods. 

Cooking at home is a great hobby that promotes healthy aging, creates memorable moments with family, relieves stress, and encourages creative flavor experimentation! 

Check out these guilt-free comfort food recipes to try this winter:

• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
• Potato Leek Soup
• Zucchini Bread
• Oatmeal Cookies

3. Discover Your Family Tree

With the rise of self-DNA tests like Ancestry and 23 and Me, studying genealogy and family history has become an increasingly popular hobby—so much so that it was recently named the second most popular hobby in the United States (The first? Gardening). As a result, many people are fascinated by where they came from and the stories of their ancestors. 

Studying your family’s genealogy can be as surface level or as in-depth as you want. Some people simply want to see if they have any relatives in a different part of the world, while others spend hours creating family trees and exploring historical records. If you’re interested, here are some tips on getting started!

4. Win a Checkmate

Chess is an exciting and thought-provoking game loved by people all over the world. In addition to being a fun game to play, it is also a hobby with many benefits for mental and social wellness. Whether you play with a friend in person or against a computer online, playing chess is an excellent way to boost memory, improve critical thinking skills, and has even been shown to protect against dementia.

If chess is not your thing, try another strategic game like Mahjong, Solitaire, or Backgammon!

5. Stretch it Out

While hobbies that promote mental and emotional wellness are important and entertaining, it’s also just as crucial for healthy aging to have a hobby that encourages physical fitness. Physical activity is especially important during winter, when you may not get as much movement as you do during the summer months. If the cold and dark weather is keeping you indoors, though, don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get moving inside! Yoga, stretching, and low-impact workouts are all great options for staying active without leaving the warmth of your own home!

6. Embrace the Season

While some may want to curl up by the fireplace this winter, others might want to take advantage of the weather while they can! Depending on where you live, there are a lot of ways to enjoy the beauty of the season, from ice skating and skiing to taking a snowy walk through the woods. 

Of course, if you live somewhere warmer like Florida or Texas, you may not have the snow, but you can still enjoy some time outdoors! 

Don’t Leave Your Hobbies Out in the Cold!

Hobbies are valuable all year long in encouraging healthy aging, wellness, and fun. Whether you’re interested in finding confidence in the kitchen, discovering family history, or perfecting a new yoga pose, the most important thing is that you’re doing something you love! 

HarborChase Senior Living offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care at communities throughout the United States. We are believers in celebrating life and senior living and encourage you to discover a new passion this winter season! For more articles on senior health and wellness, we invite you to explore our blog.