Getting bored is a common problem many seniors face, especially if they live alone. With more free time and reduced mobility, finding activities to stay occupied can be a challenge. As a physical therapist caring for seniors, I’m often asked for suggestions on how to battle boredom.
There are many great solo activities suited for seniors to boost mental stimulation, creativity, physical activity, and fun. Here are 30 ideas to try if you’re a senior struggling with boredom.
Mentally Stimulating Activities
Keeping your mind sharp is important as you age. Try these cerebral activities you can do independently.
1. Read Books
Reading is one of the best ways to exercise your brain. Try getting (back) into reading by starting a book club even if it’s just you! Read best sellers, biographies of influential people, or classic novels you’ve always meant to check out. Libraries also have large print and audiobook options if reading small text is an obstacle.
2. Write Stories or Poetry
Tap into your creativity by writing short stories, poems, memoirs, or even just journaling your thoughts and daily experiences. This is a great way to process emotions while keeping your mind engaged. Even if you don’t share your writing with others, it can be personally fulfilling.
3. Do Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles require focus, problem solving, and flexing your vocabulary muscles. They’re an entertaining and low-cost form of brain training. Look for puzzle books geared specifically towards seniors if regular crosswords feel too difficult.
4. Learn a New Language
Exposing your brain to new vocabulary, grammar structures, and pronunciation in a foreign language provides great mental stimulation. Thanks to websites and apps, you can self-teach a new language through interactive lessons, games, flashcards, and more.
5. Play Strategy Games
Games like Sudoku, chess, solitaire, word search, backgammon, and mahjong give your memory, logic, and focus a good workout. Playing solo helps boost strategic thinking without social pressures. Look for rule books at libraries and game stores to learn new skill-based games.
Physically Engaging Activities
While mental exercises are crucial, it’s equally important for seniors to incorporate physical activity into daily solo activities to maintain mobility, flexibility, strength, and balance. Here are engaging ideas to get your body moving.
6. Go For Walks
Going for daily walks around your neighborhood is a safe, low-impact activity that provides great health benefits. Just be sure to wear supportive footwear and use any prescribed walking aids. Walking also gives you room to think and experience the outdoors. Consider joining a mall walking club if the weather is prohibitive.
7. Do Chair Yoga
Chair yoga is a beginner-friendly yoga style that allows you to perform postures and stretches from a seated position while providing similar benefits to mat yoga. It increases flexibility, breathing, balance, and range of motion. Great for those with limited mobility or difficulty getting up and down from the floor. Tutorials are widely available online and on DVD.
8. Strength Train
You don’t need weights or a gym membership to build strength. Bodyweight exercises like pushups, planks, wall sits, and lunges can be done at home to maintain functional strength and stability in your muscles and joints. I recommend speaking to a physical therapist or physician first to provide guidance and ensure it’s safe for any chronic conditions before beginning a new strengthening routine.
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9. Go Cycling
Cycling, whether stationary or outdoors, is wonderful for cardiovascular health. Those with balance limitations may feel safer using a stationary recumbent bike. Others might enjoy cruising around town. Wear a helmet for safety and watch out for bumps in the road that could cause falls. Consult your doctor for specifics on an exercise regimen if managing illnesses like heart disease or diabetes.
10. Practice Tai Chi
The Chinese martial art tai chi emphasizes slow, focused body movements integrated with breathing and meditation to boost balance, coordination, posture, muscle strength, and flexibility. It can be conveniently done from home through online classes, DVDs, YouTube, or books once you learn the basics. Tai chi is very senior-friendly and great for injury prevention.
Social Activities
Humans are social creatures by nature. While this list focuses on solo activities, it’s still important to incorporate some form of social interaction or risk feelings of loneliness. Here are ways seniors living independently can socialize safely from home.
11. Schedule Video Calls
Thanks to technology, you can have face-to-face conversations with loved ones via video calls. Platforms like FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Skype make it easy log on for a chat. Set up weekly virtual visits or phone dates with family members, friends, or peers so you have things to look forward to without leaving home.
12. Join Online Communities
If you’re tech-savvy, join forums or social networks based around your interests to engage with like-minded individuals. There are sites dedicated to hobbies like gardening, books, sports, health conditions and more that allow you to exchange ideas and form connections. Just be cautious sharing any private information with strangers online.
13. Learn a Musical Instrument
Learning to play an instrument like piano, guitar or ukulele can be very fulfilling while keeping your mind occupied. The bonus is music has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress. You can start by watching free beginner tutorials on YouTube or invest in lessons through applications like Skype or FaceTime.
14. Adopt a Pet
The companionship and responsibility of owning a pet can work wonders for boredom and loneliness. Consider adopting a cat, dog, or other animal from your local shelter or rescue organization. Be sure you can handle daily care duties before making the commitment. Pets provide unconditional love and a little buddy to spend time with.
Leisure and Lifestyle Activities
Solo activities centered around personal passions, hobbies and leisure are key for happiness. Dive into your interests or discover new ones with these ideas.
15. Cook or Bake New Recipes
Whipping up tasty new recipes will satisfy your taste buds and is more fun than just preparing the usual dishes. Look for senior-friendly recipes that require minimal prep work. Browse food blogs and magazines for inspiration. Better yet, experiment with healthy ingredients and record your own secret recipes!
16. Do Arts and Crafts
Engaging in arts and crafts provides hours of enjoyment while tapping into your creativity. Try sewing, knitting, jewelry making, painting, adult coloring books, pottery, decoupage, origami, candle/soap making or woodworking. Local senior and community centers may offer free or low-cost classes too.
17. Start a Garden
Gardening is a soothing outdoor hobby offering plenty of light physical activity. Tend to flower beds and vegetable gardens in your yard for a rewarding solo project. Those without a yard can make great use of pots, planters and window boxes. Gardening helps cultivate healthy homegrown ingredients for cooking while providing you with your own peaceful sanctuary.
18 Adopt a Highway
Adopt a Highway programs allow individuals, families and organizations to help clean sections of public roadways. As an adopter, you agree to help keep your section clear of litter by conducting cleanups at regular intervals. It’s a simple, flexible way to get outdoors while tidying the community. Arrange pickups of collected trash bags through your state or county program.
19. Birdwatch
Turn your yard or nearby nature areas into a bird sanctuary by placing bird feeders outside windows and adding birdbaths and nesting boxes. Spend time identifying visiting species and recording behaviors in a birding journal to engage mindfulness. You may be surprised just how entertaining observing wildlife can be right from home.
20. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
Learning to play an instrument like piano, guitar or ukulele can be very fulfilling while keeping your mind occupied. The bonus is music has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress. You can start by watching free beginner tutorials on YouTube or invest in lessons through applications like Skype or FaceTime.
Relaxing Activities
We all need time to simply relax and recharge – especially busy caregivers and grandparents. Don’t feel guilty about spending time involved in relaxing solo activities just for you.
21. Take a Hot Bath
There’s nothing quite like a good, long soak in a hot bubble bath to melt away stress. Light some candles, put on classical music or nature sounds, and drift away to your happy place. Adding epsom salts can soothe sore muscles and help replenish magnesium levels too.
22. Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation focusing on present moment awareness trains your mind to be calm and relaxed. Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and direct attention to your breathing while releasing distracting thoughts. Guided meditations with verbal cues are available through apps like Headspace or Insight Timer. Just a few minutes daily can lower blood pressure and cortisol.
23. Give Yourself a Manicure
Treating yourself to an at-home manicure helps you relax while making your hands look nice. File and shape nails, exfoliate cuticles, apply a hydrating lotion, and finish with a fresh coat of polish in a fun color. You can even experiment with nail art using tape, rhinestones or glitter polish.
24. Watch a Favorite Movie or Show
Set aside time to binge watch nostalgic shows and movies you know and love. Streaming services make it easy to access old favorites and discover new heartwarming films about aging that may inspire you. Laughter truly is great medicine when combating boredom and stress.
25. Take a Nap
A short 20-30 minute power nap gives you a quick energy boost while serving as a mini reset button for the brain. Napping helps consolidate memories and enhance mood. Just don’t doze too long or you may have trouble sleeping at night. The key is listening to your body’s needs.
26. Get a Massage
Treat yourself to a soothing massage whether that’s booking an appointment with a professional or using massage tools designed for home use. Increase blood flow and relax tense areas. There are also therapeutic online videos demonstrating massage techniques for self-massage.
Skill-Building Activities
Taking on mentally or physically challenging activities breeds a sense of purpose and achievement. Continue expanding your knowledge and testing yourself.
27. Take Free Online Courses
Many prestigious colleges and e-learning platforms offer free online courses via podcasts, videos and reading materials on endless topics from art history to web design. Learning new skills and topic areas helps keep your mind sharp. Some examples are Coursera, edX, FutureLearn, and Khan Academy.
28. Learn to Play Chess
Known as the game of kings and queen, chess is a timeless strategy game requiring concentration and critical thinking. Considered great brain training, you can teach yourself the rules and tactics from books before challenging other players in person or online. Some park districts even have senior chess clubs.
29. Study a New Topic
Delve deeper into a subject that fascinates you by checking out library books, academic journals, reputable websites, documentaries and academic lectures. World history, astronomy, economics, health, arts, technology — knowledge is limitless. Compile learnings into a notebook or blog for yourself.
30. Trace Your Family Tree
Genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies for seniors. Dig into your ancestry by researching relatives, creating elaborate family trees, and learning the family narrative. Many local libraries have free access to genealogy websites and records. Connect with newly discovered relatives too!
Final Thoughts
Battling boredom while living alone as a senior can be challenging. I hope this diverse collection of 30 solo activity suggestions provide inspiration to stay happily occupied and engaged each day, whether you crave mental stimulation, physical activity, leisure and relaxation or continued learning.
Don’t hesitate to get creative and add your own twists too. Lastly, don’t forget the importance of regular social interaction with loved ones as that can never fully be replaced. Here’s to staying active and avoiding boredom!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
