13 Great Sports and Hobbies to Take-Up in Retirement

Retirement

So, you’ve reached – or are about to reach – the period of your life that everyone looks forward to. You’re finally close enough to start making those retirement plans a reality. Not only will you have more time, but hopefully you have the money, health, and experience to try new things. So, here are some of the best sports and hobbies to take up if you fancy a new challenge, want to learn new skills, or want to put your experiences to good use!

  1. Golf

Golf is one of those sports that’s perfect for retirement. You can whittle away the hours on your local golf course, enjoy pleasant conversation with other players, admire the view, and stroll around. Plus, you’ll be learning new skills and getting better every time you play. It’s a sport that with the right amount of dedication, you can get better at very quickly, so you’ll actually be able to see yourself improve. If your partner, friend or family member wants to join you – even better. It doesn’t matter if you’re of different abilities either: just browse these best clubs for beginners & high handicappers. You can chart your progress easily, and even if you’re not bothered about improving, you’ll still enjoy how sociable it is, and the gentle exercise you get.

  1. Hiking

While hiking might sound a bit out of your depth, it really isn’t. There are so many routes around the American countryside, and each will have varying levels of difficulty. Start out on easy trails, and work your way up, once you get used to the terrain, fitness levels and stamina needed. Plus, you can turn these hikes into pleasant picnics or family days out. There’s also plenty of equipment to help you out – from walking poles and padded backpacks to supportive boots and socks to prevent blisters. Hiking is also incredibly easy to get into. There are many walking groups you can join for support, or you can simply do your research and head out onto the trails yourself.

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  1. Crochet and knitting

While it might sound like an awful stereotype, crochet and knitting are back in fashion, and in a big way. Not only is it dominating the shops, featuring in high-end fashion magazines and appearing on supermodels, but young people all over the world are getting involved. If you grew up in a certain era, you probably learned to knit as part of your childhood and young adult years – so it won’t take long to get back up to speed. Plus, there are many wonderful community projects you can get involved with, from knitting outfits for premature babies to decorating trees and railings in inner-city areas.

  1. Horse-back riding

Like most people, you’ve probably sat on a horse or donkey once or twice, but due to the time constraints, you probably haven’t explored it fully. Whether you want to try owning a horse yourself, or just fancy trekking around the countryside on horseback, there are many options to take. Start by having a few lessons and getting to know what these marvelous creatures are like. Or, if their size daunts you, why not see if you can help out with miniature ponies and horses? Then you get all the wonderful fun and companionship, without the size and weight.

  1. Swimming

Swimming is a brilliant sport to take up as you get older, as it requires no hard contact. Your joints won’t be impacted, nor will your bones. However, you still get a brilliant workout, and a chance to strengthen your muscles. It’s also a good way to increase fitness and tone up if you’re thinking of taking up a more strenuous hobby, like hiking. Plus, there are lots of fun classes to try, like aqua aerobics – and even aqua Zumba. It’s an easy, low maintenance sport to try, as it requires very little financial investment. Simply find your nearest pool, grab a swimsuit, and you’re ready to get started!

  1. Musical instruments

If you played an instrument when you were younger, or always wanted to, now’s the time to either start one up or pick up where you left off. As demands on adult life begin to increase, it’s hard to carry on with a hobby like playing an interest, as it needs a lot of dedication and time. However, now that you’re retired, you can set aside plenty of time to work on your skill, have lessons, and even join a band. If you don’t want to play an instrument, how about singing? Joining a choir or singing group is a great way to meet people while being able to perform and sing. Many choirs and groups even go on mini ‘tours’, so you’ll be able to see a bit of the country too!

  1. A new business

If you’ve retired from the commercial business but don’t feel ready to slow down yet, then why not set up your own business? You could act as a consultant, passing on your skills, experience, and knowledge, and help other businesses succeed. Or you could form a business that you’ve always had a side interest in, but never had the time or resource to invest in before. Plus, running a business is a great way to supplement your pension and savings.

  1. Following a sports team

Now that you’ve got plenty of time, you’ll be able to follow your favorite sports team for real. You’ll be able to go to all of their games – or at least all the home fixtures – and get into the team spirit of barbecues and post-match celebrations. Plus, it’s something you can do as a family, especially if you’ve got young sports-mad grandchildren.

  1. Volunteering

Volunteering is an amazing way to give something back to your local community. You can either choose to volunteer for a charity or with a small start-up business. By volunteering with a charity, not only will you be helping someone’s life, but you can choose what you’re most passionate about. Whether that’s helping children read, giving ex-convicts a new start in life, helping abused and abandoned animals, or cleaning up the environment, it’s all down to what you love and where you want to make a difference. Or, look at helping local small businesses. If you’ve got a particular skill set, such as legal, advertising or finance, see if you can get involved and help pass on your skills to the next business generation.

  1. Travel

Travel is one thing that everyone wishes they did more of. Very few people can travel the way they want because of time and money constraints, but once you’re retired, you’ll have the time to travel. There are so many different ways to explore the world. You could buy a campervan and travel around America, seeing states you’ve never been to before. Or, you could go on cruises, and see a multitude of cities and countries in one trip, all while being entertained and fed luxuriously. The most adventurous is to go backpacking. While it’ll be very different from how your children and grandchildren might do it, the premise is the same: traveling around the world, ticking countries off your bucket list.

  1. Family duties

If your children have just started having children, they’ll probably appreciate your support and help. They’ll want your guidance and advice on everything from self-soothing to changing diapers. Plus, they might want the odd evening off, and will appreciate your babysitting abilities!

  1. Dancing

In a throwback to your younger years, why not don your dancing shoes, and see if you can still strut it on the dancefloor? Taking lessons in the ballroom is a great way to keep you feeling young. Not only will you regain the self-confidence and perfect posture that comes from dancing, but you’ll be getting fit and healthy in an incredibly fun way.

  1. Writing

You’ve probably got hundreds of stories to tell, so why not write them down? Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will love having a story about their family history, and it could serve as inspiration for their own lives and creativity. You could even enroll in a memoir writing course, or a creative writing course to see what you can make of it. If not, just jot down your stories, and you could ask the younger members of your family to help turn them into something more fluent and easy to read.

 

 

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13 Great Sports and Hobbies to Take-Up in Retirement
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