13 Things for Bored Seniors to Do Alone at Home
Keeping your body and mind active in retirement is vitally important for your physical and mental health. That’s why finding things for bored seniors to do alone at home should be a priority—whether for yourself or for a parent or grandparent who has a lot of time on his or her hands.
Boredom can be a common, but not inevitable, consequence of old age, mobility issues, or health issues. It is important for people in these categories to find activities or hobbies that stimulate their bodies and minds, stretch their comfort zone, and, when possible, facilitate social interaction.
1. Do A Puzzle
Puzzles come in many forms, both traditional and digital. Jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, word games, and many other kinds of puzzles can keep your mind active without any need for physical exertion.
When using jigsaw puzzles for mental stimulation, take care to choose the correct level of difficulty. Too easy, and it won’t be satisfying to complete. Too difficult, and the puzzle could bring on feelings of frustration or even the boredom you are trying to avoid.
Tip: To boost your level of motivation, choose a picture that inspires you and enjoy the feeling of satisfaction as you see it come together.
2. Play Games
Games such as board games, card games, and brain-training games are fun activities that are stimulating for the brain, help with memory, improve one’s attention span, and can help to improve functioning in people with dementia.
Are you good at a particular game? Why not start a club as an excuse to see other elderly people or even to meet new friends? You could play games together at home or at a local senior’s center.
3. Write Out Your Life Story
You’ve been on the earth for a long time and have had so many different experiences. Even seniors who have lived the most ordinary lives have experienced countless technological and societal changes, which is something that younger people find fascinating to read about.
For example:
Do you have any anecdotes from an interesting period in history?
What was your childhood like?
Do you have a beautiful love story?
What changes have you seen throughout your lifetime?
Writing your story could be a project you do on the computer or you could write your story by hand. You could even record your story verbally and create an audio-book-style memoir. Whichever method you choose for recording your memories, your life story will be a precious keepsake that your children, grandchildren, and loved ones will treasure forever.
4. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
This is certainly a more challenging suggestion, but one that is possible for many older adults—especially if you choose an instrument that’s less physically taxing, like the piano or the guitar.
Music is one of the great joys in life and the ability to make it yourself can create hours of entertainment. Many children learn musical instruments, only to give it up later in life. Could this be your chance to take it up again?
5. Learn or Practice a Language
Do you ever wish you had learned a language when you were younger? Now’s a great opportunity to start. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have plans to travel; learning a new language is enriching, stimulating, challenging, and has excellent benefits for the mind.
Studies such as Antoniou et al (2013) have shown that second language learning in older adults could serve as a tool to mitigate age-related cognitive decline. It’s also a lot of fun!
Which Language Should You Learn?
Do you have foreign family members or ancestors? Learning their native language would be an excellent way to stay connected with your roots and learn a little about your own heritage and culture.
If you don’t have another language in the family, Germanic languages like Norwegian and Latin-based languages like Spanish, Italian, and French have a lot in common with English. This makes these languages easier for English speakers to learn.
How Can I Learn a Language at Home?
There are many different options to learn a language at a pace that suits you. Mobile apps such as Duolingo and Babbel are fun and accessible, and offer free options that allow you to study for as little as 10 minutes per day.
For those who prefer a more traditional approach, grammar and vocabulary books can help you grasp the basics. You can also take in-person classes in your home or online if you prefer a more personal and social learning experience.
6. Tend An Indoor Garden
Many senior citizens love gardening but simply find it too physically taxing. Gardens need constant tending, and involving bending, crouching, and standing.
Fortunately, however, there is a solution: container gardening. This type of gardening involves growing plants or even fruits and vegetables in pots or containers that can be kept inside, in a greenhouse, or in an outdoor space that’s close to the house like a patio or porch. This last option is also a great way of getting some much-needed fresh air.
For manual or power wheelchair users, raised containers that allow the wheelchair to be wheeled in underneath can be purchased for comfortable and accessible gardening. Watching things grow is a gratifying experience that keeps you on your toes and, if successful, can produce something to eat at the end!
7. Spend Time Outside
Sitting outside with the sun on your skin will instantly make you feel better if you’re feeling lonely or bored. If it's enjoying your own company as you watch the world go by, bird watching, or chatting with neighbors, spending time outside is a wonderful way to look after your mental and physical health.
Sitting on the front porch of your house may also give you a chance to get to know your neighbors better, potentially leading to new friendships. Whether you have a garden, terrace, porch, small yard, or even a balcony, take advantage of any outdoor space you have to clear your mind and expand your world.
8. Do Some Light Exercise
The health benefits of daily physical activity for both your body and mind are no secret. Senior citizens should aim for around 20-30 minutes of exercise every day. Combined with a healthy diet, exercise can make you feel energized as well as providing other benefits like helping to naturally increase cartilage.
With an internet connection at home, it’s easy to stay fit and healthy while having fun. YouTube provides thousands of options to choose from and there is something for everyone.
Yoga and balance exercises for senior citizens can be excellent options for seniors who want to maintain flexibility and healthy joints.
For something a bit more active, online aerobics or dance classes can be a fun and motivating way to kick-start your day.
If your mobility is limited, don’t let that be an excuse not to exercise. There are many online exercise classes that you can do without even leaving your chair!
9. Learn About Your Family History
Genealogy sites such as Ancestry or MyHeritage provide families with the key to their past. These programs can be used to trace your family tree and find out more about your ancestors. If you find yourself with time on your hands, you could build your family tree online and share what you have learned with the rest of your family.
10. Sort and Label your Photos
Printed photos are sadly becoming a thing of the past. However, there’s nothing more nostalgic than flicking through an old photo album to remember your parents, grandparents, or how your children or grandchildren were when they were young.
Families often find that the number of old photos is overwhelming and that they often lack context. Therefore, labeling and sorting old photos into year-by-year albums and throwing away photos that are out of focus, repeats, or poor quality will leave you with a collection that’s more attractive and easier to navigate.
Digitize your Old Photos
For those with a little know-how, a computer, and a scanner, digitizing photos is a wonderful project that allows all the members of your family to own all of your photos. If you don’t have the equipment to do this yourself, a family member or friend could help.
11. Listen to Audiobooks or Podcasts
Many seniors find that their capacity to concentrate on reading dwindles as they grow older. Audiobooks are an excellent solution to this. What could be better than having your favorite book read to you? Apart from alleviating the fatigue of reading a book, an audiobook is welcome background noise. In contrast to a physical book, you can also listen to an audiobook while you’re going about your day.
What Is a Podcast?
Podcasts are shows that are recorded not for TV but for listening to at home. Podcasts are extremely popular—there are now podcasts on every topic under the sun. From current affairs to true crime, gardening, comedy, or gastronomy, there is a podcast for everyone. You can set up a free account on YouTube, Spotify, or iTunes and browse podcasts by topics of interest.
12. Help out with Charity Projects
There’s little more rewarding than helping others in need. You don’t need to leave home to help others; simply by using the skills you already have, you can contribute to community or international projects that help you help others.
Think about what you know how to do and how it could help somebody else.
If you know how to knit, you could knit hats, mittens, and other clothes for a premature baby unit.
You could use your arts and crafts skills to make quilts and blankets for the homeless.
Animal shelters often need foster carers for abandoned animals. The Maxfund Animal Adoption Center, in Denver, Colorado is just one of the many shelters with pets available for fostering.
If you have experience with basic dog obedience training, you could care for guide-dog puppies until they’re old enough to begin their careers.
13. Make Homemade Presents for Friends and Family
If Christmas, Easter, or birthdays are coming up, why not make gifts for your loved ones at home? Homemade presents are often appreciated at a different level than shop-bought gifts for the work and thought that goes into them. Furthermore, they can be personalized with your loved ones’ names and favorite colors, flavors, and themes.
Some Homemade Present Ideas:
Cake or Cookies
Who wouldn’t love to receive a beautiful cake or a plate of cookies made especially for them? They don’t have to be a work of art, they simply need to be made with love.
Jam, Sauces, and other Conserves
Take advantage of seasonal fruit and vegetables to make jams and other kinds of conserves. Try pickling vegetables or make a sweet jam or a meat sauce for a delicious gift your family will love.
Sweet Treats
Making candy is easier than you think and will be guaranteed to leave a smile on the recipient’s face. Try making truffles, toffee, coconut ice, or caramel for a winning gift.
Don’t be Afraid to Try New Things!
Spending a lot of time at home can feel frustrating at first, but soon you might find that there’s a lot you can do to make each day enriching and enjoyable. It’s just a matter of giving something a go and identifying the activities you enjoy the most.
Keeping yourself physically and mentally active doesn’t just stave off boredom—it helps to slow or prevent cognitive decline, too. Why not try one of the activities on this list? Who knows, retirement could end up being the most productive and enjoyable season of your life!