Month: January 2025

A new year is the perfect time to get up, get moving, and embrace your best self. Keeping your body and mind active is essential to staying healthy and vibrant as you age. Hobbies are a powerful way to bring joy, spark creativity, and even meet new people. It is time to recapture some of the joy you had in your youth and have a great time. Take a journey to explore a few unique and unexpected hobbies to inspire your next adventure.

Why Having Hobbies Is Important

Staying active in retirement or later in life helps maintain cognitive function, reduces stress, and improves overall happiness.

Engaging in hobbies can even enhance your physical health by encouraging movement, improving coordination, and boosting your energy levels.

There is also the mental stimulation hobbies provide. Whether you’re learning a new skill or refining an old one, hobbies keep your mind sharp and focused.

They offer a sense of purpose and achievement, which can be especially fulfilling in your 60s and beyond.

Why Being Playful Matters

Being playful isn’t just for kids – it’s a mindset that brings lightness and joy into your everyday life.

Playfulness allows you to approach challenges with curiosity, fosters creativity, and reduces stress.

By embracing a playful spirit, you can find joy in small moments, build stronger connections with others, and experience life more fully.

Whether it’s dancing, laughing, or simply trying something new, a playful attitude keeps you feeling young at heart.

1. Geocaching: The World’s Biggest Treasure Hunt

Imagine turning a simple walk into a treasure hunt! That is what Geocaching can do for you.

Geocaching uses a GPS or smartphone app to help you locate hidden containers (called “geocaches”) around the world.

It’s an exciting way to explore local parks, neighborhoods, or even travel destinations while enjoying a bit of adventure.

You never know what you’ll find or who you might meet along the way.

How to start: Download a geocaching app, create an account, and search for caches near you. Pack a small trinket to leave behind for the next finder!

2. Urban Sketching: Capturing Your World in Ink and Watercolor

Look, if you can’t draw – so what! Urban sketching is all about drawing what you see in your everyday environment, whether it’s a bustling café, a quiet park, or your backyard.

It’s a mindful, creative activity that helps you see beauty in the ordinary. Over time, your sketches become a visual diary of your life and travels, making it a meaningful and personal hobby.

How to start: Grab a sketchbook, some pens, and maybe a small watercolor set. Look for online tutorials or join an urban sketching group in your area.

3. Candle Making: Light Up Your Life

There’s something magical about creating your own candles. Whether you go for simple soy candles or experiment with scents and colors, it’s a relaxing and rewarding hobby.

The soft glow of a handmade candle can add a touch of warmth and coziness to your home, or make a thoughtful gift for friends and family.

How to start: Purchase a beginner’s candle-making kit online, and let your creativity shine by mixing in essential oils or dried flowers. Experiment with unique molds to create candles in fun shapes.

Read 5 Candle-Making Starter Kits for Beginners.

Also, How to Start Candle Making: A Guide for Beginners.

4. Birdwatching: A Hobby That Soars

Birdwatching turns a quiet moment in your garden or a walk in the park into an exciting nature discovery.

It’s an opportunity to observe the beauty of wildlife, appreciate seasonal changes, and even contribute to citizen science projects.

Over time, you’ll become more attuned to the sights and sounds of nature around you.

How to start: Get a beginner’s bird guide for your region and download a bird identification app like Merlin Bird ID. Join a local birdwatching group for tips and camaraderie, and consider keeping a journal to document your sightings.

5. Upcycling: Turning Trash into Treasure

My Mom loved to go “curbing” right before trash day. We always found great things to upcycle.

Upcycling breathes new life into old or discarded items. From transforming old furniture into statement pieces to creating art from recycled materials.

It’s also a great way to personalize your home and contribute to sustainability by reducing waste.

If you get really good at it, you could even sell the items you are creating.

How to start: Gather some basic tools and start with a simple project, like repainting an old chair or making a planter from a tin can. Search for inspiration on Pinterest or join an upcycling workshop for hands-on learning.

6. Line Dancing: Fun for Your Feet

My dance instructor said, “If you can walk, you can dance.”

Line dancing is perfect for socializing, staying active, and learning some fun moves. With simple steps and catchy music, it’s a workout that doesn’t feel like work.

Plus, it’s easy to pick up, even if you don’t consider yourself a dancer and many routines are designed for all skill levels.

How to start: Look for beginner classes at your local community center or watch free tutorials online. Invite friends to join you for a fun group activity.

7. Letter Writing: Reviving a Lost Art

There’s something deeply personal and satisfying about writing and receiving letters. This hobby lets you slow down and connect with friends, family, or even new pen pals around the world.

Thoughtful letters can become keepsakes, preserving memories and emotions for years to come.

How to start: Invest in some beautiful stationery and reach out to a friend or join a pen pal community like Postcrossing. Consider adding little touches, like sketches or pressed flowers, to make your letters even more special.

8. Photography: Finding Beauty Through the Lens

Photography is a fantastic way to capture the small, beautiful moments in life and express your creativity.

Whether you’re snapping pictures of nature, family gatherings, or everyday objects, this hobby encourages you to see the world through a fresh perspective.

It’s also a wonderful way to document your adventures and share them with loved ones.

How to start: Begin with your smartphone or a basic digital camera. Look for online photography tutorials or join a local photography group to learn new techniques and get inspired.

9. Cooking Club: Share and Savor

Forming or joining a cooking club is a delicious way to explore new recipes, enjoy good company, and share your love of food.

Whether it’s trying out international cuisines, perfecting family favorites, or swapping kitchen tips, this hobby combines creativity with connection.

How to start: Invite friends or neighbors to join you in a rotating dinner party or recipe exchange. Alternatively, look for local cooking clubs or online communities focused on food and cooking.

Final Thoughts

Trying something new can be a wonderful way to rediscover your playful side, build confidence, and add more joy to your life.

Whether you’re exploring nature, getting creative, or making new connections, the world is full of opportunities to play – at any age.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Which hobby will you try first? Do you have a fun hobby that is not among the usual ones we read about? Hod did you come about it?

A new look to match her new bling.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, technology is changing how we approach health and fitness – and this is especially true for people aged 55 and over. Many in this age group have started incorporating tech tools and apps into their fitness routines, and with good reason! Whether you’re just beginning your fitness journey or maintaining an active lifestyle, there’s an abundance of options designed to help you stay healthy and motivated.

Here are some of the best fitness apps and technology for older adults, all of which can enhance your wellness routine in a fun, easy, and accessible way.

1. Silver Sneakers GO

Silver Sneakers GO is a specialized fitness app created for older adults, and for many, it’s even covered by insurance. This app offers a variety of workouts, including cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises. What makes it unique is that it allows users to adjust the intensity of their workouts to match their fitness level. Whether you’re easing back into physical activity or looking to enhance your routine, Silver Sneakers GO is an excellent resource. It also includes access to fitness locations, so you can take your workout beyond the living room.

Silver Sneakers GO stands out because it is specifically designed for older adults, meaning the workouts cater to the needs and limitations of the 55+ crowd. For those looking to maintain their physical health and stay active without overexertion, this app is a fantastic option.

2. MyFitnessPal

Understanding what we eat is just as important as staying active. MyFitnessPal helps track your nutrition and exercise, offering a holistic approach to fitness. The app allows you to log meals and exercises with ease, giving you insights into your dietary habits and calorie intake. With an extensive food database and customizable nutrition goals, it’s perfect for keeping tabs on both what you’re eating and how you’re moving.

What sets MyFitnessPal apart is its integration with various fitness devices and apps, like Fitbit and Garmin, so you can sync all your health data in one place. Whether you’re trying to maintain your weight, shed a few pounds, or ensure you’re fueling your body correctly, this app makes it easy to stay informed.

3. Fitbit

Fitbit is a household name in fitness wearables, and it’s particularly valuable for the 55+ crowd. The Fitbit device tracks your daily steps, sleep patterns, heart rate, and overall activity levels. The app provides detailed analytics, helping you better understand your health and making it easier to set and achieve fitness goals.

What’s particularly beneficial about Fitbit is the ability to monitor heart rate – a critical health metric as we age. Tracking sleep is another important feature, especially since sleep patterns often change as we get older. With its built-in reminders to move, guided workouts, and even mindfulness sessions, Fitbit is a comprehensive tool that promotes both physical and mental wellness.

4. Tai Chi and Yoga Apps

Low-impact exercises like Tai Chi and yoga are excellent for maintaining flexibility, balance, and stress reduction – important factors as we age. Apps like Daily Yoga and Tai Chi for Seniors offer a variety of guided sessions that cater specifically to older adults. The gentle movements help improve mobility, and they are easy to follow, making them ideal for those new to these practices.

These apps are perfect for at-home fitness, offering the flexibility to fit these exercises into your schedule whenever it suits you. Not only do they provide physical benefits, but they also foster mental clarity and relaxation, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.

You can also check out Sixty and Me’s free gentle yoga videos on our YouTube channel.

5. Pacer Pedometer

Walking is a simple yet highly effective way to stay active, and the Pacer Pedometer app is an ideal companion for tracking your steps and calories burned. It’s great for motivating users to reach their daily step goals, and it also includes community challenges and virtual walking groups that can help keep you inspired.

For older adults, walking is a gentle, low-risk form of exercise that improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and promotes mental well-being. Whether you’re walking around the neighborhood or at the local park, Pacer helps you keep track of your progress and achieve personal fitness milestones.

Embrace Technology for a Healthier Lifestyle

As the founder of Inner Joy Activewear, I encourage embracing the tools that make staying healthy more accessible and enjoyable. Fitness technology can provide much-needed motivation, guidance, and a sense of accomplishment, especially for us in the 55+ crowd. Whether you’re just getting started with fitness or continuing to build on a lifetime of healthy habits, these apps and devices offer something for everyone.

As you explore these tech options, remember that it’s never too late to invest in your health. Staying active, tracking your progress, and setting achievable goals will improve your physical health and boost your confidence and overall sense of joy. Here’s to maintaining a healthy, active, and empowered lifestyle – at any age!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you keep yourself active? Do you have a favorite app you use? In what ways does it help you?

This time of year we assess and reassess who we are, what we’ve done, and what we want. We review our dreams and measure them against where we are now. We record the lessons learned from the previous years of life. This reflection often throws me into the spin cycle – the drama of focusing on what I lack instead of what I have. It pulls me out of gratitude and places me squarely into fear: fear that I have missed the boat, that my 64 years on this planet have been wasted.

Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement, albeit it’s not far from the truth. My natural default – my human condition, shaped by my historical, hysterical upbringing – fixates on the negative. I know I’m not alone in this. Many of my friends carry different baggage, and yet we all seem wired to dwell on what didn’t go right, even when most things do. Even when the grand scheme says otherwise, I focus on the one thing that went wrong or what I don’t have.

This deeply reflective question digs into my perpetual quest for personal growth and self-awareness. After all these years, I can see the progress. With the help of so many guides in the form of friends and foes, mentors and monsters, my family of origin and the family I chose and most of all my writing practice, I can see where I was and where I am headed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy, those old journals can engender a lot of anxiety. I started by finding them in the different places I have squired them away. Next, seeing how they pile up; and finally, making the time and effort to look through them.

But, unequivocally, I can tell you – it is worth it. Looking back at those journals, some handwritten, some computer files, all of those wishes, the hope and the frustration are right in front of me. I can see how my behaviors stemmed from self-imposed limitations and beliefs which I perpetuated. And after years of trying, wanting to, practicing, I am ready to let go.

I’ve Been in My Own Way

I recognized moments where I was clearly a “fraud” or less than my best self, and I realized it stems from a disconnect between my inner values and outward actions. I’m not living Shakespeare’s timeless advice:

“To thine own self be true.”

It’s a lesson that becomes clearer as I age. My perspective has shifted, and I now understand that being true to myself is the center of it all.

This learning process has been lengthy, starting in 1984 when I first heard a line from the iconic movie, The Natural:

“I believe we have two lives. The life we learn with and the life we live with after that.”

The problem is undeniable: I’ve been in my own way. The solution, however, requires deliberate, uncomfortable, persistent action. Getting out of my own way isn’t easy; if it were, I’d have done it long ago. Awareness doesn’t magically translate into change – it takes practice, and years of holding onto old habits and beliefs make for a challenging course correction.

Now, those old patterns no longer hold power over me. By shifting my mindset to gratitude, I’ve begun to rewrite the narrative. This frees up the energy to step into the life I have always wanted.

The past year has been transformative for me. The lessons I’ve learned are not just steppingstones – they’re the foundation for the life I want to live. In 2025, my focus will be staying actively in love with myself and living intentionally. I will embrace imperfection, trust the process, and continue finding harmony between my mind and heart. I am the author of my story, and the best chapters are yet to come.

My top 10 Lessons from 2024 (and the Prior 64 years)

1. Loving Myself Must Come First

For years I’ve put myself last, hoping that valuing others would result in them valuing me. This year, I finally learned that self-love is foundational. When I align my words, deeds, and actions, I trust and value myself more – and that radiates outward.

2. Consciously Knowing I Am Enough

Validation must come from within. Praise from others will never fill the void if I don’t believe in my worth. Now, I know I am enough simply because I care, I prepare, I exist and engage in the world around me.

3. Embrace Imperfection

Perfectionism kept me stuck for years, but I’ve realized that striving for an unattainable ideal only leads to frustration. Progress – not perfection – is the goal. By giving myself license for mistakes, I’ve freed myself to act without fear of failure.

I don’t hold myself to an impossible standard and then get stuck. It’s kind of funny the more I screw-up, the less afraid I am. Who knew?

4. Ask for Help Instead of Masking Vulnerabilities

Pretending to be confident when I’m not only isolates me further. Now, I look for guides – people who encourage growth and use their experiences to help me rather than imposing one-size-fits all advice. I spend time getting to know the person, I watch their actions instead of just their words, and I don’t discount the red flags.

5. Stop Trying to Open Doors that Aren’t Meant to Open

When a door won’t open, it’s not rejection – it’s redirection. A mentor of mine once told me: “The things that are supposed to fall away will fall away; and the things that are supposed to stay will stay.” I forgive myself for chasing what wasn’t meant for me and trust the right doors will open.

This is one of my most hard-won lessons and my favorite!

6. The Past Is Only a Small Piece of My Story

My past no longer defines me. It’s a chapter, not the entire book. Instead of clinging to old ways or running from the past, I honor its lessons and give it less power over my present.

The past and future only have the power I give them. This year, I’m prioritizing living in the present moment, finding joy and meaning in the here and now. My entire life I ran from my past. Now I understand that I can’t outrun my past, it will always be part of my story. What has changed is the amount of space and prominence it occupies in my mind and in my story. It is a much smaller part, because I understand that all of that taught me what I needed to learn to get to this point.

7. The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

Patience has been one of my hardest lessons. In 2024, I came to find it’s the balancing between action and trust.

If you don’t have Tom Petty’s song in your head, google it and it will serve as a constant reminder that the waiting is the hardest part! Being a strong-willed career woman, I prided myself on making things happen. And then I realized that was not always the path. The worry, the anxiety, driven by multiple forms of fear take on a life of their own. It doesn’t matter if it’s impending good news or bad news, I go down that deep rabbit hole of thinking the universe is conspiring against me.

Trust the process – with patience. Patience didn’t just appear in my life. I had to cultivate it; I had to learn how to sit still with myself and with the universe while everyone is spinning around me and it feels like I need to take control – that’s the exact moment that I need to wait patiently.

8. Making Peace with Myself

Finding perpetual calmness of my head and my heart is of paramount importance to me. No matter what the other lessons hold, finding that middle ground, where my mind is quiet (thanks to a meditation practice) I can live more quietly and purposefully.

Inner peace is my greatest achievement. By calming my mind and heart through meditation and mindfulness, I’ve created harmony within. When my head and heart align, I feel grounded, peaceful, and purposeful.

9. A Heart Attack Can Be Good

Surviving a heart attack was a wake-up call. It connected my mind and body in ways I’d never experienced before. Such as, if I don’t exercise nothing changes, and even if I don’t want to do it, in the long run, my body feels better and so does my mind.

10. Have Grace for Others (and Myself)

Showing grace lets me stop taking things so personally. I understand other people’s actions are often about their own struggles, not mine. When I offer grace to myself, I move forward without dwelling on mistakes. I can stop being mad at the world and worrying about what I did or didn’t do. All of us are vulnerable and show it in different ways. Now I know that there is an ebb and flow to life that I must bow to and go with instead of swimming against the tide.

What’s Next:

Stay actively in love with yourself. Be the person you want to follow. Practice being present by finding gratitude in this very moment and consider how offering grace to yourself and others can open new doors. Commit to getting out of your own way and stepping boldly in the version of you that honors your true self and lets your light shine in the world.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What lessons do you bring to 2025? Have you learned anything particularly striking in 2024?

A friend of the Sussexes just revealed this adorable new part of Lili’s personality.