The Best Hobbies For Women Over 50 — And The Surprising Health Benefits Of Each

Hobbies for women over 50 are becoming increasingly popular as more and more of us find time for activities such as crafts, knitting, board games, gardening, playing cards and spending time in nature. And while taking a break for fun is healthy, a new study shows that your favorite hobbies have added benefits. Want to have fun and improve your health at the same time? Read on to find out what popular hobbies can do for you .

Playing a board game will improve your problem solving skills

You're not the only one who loves the nostalgia of old-school board games. In a recent survey, 70% of women over 50 said that board games are also their favorite. And game developers are listening. To make gaming more fun for older players, Hasbro has released the popular classic games Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and The Game of Life with large pieces, easy-to-read text and games for individual generations. (Buy at JoyForAll.com/pages/board-games)

Bringing back childhood memories isn't the only benefit of board games. They will also help you come up with a smart plan or solve a problem you are facing. This was found out as a result of a study published in the Journal of Creative Behavior. Scientists asked people who have trouble generating creative ideas to play a board game. After that, players came up with more creative solutions.

"Board games can be a powerful tool for enhancing our creativity," says Jenny Wu, Ph.D., founder of MindBrainEmotion.com and author of The 52 Essential Card Game Skills . (Buy at Amazon.com, $24.99)

"Playing a board game stimulates our minds and removes doubts, allowing us to be more open to learning new ideas," Wu added.

Pickleball can relieve depression

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, founded in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, tickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the past three years. In addition, this hobby is becoming increasingly popular among women and is often taken up by adults over the age of 50.

This is good news, because researchers in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people over 50 who play pickleball are happier. One reason is how quickly you can get started.

"Pickleball is considered a relatively accessible sport, especially for beginners and middle-aged adults," says Marilyn Chris Wolfe, Ph.D., psychologist at GrowTherapy.com. Compared to sports like tennis, it has a smaller court, slower ball speed and lighter blades, making it easier to grip and play.

Plus, pickleball combines a few extra benefits into one game, like it's a simple way to stay active. "Regular exercise has been linked to improved mental well-being, reduced stress levels and increased overall happiness," Wolff said.

And when you play with others, you can meet new people. "The social aspect of play can provide an opportunity to build friendships, social support and a sense of belonging," he said. Plus, it's fun. "Participating in activities that bring joy and a sense of accomplishment has a positive effect on mood."

Sleep can improve your memory

In recent years, more than 45 million Americans have collected needle and thread. The main reason for so many visitors. It gives you a creative outlet, according to 3,100 knitters polled.

Now, researchers claim that bringing the artist in has a surprising benefit: it triggers a fuzzy memory. In a study published in the Journal of Geriatric Nursing, researchers asked people aged 64 to 72 to engage in artistic activities (such as painting, collage and knitting) for 60 to 90 minutes twice a week. After 6 weeks, the performers showed significant improvements in their short- and long-term memory, decision-making skills, and attention.

It's no coincidence that knitting and other creative pursuits make use of these unique brain capacities. Gary Small, MD, professor of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center and author of a memoir . (Buy at Amazon.com, $15.99) “It's the same with exercise. use it or lose it.

Getting lost in a good book will sharpen your memory.

Relax and immerse yourself in the latest bestseller. This may corrupt your memory. In a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, people over the age of 60 who read engaging novels, biographies and history books for 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week, improved their memory ( helps you remember facts) and processing. more information at the same time in 8 weeks. Following stories and memorizing details while reading strengthens the brain's memory management.

Taking care of indoor plants takes away the fatigue

Indoor and outdoor gardening has seen a recent surge, with 18.3 million new 'plant parents' planting flowers, vegetables and herbs between 2020 and 2021 alone. And their gardens are getting bigger. In a recent survey, 46% of women over 50 who garden as a hobby said they planned to plant as much or more this year than last year.

If you have a green thumb, consider more live plants (such as goldenrods and figs) where you spend most of your time indoors. According to new research published in the journal Indoor Air , it can boost your energy throughout the day. Plants reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide that induces sleep by absorbing the carbon dioxide we inhale through their leaves to keep you awake.

Hint. brown thumb? In a study published in BMJ Open, instead of walking, people who sat at a desk and took a leisurely walk for 3 minutes every 30 minutes were less tired and had more energy throughout the day. Prolonged sitting with decaying light intensity stimulates the release of chemicals that stimulate the tube (like norepinephrine) and speed up circulation.

Matching tasks to friends improve listening skills

8 in 10 women over 50 say their favorite pastime is the most exotic card game (such as bridge, canasta and poker). One of the main reasons is that they allow you to meet your loved ones. Research shows that 95% of card players enjoy playing with friends and 72% look forward to playing with family members.

Now there's another good reason to pick up the deck and start rocking it. it can improve your hearing. A study published in the European Journal of Gerontology found that adults between the ages of 60 and 80 who played a card game once a week could hear people talking better despite background noise. Researchers suggest that playing card games, which involve strategic planning and following the rules to win, can boost your brain. It will also strengthen your comprehension skills, which will help you recognize speech more easily.

Hint. Singing works too. When women aged 54 to 79 signed up to sing in a choir for 2 hours a week, in addition to practicing for an hour a week at home, their ability to hear speech (even in noisy environments) increased by 20%. 10 weeks Researchers write in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience that singing trains the brain to look for specific musical notes.

Spending time in nature eases the pain

Most of us spend it in a garden, an arboretum, or in our backyard. Indeed, since 2020, the number of women aged 50 and over visiting nature has increased by 14%. And the number of women over 65 taking up the hobby has increased by around 17 percent, a growing group. Enjoy the visit in nature.

Stress reduction is a good reason to get out. Another solution is to reduce chronic pain such as arthritis and back pain. Environmental studies have shown that the presence of trees, grasses, and other green plants can reduce chronic pain. Plants can release analgesic compounds (phyticides) into the air, which we then inhale. Also, the sight and sounds of nature calm us down and cause less pain.

And the benefits are even greater when you find like-minded people to join you on your outdoor adventure. According to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, people with a large social network experienced less pain. Connecting with others (such as hobby clubs and social groups) stimulates the production of endorphins, which mask pain.

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your doctor before making any treatment plan.

A version of this article originally appeared in our Women's World magazine.

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You can grow new brain cells. This is Sandrine Tourette.