Figure 1 by CDC on Unsplash
Are you a senior who’s no longer able to leave the house, or have you lost mobility due to arthritis, a stroke or a fall injury? Staying at home doesn’t by any means need to be boring.
While you might not be able to do all the things you previously loved, some of these could be adapted to suit your current season of life. Here are five enjoyable activities you can try to keep your mind active and mood boosted.
Container or Indoor Gardening
Got green fingers but can’t spend long periods of time outside, or no longer have a large garden? Your solution is container gardening. Planting flowers to add pops of colour to your balcony or patio can bring you immense pleasure and joy.
There’s also nothing quite like growing your own produce. Carrots, cucumber, eggplant, leafy greens, tomatoes, peas, peppers, potatoes and radishes all thrive in container gardens. Herbs such as basil, mint, thyme, parsley and rosemary typically grow well too.
Baking and Cooking
You’ll want to put your container garden harvests to good use. Baking and cooking allows you to appreciate not only the rewards & personal satisfaction, but also the smells & flavours!
It’s even better with the helping hand of your child or grandchild. The best part? Devouring what you’ve grown and prepared in the company of a loved one.
Online Gambling
For something a little different, try your hand at online gambling. Experience the thrill of live roulette, a round of blackjack, poker or trying your luck at online slots. Look up the best online casino options and start playing! Maybe you’ll even pocket some winnings.
Make Some Music
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument. It’s never too late! The drums, flute, guitar and trumpet are examples of instruments you can play while in a seated position.
Some musical instruments can even be modified to be comfortably played while lying down, so your limited mobility needn’t restrict your musical ability.
Arts and Crafts
With extra time on your hands, it’s best to keep those fingers moving! From adult colouring in to drawing, painting, pottery and sculpting, creativity options are endless.
Dig out your family photo albums and transform them into scrapbooks, or compile a recipe book of your family favourites. If these ideas don’t tickle your fancy, maybe you’ll enjoy calligraphy, jewellery making or woodwork.
Seated Exercises
Despite limited movement, fitness is key. Try some seated exercise routines, such as chair yoga. It’s an excellent way to help improve your breathing, core and posture. You’ll also stretch and loosen your painful muscles. The added mental health benefit? Quietened focus and meditation.
You can also improve your circulation by doing exercises which reduce ankle and foot swelling. With an online instructor to guide you through the moves from your TV or computer screen, you can play and pause easy-to-follow YouTube videos to your heart’s content!
The golden years and beyond can be the best times of your life. There are many more activities to discover either alone or with visitors from the comfort of your own home. Why not start by giving these a try?
