How to Encourage a Retired Relative to Find a Hobby

Retirement means 8 hours of work becomes 8 hours of leisure, and leisure can be no fun if you feel there's nothing interesting to occupy your time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Model Train Sets
• Foreign Language Phrase Books
• Hostel Guides
• Travel Guides
• Electronic Personal Organizers
• Amnesty International Member Packet
• Greenpeace Membership
• Climbing Magazines
• Cruise Ship Magazines
• Internet Access
• Acting Classes
• Airline Tickets
• Cruise Tickets
• Passport Services
• Tennis Lessons
• Travel Services
• Travelers' Checks
• Computers
• Camera Accessories
• Cameras
• Binoculars
• Bikes
• Binoculars
• Compasses
• R/C Model Airplanes
• Cameras
• Bikes

Share Your Passions

1. Ask your relative to join you in a new hobby.

2. Invite a relative to play golf or tennis.

3. Remember retirement makes possible a greater investment of time, energy and equipment in a hobby such as woodworking.

4. Point out the satisfaction gained from collecting.

5. Remind your relative that he or she may bring a timely expertise to collecting nostalgia items such as teddy bears or Raggedy Ann dolls.

6. Encourage your relative to invest in an RV and take the high road to adventure.

7. Remind your relative he or she has much to give back to the community - time and knowledge are valuable to civic and charitable organizations.

8. Point out to your relative that he or she can make a gift to his or her family by writing memoirs or outlining a genealogy.

9. Remember interaction with an animal can be satisfy one's soul - train a dog or horse for various competitions.

10. Encourage involvement with youth and young adults through church or special-interest groups such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations.

Encourage New Ventures

11. Be positive. Some retired people may feel lost as they move out of the workaday world.

12. Remember this is a time to expand former interests - casual photographers have time to build a darkroom or perhaps learn to take underwater photographs.

13. Explore exotic excursions - island hop, take cruises, safari.

14. Remember everyone carries youthful dreams in his or her heart. It's never too late to learn to fly, sail, climb a mountain or visit Timbuktu.

15. Encourage artistic endeavors - symphony orchestras and theater groups provide an outlet for the passion to perform.

16. Point out the value of vigorous exercise - biking, swimming, skiing.

17. Remind your relative that some hobbies are productive as well as satisfying; making wine or gardening, for example. Produce can be shared with charitable organizations.

18. Encourage your relative to fulfill a lifelong dream of attending the World Series or Super Bowl.

19. Remind your relative that skills accumulated over a lifetime make him or her an ideal mentor.

Tips & Warnings

• Let a retired relative choose his or her own hobby without passing judgment on his or her capabilities.

on 11/22/2005 Many of today's retirees can't afford to travel or invest in elaborate hobby equipment. Make time to spend with our elders so you can write down their memories as they dictate them to you. Let a visually impaired person dictate a letter to you. More precious than the free time you get from their having a hobby is the treasure you share when you spend time together.