7 Easy Hobbies the Happiest Women Over 60 Are Falling in Love With

Sharing is caring!

It’s a quiet Tuesday afternoon. The grandkids just went home. There are cracker crumbs on the couch, a crayon drawing on the fridge, and your coffee is finally warm again.

And now the house is still.

If you’re over 60, you know this feeling. For years, your days were packed with work, kids, meals, and everyone else’s needs. Now, little by little, you have something you haven’t had in a long time: free time.

Here’s the good news. The happiest women we know aren’t using that time to slow down. They’re using it to try new things they actually enjoy.

Science backs them up, too. A big study led by researchers at University College London found that people 65 and older who had a hobby had fewer signs of depression and were happier and more satisfied with their lives.

So let’s find yours. Below are seven easy hobbies that don’t need special talent or a lot of money, and you can start any of them this week.

1. Paint by Numbers: The Relaxing Art Hobby Anyone Can Do

Have you ever said, “Oh, I can’t draw a straight line”? Good news: you don’t have to.

With paint by numbers, the picture is already drawn for you. Each little space on the canvas has a number, and each paint pot has a matching number. You find the number, match the color, and fill it in. That’s it. No art classes and no mixing colors.

Why so many women over 60 love it

It’s calm. You sit down, put on some music or an old movie, and let your mind rest on one small shape at a time. It’s a nice break from phones and the TV news.

There’s no rush, either. Paint for twenty minutes or two hours. When you’re done for the day, just close the paint pots and come back tomorrow. The painting will wait for you.

And at the end, you have something real to show for it. Hang it in the hallway, give it as a gift, or set it out at Thanksgiving and enjoy the “Wait, you painted that?”

Getting started is easy

A good place to begin is PaintEasy’s paint by numbers for grandparents. Each kit comes with everything you need: a numbered canvas, matching paints, and three brushes.

You can pick a picture you’ll love looking at, like a bunch of flowers, a sunset over the ocean, an old steam train, a faith-inspired scene, or a pretty circle pattern called a mandala. If you’d rather make something useful, they also have kits for wall clocks, wooden door signs, coasters, and calendars.

Easy on your eyes and hands

Some pictures have lots of tiny spaces, and those can be tiring to paint. If that sounds like you, pick a design with bigger shapes. PaintEasy lets you sort kits by how hard they are, and you can zoom in on the pictures before you buy.

There are a few extras that make painting more comfortable too. A small tabletop easel holds your canvas up so you’re not bent over the table, and soft grip wraps make the brush handles thicker and easier to hold.

Paint a memory

Here’s the part that might make you tear up a little. You can send in a favorite photo, like the grandkids at the beach or your wedding day, and PaintEasy turns it into your very own paint-by-numbers kit. Before they ship it, they email you the outline so you can make sure it looks right.

Invite a friend over to paint with you, or give each grandchild a small kit and have an art afternoon at the kitchen table.

Worried about messing up?

Don’t be. If you run low on paint, PaintEasy will send you one extra paint set for free. Just email them your order number. They also have an easy guide for fixing little mistakes. And honestly, a few wobbly lines just prove you made it yourself.

If you’ve always said “I’m just not the artsy type,” this hobby might change your mind. Browse kits made for grandparents here.

2. Container Gardening

There’s something special about watching a tiny seed turn into a plant you grew yourself.

Gardening gets you outside in the fresh air. It keeps you moving in a gentle way, too, with all the bending, watering, and pulling a weed or two.

And you don’t need a big backyard. A few pots on the porch will do the job, and so will a patio planter or a little row of herbs on your kitchen windowsill.

If your knees or back complain when you kneel, try a raised garden bed or a tall planter on legs. That way, the plants come up to you.

Not sure what to grow? Start with easy ones. Basil and other herbs do well inside on a sunny windowsill, even in the colder months. When spring comes, try tomatoes or bright orange marigolds outside.

Here’s a sweet idea: plant a “Grandma’s Garden” pot with your grandkids. Let them pick the seeds, and check on it together every time they visit. They’ll love seeing how much it grew.

3. Walking Clubs and Gentle Group Fitness

Exercise is good for you. Exercise with friends? That’s even better.

When you move with other people, you get two good things at once: your body gets stronger, and you get time to laugh and catch up. Plus, it’s a lot harder to skip a walk when your friend is waiting for you at 9 a.m.

There are plenty of easy ways to join in:

• Mall walking: Indoor laps where the floors are flat and the weather never gets in the way. Many malls open early just for walkers.
• Neighborhood walks: Grab a neighbor and do a loop around the block each morning.
• Chair yoga: Gentle stretching you can do while sitting down.
• Water aerobics: The water holds you up, so it’s easy on sore joints.
• Pickleball: It’s a bit like tennis on a smaller court, and it’s become one of the most popular games for older Americans. Fair warning: people get hooked!

To find a group near you, check your local senior center, YMCA, parks department, or church.

One quick tip: talk to your doctor before you start a new kind of exercise, just to be safe.

4. Memory Journaling and Writing Your Life Story

You’ve lived a lot of life. You have stories nobody else can tell, like the first car you drove, the songs you danced to, and the day each of your kids was born.

Writing them down is a gift for you and for your family. It’s fun to look back, and one day your grandkids will treasure every page.

You don’t have to write a whole book. Just give it five minutes a day. If you get stuck, start with a simple idea like:

• The house I grew up in
• How I met your grandfather
• My favorite holiday as a kid
• The best advice my mother ever gave me

Not sure where to begin? Try a “Grandma, Tell Me Your Story” journal. These books come with a question on each page, so all you do is fill in the answers. A gratitude journal is another nice choice. Just jot down three good things from your day.

Don’t love writing? Use the voice recorder on your phone and tell your stories out loud instead.

Here’s a lovely idea: pick a favorite old photo, write the story behind it, and then turn that same photo into a custom paint-by-numbers kit. That gives you the story and the painting together.

5. Knitting and Crochet

There’s a reason our grandmothers always had a ball of yarn nearby. Knitting and crochet are calming, since your hands find a steady rhythm and your mind gets to relax. And when you’re done, you’ve made something cozy and useful.

It’s easy to take along, too. Toss your yarn in a bag and work on it at the doctor’s office, on a road trip, or while watching your favorite show.

If you’re new, start small. A scarf or a dishcloth is a great first project. Thick, chunky yarn and bigger needles or hooks are easier to hold and easier to see.

It can be social, too. Many yarn shops and libraries host knitting groups where you can learn, get help, and make new friends. Some groups knit for people who need it, like blankets for babies born early or warm hats for people in shelters.

And if there’s a new grandbaby on the way? A hand-knit baby blanket is a gift the family will keep forever.

6. Birdwatching

Birdwatching is one of the easiest hobbies to start. You don’t even have to leave the house.

Hang a bird feeder outside your kitchen window, pour a cup of coffee, and watch who shows up. Before long, you’ll know the regulars, like the bossy blue jay, the bright red cardinal, and the little chickadee that always comes back for more.

It’s peaceful, and it keeps your eyes and mind sharp as you learn to spot the small differences between birds.

To learn their names, keep a simple bird book nearby. Or try the free Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell University. You can snap a photo or even just let it listen to a bird singing, and it’ll tell you what bird it is. Add a basic pair of binoculars, and you’re all set.

Right now is a wonderful time to start. In the fall, lots of birds are traveling south for the winter, and new visitors may stop by your yard on the way.

And if you fall in love with your feathered friends, why not paint them? PaintEasy has plenty of bird and nature kits to bring them indoors.

7. Book Clubs

A book club is a little like a monthly girls’ night, just with more talking about stories. You get to read something good, share what you thought, and spend time with friends. It keeps your mind busy and your calendar happy.

There are lots of ways to join one. Your local library or church may already have a group. There are online book clubs you can join from your living room. Or you can start your own with three friends and a pot of coffee.

If small print is hard on your eyes, you have options. Many books come in large-print editions. You can also listen to audiobooks. With the free Libby app, you can borrow e-books and audiobooks from your library using just your library card.

Here’s a fun twist: start a “book and brush” club. Read and chat for the first half, then pull out your paint-by-numbers kits and paint together for the second half. You’ll have good company, a good story, and a pretty painting to take home.

Find Your Happy Hobby

The happiest women over 60 have one thing in common. They make time for something that’s just for them.

It doesn’t have to be big or fancy. It might be a pot of basil on the windowsill, a morning walk with a neighbor, or a few rows of knitting before bed. What matters is that it makes you smile.

And you don’t need to try all seven. Pick the one that sounds the most fun, and start small this week. You can always add another later.

If you want the easiest place to begin, a paint-by-numbers kit made for grandparents is waiting for you. Everything comes in the box. All you need is a quiet afternoon and a cup of tea.

So, which hobby are you trying first? Tell us in the comments! We’d love to hear.

Sharing is caring!