As work becomes less a priority for some, boomers are looking for new ways to spend their free time.
While many boomers are continuing their career, retirement is still a reality for many professionals. And some of these recent retirees fear what life will be like without the structure of work. While some do struggle with this dilemma, many have embraced their hobbies as their path to fulfillment. Some are tried-and-true hobbies, while others might surprise you. Check out what’s keeping boomers occupied in their free time.
Cooking
Now that some boomers are slowing down with retirement or a reduced work schedule, they are able to dedicate more time to preparing their meals. Many have found an unknown passion for the culinary arts, and with an endless amount of cooking-related content on the internet, they can conduct their own at-home cooking classes.
DIYs.
It’s almost a cliché of the fidgety new retiree looking for DIY projects around the house to stay busy. And yet, there’s some truth to that, born out of genuine interest rather than boredom. Whether it is small projects around the home, or taking on bigger dream projects, many boomers are eager to work with their hands and start building things.
Exercise.
Maybe not the go-to fun hobby for everyone, but boomers are passionate about fitness. Their generation is healthy for their age and a lot of that could be due to their interest in regular physical activity. They were responsible for the so-called “Fitness Revolution” and as they age they’ve maintained that dedication to exercise through marathons, groups fitness activities and regular trips to the gym.
Movies.
Movies are one of those universal interests. What might be surprising about how boomers are watching movies, however, is how much they’ve embraced the streaming technology. Netflix and other streaming services have allowed boomers to see all the latest movies from the comfort of their home.
Music.
Like movies, music is sort of a hobby enjoyed by all. Some of the greatest music of all-time came out of the boomer generation’s younger years and they hold that music in high regard. Artists from that period still tour successfully for eager boomer audiences. Also, the boom of vinyl records in recent years has been quite popular with the boomers who grew up with that technology.
New tech.
Despite the common notions, boomers enjoy staying up-to-date with the latest in phones and useful tech. They use it for a variety of purposes, from work to entertainment, and even health. But aside from the practicality of it, they seem to enjoy learning more about the latest developments and are fascinated in how far everyday technology has come in their lifetime.
Socializing.
When work becomes less of a priority for boomers and they begin stepping away from their careers, many take the opportunity to focus on the relationships in their lives. They spend time with their families, share conversations with old friends, or meet new people. Many of them also engage with the community more and attend socializing functions. As for single boomers, they spend more time dating.
Sports.
Usually the only sports associated with retirement are golf and fishing. But these boomers are not only eager to play the physically engaging sports like soccer and hockey, but there is also a rise in popularity for extreme sports among their generation. It just goes to show, you don’t grow out of your thrill-seeking ways.
Travel.
For boomers, travel seems to be a way of living in the moment and exploring more. You can see this with their international travel habits, seeing parts of the world that are new to them, as well as with their weekend getaways and road trips, taking full advantage of their free time.
Volunteering.
One of the most unfair accusations thrown at the boomer generation is that they are greedy or self-involved. Boomers have time and time again show to be generous in many ways. They are one of the most charitable generation with their time, seeking out volunteer opportunities, starting their own charitable initiatives and getting involved in worthwhile causes.
What’s your hobby?