Finding hobbies to help with growing older

I have been dog sitting for the past week, and I will continue to do so for the next week as well. Dog and house sitting have provided a lot of “me time” that I normally don’t get, opening the way for me to work on some of my hobbies. 

 

The only thing is that I sometimes don’t know what to do with myself. I could watch TV or movies that I’ve been meaning to, but then I think, “Is this the most productive use of my time? Am I learning anything? Am I taking full advantage of life?” Usually, my answer to those happens to be a no. 

 

Mental decline is one of the most feared parts of getting older, isn’t it? I’ve found myself recently considering whether or not my hobbies help with growing older. I exercise and plan to continue to do so in order to stay agile and capable, and I guess my love of reading and doing puzzles might also help my mental sharpness or cognitive ability. Well, according to Google, that is. 

 

I’ve been wondering whether I should stop reading fictional books for a bit and start reading nonfiction, or self-help books, the type that would cause me to learn something rather than reading  only for pleasure. But according to the internet, reading for pleasure has a great effect on satisfaction and happiness in life, and reduces stress in the process. 

 

So maybe it’s not so bad if I spend all my time reading. Research also indicates that along with regular exercise and solving puzzles, learning a language and/or an instrument is also beneficial to the brain. It also suggests creative hobbies like gardening, painting, drawing, and writing are great ways to activate the brain and promote cognitive skills. 

 

While one part of me thinks I need to do something with every second of my life and make sure I don’t waste it, another part of me realizes that as humans, what else are we to do with our lives other than enjoy them? Sometimes I have to remind myself that I shouldn’t feel guilty that I’m not volunteering at an organization, becoming the healthiest version of myself, or learning something new with my time. 

 

I’m finding life to be a funny, fickle thing. When I’m finally able to have a thought other than work, I find myself realizing all of the other things on my list that are ultimately working to improve my life. Perhaps I should dig into my finances so I can become financially stable into my future, search for new jobs so that I can find greater happiness and success (and debate going back to school in the process), grocery shop and cook meals that will fuel my body in a healthy way, work on my friendships and relationships so I can be with people who help me feel like me. 

 

Reading back, this all feels a bit sappy, but I’m currently sitting in the sun, exhausted on a Sunday, with the poodle Matilda panting stinky breath into my face. Sundays feel like reflection days and I am embracing it. 

 

My Determination: “This is just another human being. A fellow rider on the journey from cradle to coffin.” ― Stephen King, Never Flinch