8 Fun Solo Activities for Seniors

Being alone doesn’t need to be boring. Sure, we all need company at times (it’s essential for health!), but there’s something to be said for the time spent on your own as well.

Thankfully, there are plenty of solo activities for seniors out there, ones that can help you enjoy your time and your own company. These activities could even help your mental health, so why not try a few?

Solo Activities for Seniors That You’ll Love

1. Play Card Games

People of all ages enjoy card games. Traditionally, you need at least two people to play cards, but there are a surprising number of solo options as well.

First, there are all the card games you can play on your own with just a deck of cards (there are many more than just solitaire!).

Then there are the online options, which include solitaire, spider solitaire, gold solitaire, freecell, yukon, forty thieves, pyramids, guides, and more. Some of these are regular single player games that you can play without needing to set up the cards each time.

Other online card games follow the style of multiplayer games, like poker. Sometimes you’re playing against real competitors. Other times, you’re playing against computer-based players.

These games are fun, to say the least, and offer many health benefits. These games keep you busy, have a calming, almost meditative effect on minds, diffuse tension, and teach you delayed gratification.

Many online platforms offer demo and paid premium versions of these card games. One of the best ones is Solitaire Bliss. Unlike other apps and websites, Solitaire Bliss is free and has excellent reviews online. Visit their website to find a wide selection of card games you can play alone and enjoy.

If you’re considering online games like poker, be cautious about the site you use. Look for ones that are focused on fun and don’t require any real money. The money-based ones can too easily be scams or contribute to a gambling addiction.

2. Try Puzzles and Brain Teasers

Puzzles are excellent for mental health. They help in beating boredom and keeping your mind sharp. Puzzles are suitable for people of all ages, especially for kids and older citizens, as they get to work on their memory and cognitive skills by solving puzzles. Indeed, puzzles are excellent solo activities for seniors, as there are so many types to choose from.

Jigsaws, sudoku, crosswords, brainteasers, and more, all these puzzles can be enjoyed alone and contribute to mental health. Puzzles keep you engaged, force your brain to find creative ways of problem-solving, keep your memory power sharp, and help relieve stress.

The sense of accomplishment that you get from solving puzzles gives a boost to your self-worth. Even if you cannot solve a puzzle at one go, you can try it again and come up with different methods. This will allow you to form solid problem-solving techniques, which can be an added benefit.

As with cards, there are online and offline options. Activity books for seniors are perfect if you’re looking offline. You can choose between varied activity books and those that focus on just a single type of puzzle.

Alternatively, many websites offer regular puzzles. You can also experiment with apps, including options like WordScapes and Words with Friends.

3. It’s Time to Plant Some Seeds

Gardening is an activity that is good for you and the planet. Regardless of your age group or how busy you might be, you can customize gardening according to your schedule and needs. If you have enough time, you can go for demanding plants, but succulents are the way to go if you are looking for a small, fun activity.

In addition to making the world a great place, gardening is a great mood elevator. You can mix and match different colors of plants to create scenery that you find pleasing. You can also take this further and ask others to join you., If you have been living alone for a while, this can be a great way of interacting with more people.

4. Beat Boredom with Dancing

Any form of physical activity is better than sitting idle. When you move your body, there is a release of feel-good hormones — no, it does not have to be a gut-wrenching workout.

Dancing is excellent, but it is often seen as a group activity. This is far from the truth. Today, many online platforms and apps allow you to pick your favorite dancing style and move along with them. There are options of dancing along with pre-recorded classes or joining live sessions. Depending on your preference, you can choose either.

You can also simply put on your favorite song and bop away.

Dancing will help release oxytocin, keep you fit, and help you beat those blues. Whenever you feel bored, play some good music and dance to it. Remember, you don’t need a partner for it.

5. Pick Up that Book

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Joseph Addison.

Reading is a great activity that is primarily meant to be enjoyed alone. Fiction, fantasy, memoirs, sci-fi, goth, there is so much to explore and a genre for everyone. Even if you are not a reader, you can start with short stories, novellas, or even comic books. Diving into a book is not a means of escape either. Instead, it is a way of broadening your perspective while beating boredom.

Try your local library if books are too expensive to purchase. There are often cheap novels at second-hand stores and yard sales. You could also simply ask close friends. Many will have books they’ve finished that they would be willing to lend you (or even gift to you!).

eBooks and audiobooks are an option too. Your library may even allow you to borrow eBooks without a fee. Otherwise, eBooks are often inexpensive through Amazon, particularly with their Kindle Unlimited program.

6. You Can be a Wordsmith

You don’t have to be a professional writer to write something! We all have thoughts that stem from our experiences and desires. If you have time on your hand or are having fun getting lost in the words of others, then you can consider writing as well.

You can start with journaling and build your way up. You can also create fun creatures and make a fascinating world for them. There are no limitations here.

This hobby has a lot of potential. You can take online writing courses and even share your stories with others. You can easily publish your writing if you like or keep it to yourself.

Writing is an especially powerful hobby, as it has directionality. This can help it feel like you’re accomplishing something. If you’re stuck for ideas, why not start to record your memories? You could end up writing an entire memoir!

7. Put on Your Chef’s Hat

Who doesn’t love a well-cooked dish?

Cooking for oneself is an activity that everyone must indulge in. Not only does it allow you to control the nutritional value of your food, but it can help you by uplifting your mood.

Cooking is a sensory experience that allows you to explore your creativity. In the end, when the dish is ready, you feel a sense of accomplishment that can be lacking when you are alone, especially as a senior citizen.

On those tough days when every day seems to be going against you, you can turn to your favorite recipe, follow the instructions and make a dish that you know will turn out well.

Cooking has a therapeutic and calming effect on your mind. In addition to keeping you engaged, it can also act as your creative outlet and allow you to make meals suitable to your dietary needs. You don’t even need to fish for your grandmother’s recipe. You can turn on your favorite cooking channel online and start making a dish that will lift your spirits.

8. Try Scrapbooking

Scrapbooks are a fantastic activity for anyone visual – especially as there are no rules. You might make a book that combines photographs with writing or one that consists entirely of magazine cutouts.

Scrapbooking also functions as a solo and a shared activity. You can show your finished creations to friends and family members, and you might even get visitors to contribute to a page in your book.

Final Thoughts

No rule book says you need to have people around to have fun! Even alone, you can make the most out of it. All you need to do is find a hobby or an activity that keeps you entertained. These solo activities for seniors are an excellent place to begin – and you can easily find more activities of your own.

Be Patient

Not all of us are cut out from the same tree. This is why it might take you some time to discover an activity that is the most suitable for you. So, keep yourself open to new experiences and activities. Try everything till you find something that extends your personality and keeps you entertained.

Remember to Keep Connecting

Enjoying your own company is essential, but staying alone for too long for anyone can have adverse health conditions, especially when you are a senior citizen or their caregiver. According to the NIA, social loneliness can put one at a greater risk of developing conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and depression.

So, no matter how many fun solo activities you find, it’s still important to connect with other people. This could involve looking at what local senior centers have to offer or finding activity-based groups in your area. Even activities like exercise classes and Nordic walking are much more enjoyable when shared than on your own.