50 Ideas For Adventures After 50
Exciting Hobbies That Bring Life To Your Midlife
Amanda’s New Chapter: Facing the Empty Nest
Amanda stood in her kitchen, sipping her morning coffee and staring out the window. For the first time in over 20 years, the house was quiet. “Too quiet,” she thought.
Her son had just left for college. Amanda was proud — immensely proud of this fine human she had raised as a single mom — but there was an unexpected pang of emptiness lingering in her chest.
“I have all this time now,” she pondered, a little anxiously. “But what on earth am I supposed to do with it?”
Amanda’s story is one many of us can relate to. You’ve dedicated decades to raising kids, building a career, or caring for others, and now, suddenly, you find yourself with time…. a rare and unfamiliar gift.
Now you have to decide… how will you use it?
Why Hobbies Are the Secret to Rediscovering Yourself
The beauty of this stage of life is that it’s ripe for exploration. Finding something new to do isn’t just about filling up time and distracting yourself; it’s about figuring out who you are and what you want… in this next phase of life.
It’s about finding an activity that inspires you and brings you joy. Realizing that you are an empty nester is an invitation to reinvent yourself, revisit a forgotten passion, or dive into an activity you’ve always been curious about but never had the chance to explore.
Get Melissa Harris & Co’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The best thing? Hobbies are a no-pressure zone: #1 You don’t need to know how to do something to start. #2 They don’t involve a long-term commitment, unless you choose to make one. #3 You can test out many and figure out what you like as you go along. And #4 a hobby is not about perfection — you don’t have to prove anything to anyone — it’s simply for the enjoyment of it.
Where to Find Your Next Great Adventure
If you’re like Amanda, staring at a blank slate and wondering where to begin, here are a few places to start your search:
- Think Back: What did you love doing as a child or young adult? Was it painting, running, writing, theater? Revisit those ideas.
- Browse Classes: Check out local community centers, libraries, or online platforms like Udemy and Skillshare for workshops and courses.
- Join Groups: Look on Meetup.com or Facebook™ for local or virtual hobby groups. You’ll meet like-minded people and make new friends.
- Explore Social Media: Pinterest™ and Instagram™ are goldmines for hobby inspiration. Search hashtags like #HobbiesOver50 or #EmptyNesterAdventures.
- Ask Around: Talk to friends or neighbors about what they enjoy doing. Join them for a sneak peek. Their hobbies might spark your interest.
50 Popular Hobbies to Try After 50
Here’s a list of exciting hobbies that midlife folks love. Are you looking to learn, create, or get the body moving? There’s something here for everyone. Check these out!
Creative Pursuits
- Painting (watercolors, acrylics, oils)
- Pottery or ceramics
- Photography (nature, portraits, travel)
- Knitting or crocheting
- Scrapbooking or journaling
- Sewing or quilting
- Calligraphy or hand lettering
- Woodworking or carpentry
- DIY furniture upcycling
- Jewelry making
Learning and Personal Growth
- Learning a new language
- Playing a musical instrument (guitar, piano, ukulele)
- Writing a book or starting a blog
- Studying genealogy and building a family tree
- Exploring astrology or numerology
- Taking online courses (history, science, psychology)
- Attending TEDx events or lectures
- Learning coding or app development
- Studying herbalism or aromatherapy
- Practicing meditation or mindfulness
Outdoor Adventures
- Gardening (flowers, vegetables, herbs)
- Birdwatching and wildlife tracking
- Hiking and nature walks
- Kayaking or paddleboarding
- Fishing or fly-fishing
- Camping or glamping
- Geocaching (a modern-day treasure hunt)
- Cycling or mountain biking
- Beachcombing or fossil hunting
- Volunteering for conservation projects
Health and Wellness
- Yoga or Pilates
- Dance classes (ballroom, salsa, line dancing)
- Swimming or aqua aerobics
- Joining a walking or running club
- Martial arts or tai chi
- Weightlifting or strength training
- Pickleball (the fastest-growing sport for all ages!)
- Golf or disc golf
- Rock climbing or bouldering
- Rollerblading or ice skating
Community and Connection
- Volunteering (animal shelters, food banks, schools)
- Joining a book club or starting one
- Hosting themed dinner parties
- Mentoring young adults or coaching sports
- Becoming a docent at a museum or park
- Starting a local photography or art exhibit
- Organizing neighborhood clean-ups
- Joining a travel club or planning group trips
- Participating in local theater productions
- Advocating for a cause you’re passionate about (foster children, breast cancer, veterans, littering)
Transforming Time Into Treasure: A Hobby That Fits You
When Amanda decided to explore new hobbies, she started small. First, she joined a yoga class she’d been eyeing for years. Then, inspired by her love of baking, she signed up for a cake decorating workshop. Each new experience made her smile, increased her confidence, and brought her new connections.
Over time, Amanda realized her life wasn’t ending — it was blossoming into something new, beautiful, and unexpected. And she had interesting things to talk about with her son when he came home to visit!
The same can be true for you. Hobbies allow you to tap into your creativity, build new skills, and find a renewed sense of purpose. They can also open up opportunities to change careers or open a business or make a difference in the community.
So take that first step. Try something new today. Because this next chapter is all about you. And the possibilities are truly endless. 🌞
The Modern Woman’s Real Reinvention Roadmap was specially designed to lead you through a purposeful reinvention process step-by-step. It empowers you in a personal, fun, no-pressure way to re-discover those beautiful parts of yourself that you may have placed on a back-burner and re-identify your true core values that have matured through time and life experience.
If you found this content helpful, check out other blogs at the website: https://melissaharrisandcompany.com/blog-portfolio/
I know there are many, many more ideas than these here. Do you have an unusual activity or an obscure hobby that others may love? Share it in the comments!
