It is vital that we take the time to have fun and engage in interesting activities, especially with increasing age. Playing and learning new skills increase our cognitive abilities, improve our mental and emotional well-being, and even help to boost immunity and vitality by ensuring that the brain releases feel-good chemicals.

Engaging in activities that are enjoyable can reduce the risk of developing certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, promote a longer lifespan and help people to feel happier and less depressed. Research suggests that mentally-stimulating activity can help with memory problems or dementia

Image Credit

Ideas for activities

Arts and crafts are a great way of re-igniting the creative thought process. Activities such as painting, knitting, crochet, macrame and ceramics are all mentally stimulating and provide the opportunity to learn new skills and work on both fine and gross motor skills.

Outings and excursions provide not only the opportunity to see new sights and places but also promote physical activity for fitness, such as walking and moving around.

Traditional games and puzzles such as jigsaws, word searches and crosswords help to keep the brain mentally stimulated and can provide a great sense of accomplishment upon completion.

Sports such as bowls, badminton and tennis can promote physical fitness as well as hand-eye coordination skills.

Macrame

Macrame is a very beginner-friendly activity, requiring few skills and few materials. It can be done whilst sitting and allows the creation of fun and interesting pieces that can provide a great sense of achievement upon completion.

Why not try a macrame kit? A macrame kit from Wool Couture  contains all the items required for a project in one handy pack, so it is quick and easy to get started. You will find a large selection of projects for homeware, decoration, and fashion accessories. There is a macrame kit suitable for any skill level or interest.

Image credit

Fun activities should be an integral part of anyone’s week, helping to promote good physical health, emotional regulation, and mindfulness. Try some different activities today and see which ones work well for you.