Jenny says hobbies have ‘helped her a lot through life’
Retirement can give you the time to pick up old hobbies that, for one reason or another, we’ve put on hold. Having always had a knack for crafting, Jenny picked up mosaic making a couple of years after moving into Fussells Court, a McCarthy Stone Retirement Living development in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.
“When I moved to Fussells Court, it’d been a while since I’d done any kind of arts and crafts, so I was eager to get back into it. I’m thrilled to be able to do something I’ve always loved and that it continues to bring me as much joy now as it did when I was younger,” she smiles.
“I started doing mosaics about five years ago. It made a huge difference to my wellbeing and quality of life as I picked it up just before the pandemic, which was such a difficult and lonely time for many of us. Doing mosaics helped me cope better by making me feel less isolated and giving me a sense of purpose,” she shares.
“I’d been inspired to try it after I visited a local crafts centre. I love that I have something to show for all my time and effort. It’s such intricate work which makes it so time consuming, but the end result makes it all the more worthwhile. Most recently, I did a magnificent mosaic of the Titanic which I’m incredibly proud of. Later this year, I’m hoping to create a mosaic inspired by one of my own photos.”
Jenny has even inspired her House Manager at Fussells Court to take up the hobby and piqued the curiosity of other homeowners who admire her work.
Our survey says retirement hobbies are good for you
A McCarthy Stone study* has found more people are throwing themselves into hobbies in later life, with one in three (35 percent) saying they are more active now than they were in their younger days and half (49 percent) of the 2,000 Brits surveyed agreeing that retirement gives them the opportunity to rediscover forgotten hobbies.
Besides helping us to manage stress, retirement hobbies have been linked to a number of benefits, including boosting brain power, helping to stave off depression, and providing higher levels of happiness and self-reported health in people aged 65 and over.
“Crafting is not only a great way to unwind and flex your creativity, but it also helps develop skills such as strategic thinking and problem solving. It’s had a profound effect on my cognitive health and I’m really starting to feel the full effects of that now,” Jenny adds.
The study by McCarthy Stone also found that hobbies are closely linked to better mood, with 72 percent of people saying they feel happy when doing their hobbies, while 40 percent feel engaged, and 24 percent feel like they are making the most of life.
As a nation, one thing is clear – we’re passionate about enjoying hobbies and interests, with over half (53 percent) of those polled saying they wish they had more hobbies. Find inspiration for retirement hobbies.
Inspired? Join a community that makes retirement hobbies more possible
Living in a ready-made community of friendly neighbours presents a whole host of opportunities for socialising through shared passions. That’s why McCarthy Stone regularly host a range of informal gatherings, clubs and events, to suit all interests and abilities. Some developments even have arts and crafts rooms and sports facilities.
Learn more our retirement homes near you, call our friendly team on 0800 201 4811 or contact us online for more information.
*This research was commissioned by McCarthy Stone and conducted by Perspectus Global during April 2024.
