Doctors Say These Hobbies Could Help You Live Longer and Feel Better
Who knew going out with the girls could be so beneficial to your health?
The healthiest hobbies aren’t just things you do to kill the time—they might actually help you live longer. From boosting your mood to keeping your brain sharp, the right pastimes can do a lot more than fill your weekends. Experts say certain hobbies can even support longevity, helping you stay healthier and happier over the decades.
We rounded up a list of hobbies that can help you live longer—they work your brain, spark creativity, and keep you engaged with the world around you. Activities like crafting, learning an instrument, and gardening aren’t just relaxing—they challenge your mind in ways that matter at every stage of life. "This is not a nice-to-have, it's essential for well-being in longevity,” says Kerry Burnight, M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half.
Here are the best hobbies for longevity, according to experts.
Gardening
Deborah Kado, M.D.,co-director of the Stanford Longevity Center and chief of research for the Geriatrics Section at Stanford University School of Medicine, has been caring for older adults for almost 30 years. One hobby she has observed that may be associated with healthy longevity is gardening, because it's done with the purpose of cultivating something to grow.
Singing or playing an instrument
Two other hobbies Kado has observed that may be associated with healthy longevity are singing or playing a musical instrument. She adds that making music is about learning, creating something and enjoying the process. Researchalso supports that engaging in these activities may actually keep the brain young.
Get physical
For a longer, healthier life, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., MBA, FACOG, and chief medical officer at Hers, suggests incorporating resistance training into your daily movements to improve brain health and muscle strength, while also helping maintain your body's glucose levels.
Kado says incorporating regular physical activity into your day, like dancing, swimming, hiking or walking, may also be associated with healthy longevity. She adds that once you’ve done it, you’ll likely feel better about the day.
Socialize
Sharing a social activity with someone else regularly, at least once a week, is another hobby Kado suggests may be associated with healthy longevity.
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation adds that social interactions are "critical for healthy aging."
Volunteer
Whether you’re interested in working with kids, caring for homeless animals, or even working with marine life like dolphins and sea turtles, there’s a volunteer opportunity just waiting for you.
In fact, according to a Journal of Health Psychology review, people aged 70 and older who volunteer frequently tend to live longer than those who don't.
Arts and crafts
Get the creative juices flowing by adding some good ol’ fashioned arts and crafts to your hobbies. Take up painting, knitting, crocheting, photography, or anything else that tickles your fancy and create your masterpiece. Just like singing and playing a musical instrument, studies show that arts and crafts are mentally stimulating, which in turn helps keep the brain sharp.
Get some sleep
Who says sleeping can’t be a hobby? Shepherd says that improving our sleep habits and patterns can help reduce chronic morbidity and disease, improve mindfulness and reset mitochondria.
Additionally, the Mayo Clinic reports that recent research shows men who get a good night's sleep live about 5 years longer than those who don't; for women, it's 2 years.
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