The saddest stories I hear from my clients is when they can no longer do the hobbies and things they used to love. When I ask what they have done to adapting hobbies to better suit their abilities, I’m often met with blank stares.
Our hobbies are our passions, the things that bring us joy in life. When we lose the ability to do things, it’s no wonder we find ourselves in a funk.
Getting creative about adapting hobbies to match your current abilities can have a profound effect on our mental health.
1. Go Big or Go Home
Sometimes to do a hobby differently, we need to make it larger. Make the fonts larger, make the materials larger, or even make the equipment larger.
- Maybe you choose large print books to continue reading
- Maybe you use larger knitting and crochet needles to make it easier to hold (and you get to see faster results)
- Maybe you choose wood working patterns with larger details that are easier to carve
- Maybe you add extra padding onto your paint brush so it is easier to hold
- Occasionally you do need to go smaller – so maybe instead of playing guitar, you learn to play ukulele because it is easier to hold.
2. Take on a Different Role
If you find yourself not being able to participate in your hobby in the way you are used to, then you might want to see if there is a different role you can take in that world to allow you to be close to the hobby.
- Maybe you shift from playing golf to driving the golf cart for your golf buddies or managing the registration table at golf tournaments
- Maybe you shift from sewing, to help organize the donated fabrics or organize the finished items of a local craft group for donation
- Maybe you shift from being treasurer on your favourite charity board, but can you be a member at large or help support the fundraising activities of the organization
3. Use a Different Sense
This is sometimes a little harder to figure out, but sometimes you can do a hobby by using a different sense. Changing from seeing to hearing. Changing for touching to tasting. Can you convert the sense of your hobby?
- Maybe you shift from cooking to being the chief taster as the grand kids cook now
- Maybe you shift from reading books to listening to audio books or using a reading pen that reads to you
- Maybe you shift from acting to writing screenplays
- Maybe you shift from hiking the trails to hosting seminars talking about the places you have hiked
4. Take a Seat
Occasionally we need to make sure we protect ourselves from a fall, or ensure we don’t run out of energy in the middle of doing something we love. What can you do with your hobby if you sat down or did it in bed?
- Maybe you convert your garden to a raised garden so you can sit in a chair and weed & harvest
- Maybe you stop doing yoga on the floor and shift to yoga in a chair
- Maybe you add a chair to your workshop bench and in front of your tools
- Maybe you add a chair to the kitchen while you make fresh pasta and can the sauce
- Maybe you can coach your favourite sport from a seat on the sidelines instead of playing the sport
5. Get a Helpful Aide
Have you ever walked through a medical supply store to find all the amazing different ways they can adapt every day items to be easier to use for different abilities.
- Maybe you use card holder to continue to play bridge
- Maybe you use a magnifying lamp to continue to read books
- Maybe you use an adapted crochet hook to continue with your favourite yarn crafts
- Maybe you use a special guide or jig on your woodworking equipment to make it easier
- Maybe you use special measuring cups and spoons that accommodate a tremor in your hand so you can keep baking
6. Find a Partner
As the Beatles said, “sometimes I get by with a little help from my friends”. Would doing the activity with a partner make it easier for you? Can you carpool to get to where you need with someone from the same activity group? Get creative and partner up to continue to do the hobbies you enjoy.
- Maybe you offer to host a group in your home if getting out to the activity on your own is getting hard to do
- Maybe you switch from playing a game as a single and play the sport as a pair to take some pressure off of you
- Maybe you sit with a friend and they read the recipe while you make it
- Maybe a friend cuts out the wood templates and you sand and stain them
7. Try Something New
If you feel that there is just no way to adapting hobbies you love – then it might be your sign to try something completely new and different. Is there a hobby you always wanted to try? Maybe a hobby you forgot you used to do years ago and it’s time to take it up again? What hobbies do your friends or family members enjoy that you could try? It’s never to late to learn something new.
When I was a manager in a senior living residence, I remember the day an art class was empty and I was trying to encourage residents to go give it a try. I remember a fairly frail 86 year old resident who proclaimed she had never painted a day in her life and she shouldn’t go because of that. I encouraged her to just go give it a try, make a wonderful mess! Guess what – she had an amazing natural talent to paint flowers. She was amazing – her first time! It took her 86 years to learn she had this talent, and she spent her remaining years happily painting any chance she got. She even set up a gallery show. You just never know what new skill you can uncover…unless you try!
If you are still stuck, consult with a local Occupational Therapist or Recreation Therapist – they often have very creative ideas for continuing to adapt hobbies that you truly enjoy. Be passionate about keeping active doing things you love.
