[For Seniors] Enjoy Your Alone Time: Perfect Ideas for Passing the Time
Among elderly people, there are likely some who have more alone time than they know what to do with.
Some live by themselves, and others spend much of the day alone because their family members are at work.
There may also be those who are thinking about how to spend their alone time while they’re in the hospital.
In this article, we introduce recreational activities that are perfect for passing the time and enjoying solo moments.
We’ve gathered easy options that you can start as hobbies without much effort.
If you find something here that seems suitable for an older adult you know, please share it with them.
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[For Seniors] Enjoy Your Me-Time: Perfect Pastime Ideas (1–10)
Listen to a rakugo CD
Rakugo, one of Japan’s traditional performing arts, comes in many varieties, including classical rakugo and newly written pieces.
The difficulty level also ranges widely, from content aimed at advanced listeners familiar with rakugo to gentle material that even beginners can understand.
Listening closely to a rakugo performer’s words not only helps prevent decline in hearing but also stimulates the brain by engaging in comprehension.
Rakugo CDs are highly recommended not only for those already interested in rakugo, but also for people who know nothing about it.
scratch art
Why not make the most of your me-time with a scratch art sheet you can even find at 100-yen shops? They’re easy to get and you can start right away, so there’s no pressure.
Since it’s a kit, all the tools you need come in one set—there’s nothing you have to prepare yourself.
You can enjoy creating scratch art at home during your alone time, or even to pass the time while you’re in the hospital.
It’s lightweight, so you can slip it into your bag and work on it anywhere.
Once you’ve finished, try putting it in a frame and displaying it.
Rubik’s Cube
This is a classic puzzle where you twist and turn the blocks to align all six faces.
It tests your ability to visualize how each square will move and where it will end up.
Relying on intuition alone makes completing all six faces difficult, so learning specific algorithms is important—starting by solving just one face is recommended.
As you get better at moving the blocks to the positions you intend, you’ll also start to feel yourself getting closer to completing all six faces.
[For Seniors] Enjoying Solo Time: Perfect Ideas to Pass the Time (11–20)
puzzle ring
A disentanglement puzzle that keeps your fingers and brain working is perfect for quietly passing time alone.
Shops and online stores that carry lots of novelty items sell many puzzles sorted by difficulty level.
How about giving an easy one as a first gift to a family member in the hospital or an older person living alone? As they quietly keep at it, they might get hooked on the fun—and end up solving it faster than anyone around them!
Adult coloring book
When people hear “coloring,” they might picture it as a pastime for small children.
In fact, coloring that adults can enjoy is quite popular, with classes, events, contests, and exhibitions specifically for adult coloring.
Since you start with an existing line drawing as the base, the barrier to getting started isn’t high, and you can enjoy it without feeling pressured.
For seniors, there are even expected benefits such as helping prevent dementia and promoting relaxation.
If you’ve secretly wanted to try making art but felt you didn’t have the talent, why not take this opportunity to give it a try?
Gardening
It is said that growing plants stimulates the senses—sight, touch, and smell—evoking old memories and enriching sensitivity.
This time, we’d like to introduce one aspect of gardening: “yoseue,” or container planting, where multiple flowers are planted together in a pot filled with soil.
By combining brightly colored flowers for a glamorous look or using cute blossoms to create a delicate atmosphere, each person can express their own style.
Even those who don’t often have the chance to handle soil can enjoy it both physically and mentally.
Now, let’s all give it a try.
movie watching
As a hobby you can enjoy while seated, watching movies is also recommended.
You can take your time and watch at home, or enjoy films at the theater.
You might choose to watch new releases, or revisit beloved classics.
The latter can also be a chance to reflect on memories.
By the way, in recent years, remastered editions and colorized versions of older films have been released, and DVDs have come out as well.
Even if it’s a film you’ve already seen, it may feel fresh again.
