15 Hobby Ideas for Retired Nurses

Blogging is a wonderful way of communicating with other nurses around the world. You might find an audience by talking humorously about the profession or by sharing your wisdom. Who knows? You may even become a nurse influencer.

Smartphones and digital cameras make it easier to take up photography as a hobby. You can create a portfolio on social media and upload your photos to free sites so your images are used and shared around the world. Several free apps can help with filtering and editing.

Gardening is rewarding in many ways. Spending time outdoors can help boost your mood and calm your mind. Depending on whether you choose to garden with transplants or seeds, you could see immediate improvements to your space or create anticipation for a harvest.

You don’t need a large yard to garden; you can use containers, pots, or grow towers too.

There are several places where you can spend your time volunteering and helping out those in need. Think about volunteering at an area animal shelter where you can show a little love to some dogs and cats, baking for a local nursing home, or volunteering with your local religious group.

Consider being a mentor for a child or college student who would benefit from your years of experience. Your local hospital may be interested in starting a mentorship program with retired nurses for new grads. You have experience and a unique perspective that you can pass down to the next generation.

There is a current shortage of nurse educators. Kan suggests considering a teaching role for nursing assistants, licensed practical/vocational nurses, and registered nurses.

Many programs have part-time roles where retired nurses can pass on their experience and find fulfillment while mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Gallik suggests learning a new language and tells the story of a 100-year-old man she met who was learning his seventh language.

“I often noticed him wearing headphones. I was shocked to learn that it wasn’t music that he was listening to, but a language learning program,” she says. “He responded to the look on my face … pointed to his temple and said ‘If ya don’t use it, ya lose it.’”

The idea is that learning something new can help keep your brain active.

Making art is a creative process that helps lower stress, promotes self-confidence, and enhances your dexterity. There are lots of different styles of art that you can explore. Painting, sculpture, and ceramics are just a few. Consider taking an art class and establishing a wider social network.

We all have to eat, but you may not have had the time to explore new methods of cooking while you were working full time. Cooking is a relaxing and productive hobby that you can share with others. Cooking classes can help you learn new techniques and open up your social network.

Board games have been around for thousands of years and many cities have clubs where people gather to play backgammon, mancala, and chess.

If you love crafting and handmade jewelry, you may want to consider making jewelry. Do-it-yourself crafting offers you the opportunity to network with others who enjoy the same thing. You might even decide to sell what you make.

Put away your headphones. It’s time to learn how to play an instrument. Learning to play an instrument engages your brain in a way that no other puzzle or hobby can. It can be challenging, but it’s also rewarding and the end result can be beautiful music.

Exercise is foundational to good health but sometimes doing it on your own is tiresome and boring.

Look for a club in your area that will keep you motivated. Whatever you like to do, there’s likely a group of people who get together every week to do it.

Reading and discussing what you’ve read is a great way to build a social network and keep your brain active. There are many types of book clubs that meet online or in person. If you don’t find one that speaks to you, you can start your own. Whether you enjoy reading fiction, nonfiction, romance, or sci-fi, there’s likely something for you.

Just because you’re retired, doesn’t mean you can’t have a job to fill your hours during retirement and pad your bank account. Freelance health writer, first-aid instructor, high school teacher, and consultant are just some of the positions where a retired nurse could make a big impact.