Struggling with boredom in retirement, any fulfilling hobbies to do at home?

[Member346563]

I’ve been retired 5 years now (I’m 58) from time to time I’ve really struggled with retirement but the last few weeks have been worse than ever. I’m so bored, I’ve tried all sorts of hobbies, sewing/knitting/jigsaws/puzzles/rambling/baking/gym/dance/reading/learning piano but found nothing that really inspires me or I feel passionate about.

financially I’m very comfortable so have no motivation to make money and have zero intention of returning to work.

I do have my beloved dog who I walk twice a day but the commitment of the dog means I can’t leave the house on my own for more than a couple of hours a day.

Any suggestions on hobbies or studies that I can do from home?
please tell me what your passions are.

I've done a couple of courses in bee keeping. Plan to get my first colony shortly if a swarm arises. You can do it for environmental reasons or for honey or just because you enjoy it.

Have you looked at Oxford department for continuing education? You can take credit bearing modules at Oxford.

Have you tried games? There are some great puzzle games for keeping your mind active and plenty of unique story driven experiences.

Cold water swimming. I’m not retired but I do this every Sunday morning early and it’s brilliant. I’d do it every day if I could.
It’s much easier to motivate if you find a group.

Well done for trying so many different things. It’s a shame none has inspired you. I’m saving up for a piano so that I can learn one day. But that said I also have a cupboard full of knitting stuff that I don’t use…

I like art classes, although I got out for them. The one I go to is 1.5 hours so might be feasible for you too .

There are a lot of yoga instructors online. ever tried that?

wow, you retired at 53? I'm so jealous!!
I think i'd need a part time "no brainer" sort of job or volunteer role to make sure I didn't just waste away my days though. Or I'd need things that are a regular commitment e.g. a weekly gym class rather than just telling myself I'll go to the gym later.
Online GCSEs or Alevels for subjects of interest? Or an open university degree?
choir
WI
community garden
animal sanctuary
charity shop
our local authority does loads of adult education classes that are very cheap to attend

This might be the thread you need:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5506679-aibu-to-ask-for-mentally-stimulating-solo-activities-at-home?page=7&reply=151510073

I’m friend supports elderly people by calling and chatting to them on the phone. She has regular people she chats to every week.

Volunteering in some way will probably make you feel more fulfilled, as you’ll be giving something back to society.

You retired too young. What did you think you were going to do with your time?

If you are financially comfortable go travelling, do voluntary work. There is so much to do and everyone is crying out for help. A lot of it can be done from home as most meetings are over TEAMS. You are also using your dog as an excuse (kindly).

That said I have 3 horses at home and a lot of acreage as well as gardening, dogs, chickens, volunteering for various committees that match my interests, travel and family so am never bored and no idea where the last 2 non work years have gone.

Allotment so you can take the dog with you?

Find a local doggy day care and send her once a week and go to museums/galleries etc?

Painting, pottery, other arts and crafts?

Photography?

Research your family tree?

Can I ask why you want suggestions to be something you can do from home?

If it's because you want to be with your dog, have you thought about dog sports? My agility club allows almost all breeds except the ones with long backs like daschunds or giant breeds. It's fun and sociable and you wouldn't have to worry about leaving your dog!

Edit: apologies, I can see that is why you want to be at home. In that case, there's dog scentwork classes, gundog training, agility, flyball, truffle hunting, all sorts of weird and wonderful things.

Paper crafts, collage, scrapbooks. Can use things you already have and can use as little or as much money as you have. Get some magazines, sometimes people give them away on fb marketplace, great for scrapbooking or collage

Yes, I was trying to think about what you can do with dogs, that's not just taking them for walks, agility would be a good one. I also remember seeing people out dog sledding in forests, but I guess that's not suitable for all dogs.

Most golf clubs have quite an active womens group which might give you what you want. Exercise, plenty of similar minded people and even competition.

They even get quite involved in a lot of charity and fund raising work.

Retired people are the backbone of many social enterprises, lots of which would only take up an hour or two of your time once a week.
Food bank
Charity shop
Walking other people's dogs through the Cinnamon Trust
Help kids learn to read through Coram Beanstalk or Schoolreaders
Deliver meals on wheels
Home-start volunteer to help mums and babies

Look at Zooniverse - citizen science projects. There are lots of projects where you can dip in and out without commitment.

You have to be happy in your own skin and company to be happily retired. I am, and am never bored although I do very little in the way of hobbies. I just find my day flies in with this and that, and before I know it, it's time for tea!

Bring your dog on a day out. Bring your dog on holidays.

I do like history and that's probably the only hobby that fulfils me, I read about it, research it online, and go to foreign (and domestic) places that are associated with my latest historical interest.

Other than that, you have to decide yourself based on your motivation and former and current skill set.

There's nothing wrong with being bored BTW, well nothing that a big packet of chocolate biscuits and a bottle of wine won't cure ha ha. I don't drink, but I like chocolate!

What floats your boat? For example, what about a writing course? I took an online copywriting course with the College of Media and Publishing, and loved it.

Dog walking - there are ppl who can’t walk their dogs for various reasons and volunteers do it. Same with dog fostering.
university of the third age.

Puppy Raiser | Volunteer | Guide Dogs UK

Further to @Tessasanderson's suggestion, I understand quite a lot of golf courses allow dogs these days.

Well it depends what you're interested in! There are so many free courses online from sites like Futurelearn and Coursera, or paid for distance learning from universities. Volunteer in a charity which appeals to you. Get involved with your local foodbank, gardening group, Brownies, parkrun. Do family history, teach yourself to code, take up geocaching or cold water swimming or roller skating, become a demon baker... there is SO much you could be doing.

Watercolour painting. I retired two years ago and this is my new passion. Expensive on buying paints, brushes and paper but once bought it costs nothing but time. I love it. Have posted my first ever painting and then the sort of thing I do now

And further to @misscockerspaniel's posts, it's not just the Guide Dogs for the Blind that need puppy socialisers, there's also Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Dogs for Good, Canine Partners, etc. And they don't just need puppy socialisers but also support with breeding, etc, sometimes.