Here are four fun activities to keep seniors entertained and enjoy their evenings.
1. Star watching
When was the last time you gazed up at the sky to admire the twinkling display that Mother Nature puts up for you each night? No, you don’t need an expensive telescope or even a pair of binoculars.
In fact, star gazing is one of the most affordable and a decidedly low impact, backyard outdoor activity that works wonders for your stress levels.
Before you complain that your neck just isn’t what it used to be and the old spine will no longer support your budding astronomy adventures, pause right there! Who said you need to throw your head back to gaze up?
Get your yoga mat out if you don’t have a pool chair or an outdoor recliner that can be put into a completely flat position.
Either way, when you are lying supine on your back, you get an unhindered view of what lies beyond your planet, plus you put your sympathetic nervous system in standby mode. This is the part of your physiology that controls stress (even giving rise to it) and basically keeps you battle ready all the time.
In the world of yoga, this position has a rather macabre name, shavasana, which literally means the dead man’s posture. But make no mistake, it is meant to ward off fatigue, stress and anxiety and that is exactly what you do as you lie down to gaze up at the canopy of stars.
And for those of you who think that stargazing is a dying hobby, think again. They actually have stargazing train and bus tours that will take you to cabins in the middle of nowhere just so you can enjoy an unrestricted view of the night sky in all its glory, without pollution turning into a kill-joy.
2. Bonfire parties
I believe a bonfire is the best way to tackle the nip in the air that autumn and early winter brings along. And if you have your loved ones and a lot of friendly banter and good food to go with the crackling fire, all the better.
As long as you have a backyard, you have the perfect setting for a bonfire party. The best part of indulging in this outdoor chill-out activity is that you can turn it into a multi-generation affair.
Get the seniors and their grandkids involved in the party. After all, when you have a toasty fire going and some marshmallows to go with it, more is always merrier.
Personally, I feel this is a wonderful way to share stories and to fish out happy memories from the past. And, this is just the season for it, so when are you hosting your next or first bonfire party?
3. An outdoor aromatherapy session:
This is another relaxing and almost meditative outdoor activity that can be enjoyed alone or in a group.
An aromatherapy session on the back porch or even in the back yard works exceptionally well at dusk, when you have just enough light to not need artificial luminescence but it isn’t so bright as to cause discomfort or be a distraction.
If you have a back porch or any kind of partially covered area; this would be perfect to operate an aromatherapy diffuser. Use your favorite natural scents as singles or you could blend them together. You can also use aromatherapy candles if you don’t have a diffuser.
The idea is to enjoy the outdoor environment, the sights and the sounds of the world around you winding down for the day, along with the soothing aromas of the oils.
Undoubtedly, aromatherapy also works exceptionally well when done indoors. However, the whole experience of combining nature with natural aromas creates a profoundly soothing effect on the senses. So, it is a fantastic way to deal with stressors and negativity.
4. Watch an outdoor movie:
As far as leisure activities for the elderly go, this one sure does take the crown. I mean, what better way to spend an evening than watching a classic when the skies are clear and the weather is simply perfect?
In fact, I can’t think of any other outdoor activity that can bring back as many happy memories as a visit to an outdoor/ drive-in cinema.
Usually, these establishments play favorites from the decades gone by, which means it is perfect for a date night. Yes, seniors you can have those even when you and your partner are well into your sixties.
So, what happens if there isn’t an outdoor cinema in your town/city? They are, after all, a dying breed.
Well, you could simply recreate the experience in your own backyard. Although nothing beats the real deal, there is no need to take a trip to another city just to catch an old movie outdoors.
As long as you have good company, good weather and a decent batch of popcorn to go with it, there is nothing stopping you from having one of the best evenings ever.
Prayer For My Love
