Leisure Legacy – Passing Down Hobbies & Passions Through Generations

Leisure Legacy – Passing Down Hobbies Through Generations

When you think about the things that you enjoy doing in your free time, do you remember why you first started doing that particular activity? Who inspired you to try something? Many people pick up hobbies from older relatives. I can see that it’s true in my case – my love of reading and exploring local cuisine when travelling comes from my dad. My love of drawing and design from my grandfather, my love of baking from my grandmother, and my preference for enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in the morning and my love of word games from my mum. My husband has many hobbies that he’s picked up from older family members too and I can see that we have both passed on some of our hobbies to our three children already. Our girls love hiking, reading, Lego, and puzzles just like we do! 

Passing Down Hobbies

Chums recently did a survey on this topic. To understand how hobbies and habits are passed down through generations, they asked 1,000 UK adults over 60 about their experiences. The results showed that 59% of over 60s had picked up hobbies, pastimes, or habits from older relatives. 52.4% reported that they have continued this tradition and have passed down some of their own interests to younger family members. This is a great way to connect us to both past and future generations.

Exploring Popular Hobbies & Habits

Chums also explored which hobbies are most popular. For both men and women over 60, reading is the most popular hobby. Other hobbies that are very popular include gardening, walking/hiking, and cooking and baking. Women also ranked sewing, knitting, arts and crafts highly while men favoured collecting items and studying history. See more in the image above. 

The survey also looked at popular habits for this age group. The most popular habit overall was watching the news, which was closely followed by reusing old biscuit and chocolate tins for storage! Popular uses include storage for screws and nails, sewing supplies, and spare/loose keys. Other popular habits include turning off appliances at the wall, cooking at home, keeping a junk drawer, choosing to DIY, and buying something just because it’s a good deal. 

The Benefits of Hobbies

The majority of the respondents engage in their hobbies daily or once a week which is great to see. The NHS recommends that older adults (65+) should aim to do some kind of physical activity every day – even if it’s just some light housework. On a weekly basis, it’s recommended that this age group does 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise alongside some strength training. These activities can be things like playing sports, swimming, hiking, or bike riding. Any exercise and movement is better than none – it’s so important to stay active by doing simple things like walking and looking after your home.

Hobbies are great for both physical and mental health. Nearly everyone surveyed (96.5%) reported that their hobbies and pastimes contribute to their overall wellbeing. 82.1% share that their hobbies help them stay physically active and 95.6% find that they help with both mental clarity and stress reduction. 

Exploring New Hobbies

Participants were asked what advice they would give to someone looking to start a new hobby and the most common response was to “just do it”. It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby – choose something you would like to try and give it a go. Perhaps something to keep your brain and body active or something social that you can do with like-minded people such as a book club or walking/hiking group. 

Conclusion

It’s never too late to try something new or to revisit something that you’ve enjoyed before. Engaging in pastimes boosts mental and physical health and by passing hobbies down through generations, you help keep meaningful family traditions and stories alive. 

Collaboration.