17 Fun & Relaxing Activities For Men Over 50

Sit back, relax, unwind. You've worked hard all your life. It's time to explore different activities for men that will calm and inspire you.

Relaxing is more than a reward for a lifetime of hard work. Stress takes a toll on the body, and a relaxing hobby or activity just might be what the doctor ordered.

For activities for men that are enriching for both mind and body, continue reading.

In this article:

• Activities for Men | at Home
• Activities for Men | Skill Building
• Activities for Men | in the Great Outdoors
• Activities for Men | Sports

Activities for Men That Aren't Too Late to Start

Activities for Men | at Home

1. Reading

Reading expands the mind, forcing us to place ourselves in other's shoes to gain a different perspective. We acquire more knowledge and insight through the experiences of different characters and develop compassion and sympathy for other people. It also pairs well with a calming cup of tea or an uplifting cup of morning joe.

If you feel like reading is a chore, opt for a cultured magazine before you move up to longer pocketbooks. There are plenty of genres to explore and writing styles to appreciate. Take your time to discover what you like, this is one hobby that has no timeline and is most enjoyable when done at your own pace.

2. Barbecuing and Cooking

Barbecuing is an artful combination of science and instinct. As a bonus, cooking for family and friends is a way to give back to the people who loved you and supported you through thick and thin.

If you frequent takeout, fast food, or ordering in, this is a great hobby to get you out of the habit. Home-cooked foods are much more nutritious than highly processed meals from your local fast-food chain.

3. Chess

Constantly training and exercising our brain may help keep cognitive decline at bay. A game of strategy and foresight like chess is great mental stimulation for those in their 50s. The best part is you can play wherever you are, whether you enjoy the quiet of home or the atmosphere of the community at the local park.

4. Investments

Investing is a productive use of your time, allowing you to earn passive income even when you're off the clock. It takes minimal capital, foresight, and analytical skills to succeed in investing. This will give you a chance to earn money to get that yacht, new fishing rod, or early retirement.

5. Restoration

Put the brakes on and keep it on low gear, this is for the men who can appreciate the journey and love to get their hands dirty. If you have the patience, the mechanical skills, and a love for building or rebuilding, this one's for you.

This hobby is about enjoying the journey of reviving, artfully crafting, and designing your new old car, and unraveling its hidden potential covered by years of rust and soot.

6. Landscaping

It's a home beautification project that will force you to get off the couch and outside under the sun. Landscaping will help you gain a deeper appreciation for nature as you cultivate and spruce up your own patch of land. As a bonus, a beautiful landscape may also increase the value of your land.

Wear an ounce or a shot glass worth of SPF 30 sunscreen on your face and body. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes. Your flower patch may need plenty of sunlight, but the human body can only handle so much UV rays.

7. Wine or Scotch Tasting

Celebrate the finer things in life with a rich glass of wine or a smooth scotch. Wine and scotch are made through the process of fermentation and aging, a keen method that has been perfected for hundreds of years. A man with a refined palette and an eye for detail will be able to identify the combination of bold flavors, interesting notes, and unique bouquets.

Interested in a different kind of note? Number eight might be perfect for you.

Activities for Men | Skill Building

8. Guitar

The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to learn and one of the easiest to bring around. As few as four chords can birth a new song and just one song can relax and inspire you. Learn to play your favorite songs on your guitar or compose your own, it'll be a new adventure either way.

There are many affordable guitars in the market, there's no need to purchase the top of the line Fender especially if you're just starting out.

9. Painting

Splash on some paint on a blank canvas to release stress, let the cool colors relax you and warm shades invigorate you. You don't need cues from Bob Ross in order to paint, just a paint palette, a brush, and a canvas.

You can paint anything you want. If objects and portraits aren't your thing, how about dabbling in an abstract painting?

10. Photography

Are paint and canvas unable to capture exactly the perfect moment? Take up photography. With technology bringing us better and high-performing phone cameras, you don't even need to invest in an expensive camera.

It's the eye and skill that makes a photographer, not the camera. If you have the capital, the interest, and the talent, then go ahead and buy that shiny new camera. This new hobby may even encourage you to get off the couch and out in the world.

Photography will force you to quite literally look at the world with a different lens. This may even help you develop a greater appreciation of the world around you.

11. Writing

Besides music, painting, and photography, writing is another form of self-expression and mode of relaxation. It may help you organize your thoughts or emotions you've been feeling that you feel need straightening out.

If activity number one inspired you, you may want to try to compose your own mystery or thriller novel. Mental stimulation, as we already know, may be good for your cognitive function. The thrill of creating another world will be good for both you and your potential readers.

Activities for Men | in the Great Outdoors

12. Fishing

Fishing forces you to place yourself in the middle of nature and to stay still. In the fast-paced world, we live in, this is a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy peace and quiet.

Whether you prefer to sit back and relax at the dock or position yourself in the middle of the lake with a boat, get yourself some vitamin D and much-needed serenity.

13. Survival Activities for Men in the Great Outdoors

Reconnect with your primal instincts and improve your survival skills. Whether it's roughing it outside in the wilderness or DIY-ing tools for survival, it's a great activity for both mind and body.

Out of ideas? Check this out for the best survival tips and tricks and more survival hacks you never knew you needed.

14. Glamping

If you desire to be out in the great outdoors but are not a fan of getting your hands dirty, you may want to try glamping. Glamping is a play on the words glamorous and camping, giving you the best of both worlds. Imagine sleeping underneath the stars, but on a deluxe mattress with a 100-count Egyptian cotton comforter.

It gives a new definition to R and R – rest and relaxation with an added bonus of roughing it.

15. Astronomy

Out in the wilderness where the canopy of trees and stars envelope you, take a moment to appreciate the solar system. Study the different stars that light up the sky and the moon that illuminates the earth. Depending on the clouds and sky, you might even catch a glimpse of Venus at night.

Bring a telescope on your next glamping trip, this is an activity many will enjoy.

Activities for Men | Sports

16. Golfing

This low impact sport is a great reason to get out, be on the grass and underneath the sunlight. Practice your swings, aim, and precision and head down to the club.

Not only will golf train your accuracy, but it's also a great way to work on your social skills at the club. Golf can be a solo game or a group activity, bring your friends along to tee time and to tea time afterward.

17. Yoga

Yoga is widely studied in the context of stress management with possible health benefits. I find that once yoga becomes a habit, it transcends from being a routine and becomes a lifestyle underlining mindfulness and understanding your body.

Position your yoga mat in a well-lit room, in a low traffic area in your home, and far from outside noises and distraction. A yoga session is a time for you to move your muscles and an opportunity to quiet your mind.

Watch this video from Frank Bennardo for other exercising activities for men over 50:

New activities and hobbies may present new experiences and new ways to better ourselves. Even in our 50s, there are still many things we can learn. After all, even in our 50s, we should strive to be life-long learners. And especially in our 50s, we're due to take up more relaxing hobbies and less time in the office.

Welcome to your most relaxing and blissful decade yet.

Have you found your ultimate hobby? Already have your own relaxation routine? Let us know in the comments section below!

UP NEXT:

• 13 Relaxation Tips to Reduce Stress
• The Benefits of Meditation
• 13 Anti Aging Foods To Add To Your Diet Now

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