It’s winter and just because you have to stay indoors doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Staying active and involved is essential for all individuals, especially seniors. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, staying active can lessen the risk of various health disorders, improve mood, boost confidence, and enhance your capacity to think, learn, and make decisions.

Better mental health also translates into an improved physical ability to carry out daily activities like climbing stairs, cooking and cleaning. Although it can be tough to exercise and keep active during the winter months, you can engage in enjoyable indoor activities for seniors.  

8 Indoor Winter Activities for Seniors  

The winter is hard on seniors who have to stay indoors because of the harsh weather and reduced daylight. Some might experience sundowners too. However, there are many engaging winter activities for seniors to enjoy in the comfort of their homes. 

1. Play games like bingo, cards or dominoes – Popular social games like cards and dominoes can improve interpersonal communication. Bingo is one of the indoor activities the elderly have a good time playing, as it enlivens the whole room. At the same time, games like these require some level of focus, patience and decision-making—all useful skills to brush up as you age. 
2. Enjoy gardening – Tending to a garden outside may not be possible in winter, but that shouldn’t stop you from planting greens indoors. Make a list of your favorite things to do in the garden, such as planting bulbs, weeding, or watering and carry them out in your indoor garden patch. You would feel surprised at what you can grow indoors, from flowers to tomatoes, beans and strawberries! 

3. Have a party – Invite some neighbors, relatives, friends, or even members of your church or community center and organize a party. Meeting and greeting people can reduce feelings of isolation and improve mental health. However, take precautions such as social distancing to keep you safe from infections and viruses. 
4. Play puzzles and board games – Puzzles are workouts for the brain. The more the brain ticks, the better it keeps performing. Studies have revealed that seniors who solve puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and jigsaw have better cognition and mental abilities. Moreover, board games are popular boredom busters and bring family and friends together while playing.

5. Rearrange your home – While being stuck indoors can be boring for seniors, it is also an opportunity to rearrange the home. Changing curtains and upholstery or adding a painting to a drab wall can improve the house’s look and refresh your mind. It is also an excellent time to carry out a safety check to know if your home is free from potential hazards that can endanger your safety. Using mobility aids like a bathtub step, grab bars, and a bed step stool can help you stay mobile, safe and active inside the house. 
6. Try out chair yoga – With age, balance and stability suffer. And even though moving out of the house is restricted in winter, it is still essential to stay physically active by engaging in an indoor workout. There are many fun exercises that seniors can do indoors. 

For example, chair yoga improves flexibility and helps you perform more simple and effective poses.

7. Calm yourself with flower arranging – Cozy interiors are a beautiful contrast to the cold winter outdoors. One of the activities that seniors can enjoy indoors is flower arranging. Even for the elderly who have reduced mobility, engaging in flower arrangements is a calming activity that adds beauty to the home. 
8. Join a book club – You could start or join a book club to spend your time indoors more fruitfully. Every week as you finish reading a book, you can look forward to discussing it with your fellow clubmates and enjoy a day of socializing. A book club is an excellent way to read different books and discuss different perspectives with like-minded people.

Final Thoughts

Staying indoors in winter doesn’t have to be boring. Indoor activities for seniors are vital to keeping the mind engaged as you age, from calming activities like indoor gardening to fun activities like playing board games and solving puzzles. Additionally, keep your body in good shape with indoor exercises that improve balance and stability. Take the next step to health to know how to make the indoors safer for you to enjoy these fun activities.