5 More New Skills Older Adults Can Learn From Home: Part 2

The internet provides amazing access to education on practically any topic, to people of all ages. There is no such thing as being too old to learn new things, and modern technology makes it easier than ever, right from the comfort of your home! If you are retired, or even just looking for something new and exciting to learn, we have a few ideas that you can start right now. All of these skills help maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout retirement. After you've read this, click here to check out Part 1 of this series!

Try Learning These 5 Skills at Home

1. Become a Drawing Master
   

   Drawing is an interesting art form that many people even pursue as a profession or side-gig. What if you are not one of them? At some point, you have likely picked up a pencil and tried to sketch something. It doesn't matter if you were not taught proper drawing mechanics early in life. You can still improve, and perhaps even become highly proficient!
   
   For your convenience, in addition to seemingly endless tutorials, there are also plenty of online courses that you can sign up for. They will teach you how to start drawing in a variety of different styles and subjects. Many of them are even available for free. It's a myth that drawing is only a natural skill that some people are born with. Like many other forms of art, natural talent exists, but anyone can learn to do it well. Sign up for a course that is suitable for you. It is never too late to perfect your skills and express your creativity.

   Check out this list from ThoughtCo. to discover various places you can learn to draw online.
   
   Click here to learn more about why you should draw more!

2. Get Knitting!
   

   Knitting and crocheting are skills that are both productive and relax your mind. In senior years, any skill that keeps your hands and your mind active can be highly valuable. Knitting and crocheting not only offer an enjoyable time, but you also end up making something that you or your loved one will love to wear and cherish.

   Now, it is not necessary to go to a training center and learn these skills. You can sit at your home and try your hand at very advanced knitting/crocheting skills using the internet. There are so many courses that you can simply sign up for. Or, check out the many free tutorials on websites like YouTube. All you need is to give it a try and craft beyond the limits.

   Consider checking out Nimble Needles as a site to get started!

3. Learn Sewing, Stitching, and Patching
   

   Sewing, stitching, and patching are excellent skills to learn. With a little practice and know-how, you can easily save your favorite articles of clothing from going to waste. The fantastic thing is that now there are plenty of online courses that will teach you from the basics. Supplies can also be ordered online with just a few clicks. It won't take long to become a pro from a beginner. It is also a relatively affordable habit, which even saves you money compared to replacing items!

   The Seasoned Homemaker has put together a great list of courses to learn to sew online!

4. Become a Social Media Guru
   

   It might sound intimidating and complicated, but older adults have a lot to gain from understanding and using social media platforms. Whether it is connecting and keeping up to date with family and friends, meeting people across the country with similar interests, keeping up with the news, or just finding new entertainment sources, social media provides access and convenience.

   It might not seem like a traditional skill, but social media takes some learning and practice to navigate comfortably. One of the best ways to increase your familiarity is to simply sign up on some of the websites, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest (depending on your interests/goals), and start using them! There are also plenty of websites that help explain how to accomplish different things with each site, so you don't get lost on the web.

   If you're not sure where to start, check out our comprehensive Ebook, Social Media 101: A Guide for the 50+ Generation! 

   

5. Start Practicing Yoga
   

   Yoga is a skill that provides a lot of physical and mental health advantages for older adults. You might be surprised to hear that yoga is not only for young people interested in performing complicated and seemingly painful poses.

   Yoga is an excellent exercise that offers benefits to people of all ages. To be so widely advantageous, yoga comes in many styles with variations of intensity. It is also a great skill to learn either on your own or with others. Either way, you can adapt workouts to your personal comfort level. You don't need to go out to a studio to take yoga classes. You can access hundreds of online yoga classes that will teach you every step.
   
   Learn more about getting into yoga with these blog posts!

   • 9 Benefits of Yoga for Older Adults 

   • How to Prepare for Your First Senior Yoga Class

   • Simple Yoga Poses for Older Adults to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

So, what do you plan to learn next? Let us know in the comments below! 

If you haven't yet, remember to check out Part One, 5 New Skills Older Adults Can Learn From Home!

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