Many nurses get into the field because they want to help others and see the impact directly. Hobbies are a way to keep doing that, and the right one can keep you tied to the nursing community and your sense of identity. Here are 15 to start with. The list is only as limited as your imagination.
Hobbies Inside Healthcare
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Blogging and writing. Share your experience with nurses around the world, whether that's hard-won wisdom or just the dark humor of the job. You might build a real audience.
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Mentoring. New grads and students benefit from a perspective only experience gives. Ask your local hospital about starting a mentorship program that pairs retired nurses with new hires.
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Teaching. There's a real shortage of nurse educators. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has documented thousands of unfilled full time faculty vacancies, with about a third of current faculty expected to retire by 2025 (AACN). Many programs have part time roles for teaching nursing assistants, LPNs/LVNs, and RNs, which is a steady way to pass on what you know.
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Working part time. Retirement doesn't have to mean stopping. Freelance health writing, first-aid instruction, high school teaching, and consulting all let a retired nurse keep earning and stay useful.
Hobbies Outside Healthcare
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Photography. Smartphones and free editing apps make this easy to pick up. Build a portfolio, share your work, and you'll see your images travel.
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Gardening. Time outdoors lifts your mood and calms your mind. You don't need a yard either, since containers, pots, and grow towers work fine.
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Volunteering. Animal shelters, nursing homes, religious groups: plenty of places need hands and welcome the help.
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Learning a new language. Picking up something genuinely new keeps the brain working. As one centenarian language learner put it, if you don't use it, you lose it.
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Taking an art class. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, and the rest lower stress, build confidence, and sharpen dexterity. A class also widens your social circle.
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Cooking. You finally have time to learn techniques you skipped during full time work. It's relaxing, productive, and easy to share, and classes introduce you to new people.
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Playing board games. Backgammon, mancala, chess: many cities have clubs that meet to play, so it's social as well as mental.
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Jewelry making. Hands-on crafting connects you with others who love it, and you can sell what you make if you want to.
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Learning an instrument. It engages your brain in a way puzzles don't. It's challenging, it's rewarding, and the payoff is music.
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Exercising with others. Exercise is foundational, and doing it alone gets boring fast. Find a local group for whatever you like, and the motivation comes built in.
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Joining or starting a book club. Reading and then discussing it builds connection and keeps the mind active. Plenty of clubs meet online or in person, and if none fit, start your own.
A Word on Preparing
The earlier you plan for retirement, the more you can save and invest, and the more freedom you'll have to actually enjoy these years. Talk to a financial advisor and revisit the plan every couple of years.
Plan for the time, too, not just the money. Going straight from full time work to nothing is a hard jolt. Shifting to part time status for 2 to 3 years smooths the landing and lets you grow into the open hours. However you get there, retirement is coming, and it doesn't have to be lonely or dull.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do hobbies matter so much in retirement? They replace the daily stimulation and purpose work used to provide. The National Institute on Aging links staying socially and mentally active to better cognitive function and a lower dementia risk, so a hobby protects your health, not just your free time.
What hobbies let a retired nurse stay close to the field? Blogging, mentoring new grads, teaching, and part time work like health writing or first-aid instruction all keep you tied to nursing. There's a documented nurse educator shortage (AACN), so teaching roles are often available.
I want something completely outside healthcare. Where do I start? Photography, gardening, learning a language or instrument, art and cooking classes, board games, and book clubs all work. Pick one that gets you around other people, since the social side does much of the cognitive good.
How early should I plan for retirement? The earlier the better. More time means more saving and investing and more freedom later. Talk to a financial advisor and revisit the plan every couple of years.
How do I avoid feeling lost right after retiring? Don't go straight from full time to nothing. Shifting to part time for 2 to 3 years smooths the jolt and gives you room to grow into your new hobbies before the hours open up all at once.