Long afternoons, cold winter days, or just a little too much quiet in the house. Staying busy keeps our minds sharp and our spirits up. Here are some of my favorite things to do at home. Most cost nothing at all.
For a calm, creative afternoon
- Color a picture. Our free online coloring book has big buttons and lots of pictures to choose from. Print your favorite when you’re done. (Here’s how it works.)
- Make a greeting card. Upload a photo, write a message and print it or save it as a PDF with our greeting card maker. Grandkids love getting real mail. (Step-by-step guide.)
- Start a memory journal. Write about your first car, your first job or how you met your sweetheart. There’s room for all of it in The Living Legacy Planner.
To keep the mind sharp
- Play the memory match game. Our old-time favorites game features rotary phones, records and more.
- Do a crossword or jigsaw puzzle. A big-piece puzzle on the dining table is good company for a week.
- Learn something new. Our free S.A.L.T. community has webinars and courses.
Take a trip down memory lane
- Read the newspaper from the day you were born. The Library of Congress has front pages going back centuries. See Memory Lane.
- Listen to old-time radio shows. Mysteries, comedies and westerns, free online.
- Play the records you grew up with. Then tell someone why that song matters.
Stay connected
- Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Make a short list and call one person a day.
- Write a real letter. Paper, pen and a stamp. It’ll make someone’s week.
- Video-chat with the grandkids and play a game together.
Move a little
- Take a short walk around the block or the hallway, with your cane if you use one.
- Dance in the kitchen to your favorite song.
- Stretch while the coffee brews. Gentle movement every day adds up. (Check with your doctor before starting anything new.)
Got a favorite I didn’t list? Tell me in our free community. Somebody out there will want to try it too.