Autumn and winter hobbies to enjoy at home

Autumn is a wonderful season where the weather starts to get milder, the trees turn to golden amber tones and staying indoors a little more sounds like a great idea. For those with limited mobility or those that rely on curved and straight stairlifts, autumn doesn’t have to mean the downfall of exciting activities, this article takes a look at some of the best autumn activities you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

From wreath-making to paper crafts and jigsaw puzzles, there is plenty to keep you occupied over the autumn and winter months as Halloween and Christmas approach.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Although some may say they only enjoy jigsaw puzzles at Christmas or when the grandchildren are around, they are a great way to keep occupied when the weather may be a little grim outside. Jigsaws are great for the mind, de-stressing and allowing yourself to relax and they are one of the activities that Petra from A Mum Reviews recommends for those looking for autumn activities, she explains more below.

“Autumn/winter is the perfect time to enjoy a new indoor hobby at home. Having spent a lot of time at home over the past few years, I discovered the joy of jigsaw puzzles. They’re fun to do and challenging so will keep your brain sharp and active. Start small with a 250- or 500-piece one or dive straight into the 1,000-piece puzzles. Choose one with a theme that you love to make them even more enjoyable!”

Paper Crafts

Have you ever thought about starting a scrapbook or documenting your memories on paper? Then what better time to do it than autumn when getting outdoors might be a little trickier and will certainly be colder. Paper crafts such as scrapbooking, making cards, postcards and decorations are a lovely way to pass the time and is a great way to creatively treasure your memories.

Paper crafts were one of the autumn activities that Victoria from Healthy Vix recommended and she comments on below.

“A great indoor hobby for autumn and winter is papercrafts. From creating a scrapbook of your favourite memories to making Christmas cards or even learning paper cutting techniques, there are lots of exciting ways to use beautiful papers to create something wonderful. It's also a great hobby for any skill level and you need minimal tools to get started. Just be warned, it can be quite addictive!”

Candle Making

Some may not know how easy it is to make candles at home, and what a better season to do so than in autumn. Candles can be tailored to your specific tastes and scents can be added to make them smell amazing, they would even make wonderful gift ideas for the Christmas season ahead.

“A great activity for both the autumn and winter seasons, is beeswax candle dipping,” says Lauren from their blog The Heaton Family, she continues: “A great activity for both children and adults alike, this activity is simple, low waste and will create the most beautiful candles that can then be used in carved pumpkins or at a cosy, autumnal/winter table. Snuggle down with your homemade candles and a book, while the rain pours outside. Perfect!”

A quick look on amazon or in your nearest craft shop, and you are bound to come across a basic candle making kit that offers you some simple instructions and the basic equipment that you should need.

Reading

"Autumn can be a time to slow down a little and enjoy some more sedate hobbies. I love to read any time of the year, but when autumn arrives it seems far more enjoyable to snuggle up on the sofa or a comfy chair, with a hot drink, and a book,” Jo from the blog Tea and Cake For The Soul commented.

As Jo mentions, although reading may sound like a simple activity, it is a great way to pass the time, for the mind and the soul. You don’t just have to read fiction, you could sit down and enjoy an autobiography, a magazine or an article online.

Jo continues to explain a little more about the benefits of reading: “Books can take you all over the world, or into a fantasy realm altogether. Books allow you to travel without leaving your seat. A perfect form of escapism. It keeps the brain active too.”

Beth, blogger at Twinderelmo also spoke about the importance and benefits of reading in the colder months, she goes into more detail about some great ways to enjoy a great book: “Reading is the ultimate autumn/winter hobby. There is nothing better than snuggling under a blanket with a hot drink and losing yourself in another world. You could even look to join a book club that has increased in popularity online following lockdown and share your thoughts with others, or check your local library to add an extra dimension to your reading. It is the best cold weather hobby all whilst keeping your brain active when outside is gloomy.”

Wreath Making

Some may only think that wreath making is for Christmas and something you would do in a workshop, but autumn wreaths are a wonderful addition to any home and there is no right or wrong way to create a wreath, as Kaz and Lily from The 3am Diary have explained below.

“We absolutely love doing crafts and autumn and wintertime are a great time of year to do those. Our favourites are making wreaths, such as an autumn wreath, a poppy wreath for Remembrance Day and then Christmas wreaths.”

They continue to explain more about some of the local and natural materials you can use: “We like to collect leaves and autumn treasures in nature when out for a walk to make them, but they're also great to make with paper at home if you can't get out or by ordering craft packs online. What's more, the craft packs could make a lovely gift or activity to do with grandchildren or when you visit someone who isn't able to get out - my daughter loves to share the leaves, conkers and pinecones she finds outdoors with her grandparents, then seeing what she can make with them.”

Cooking

Cooking may be something you do as a necessity rather than a hobby, but setting aside some time to actually enjoy what you’re cooking can be a lovely way to pass the time. Whether you are rustling up a stew, making a crumble or bubbling an autumn soup, cooking doesn’t have to be a burden, as Melanie from Melanie’s Fab Finds comments on more below.

"There are all sorts of great activities you can do over the cooler months that don't even need you to step foot outside. Perfect if the weather isn't so great. Many of us love to cook with or without kids and it can be a great time to experiment with new recipes from tasty flavoursome dishes to sweet treats. With so many recipe options available you can try all sorts of flavours from all around the world. You could then host a Thai, Greek, India etc inspired meal for family and/ friends to enjoy."

Autumn dishes you can cook:

• Beef and vegetable stew
• Hearty tomato soup
• Blackberry and apple crumble
• Slow-cooked pork
• Lasagne
• Cottage pie

Baking

Similarly to cooking, some may see baking as a chore rather than something to enjoy on an autumn afternoon, but baking is one of the most therapeutic activities to enjoy, no matter what time of the year. Baking can include cakes, cookies, biscuits and any other sweet treats and is something that Jupiter from Life With Jupiter & Dan think people should enjoy in autumn months:

“When the world becomes a bit too cold and grey, I tend to start baking up a storm. Creating new bakes is one of my favourite hobbies, especially when the months get warmer, as it's the perfect time to keep the oven pre-heated, heating your home as well. I tend to explore new bread recipes, perfect various cookies, and try out new pastries to share with my neighbours and friends. There is an abundance of recipes that have Pumpkin in them, perfect for trying in the autumn, and many winter recipes include chocolate, mint, and comforting spices, so you can even theme your bakes. It's also just a fun time cooking and enjoying what you make.”

Autumn sweet treats to bake:

• Pumpkin cupcakes
• Ginger biscuits
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Lemon cheesecake
• Dorset and apple cake
• Coffee and walnut cake

READ MORE: 5 of the best tasty autumnal bakes

Above are just some of the activities you can enjoy in the autumn months to keep you occupied when the weather gets a little colder. For more articles like this, head to the Age Co Mobility news page for more just like it.

Autumn and winter hobbies to enjoy at home:

• Jigsaw puzzles
• Papercrafts
• Candle making
• Reading
• Wreath making
• Cooking
• Baking

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