Top 3 Hobbies for Newly-Retired Veterans

Being discharged from army life may seem like a blessing, but a lot of new veterans find themselves at a loss for something to do without the regimented structure of the army. This aimlessness can lead to serious mental and physical health issues, so it’s important to find something to fill the days. The best way to combat these issues is to find a new hobby or interest – and that’s exactly what we’ll be looking at today.

1. Exercise

Exercising is by far the best hobby that veterans can pick up once they’re discharged from the army. Without the structured days, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits to the detriment of your physical and mental health, particularly if you’re not too sure what you should know about your health and well-being. Exercise combats this by keeping your body in better shape and making you feel better about yourself.

The mental benefits aren’t limited to feeling good about how you look. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers. They also relieve stress and create a general feeling of well-being, so not only are you improving your physical health, you’re improving your mental health as well. The great thing about exercise is that everyone can go at their own pace. Not everyone is capable of running a marathon, and that’s fine! Just do what you feel comfortable doing but be sure to push yourself that little bit each time – otherwise, you’ll never improve.

2. Entertainment/Gaming

Gone are the days when gaming was just for nerds sitting in front of a computer all day and never going outside. Gaming has moved into the mainstream and is a great way of keeping your mind sharp during your downtime. It’s easier than ever to buy a console and start playing, now that there’s such a wide variety of PlayStation, Nintendo, and Microsoft Xbox consoles around.

Gaming is even available on mobile devices if you want to get your fix while you’re out and about. If you want to play games with a little more risk and adventure, online gambling is also available on mobile devices, and there’s a wide range of apps to choose from. Whether you’re in the US, the UK, South Africa, or anywhere else in the world, it’s important to find the best casino apps to ensure that you’re maximizing your gaming experience. If you want the opportunity to win without the risk of losing money, some of these top-rated South African mobile casinos offer a no deposit bonus – meaning you don’t even have to gamble any of your own money to win! Even if it’s playing for a few cents, keeping your mind active by playing games is a great way to adjust to civilian life.

3. Arts and Crafts

Working with your hands and creating something from nothing is one of the most rewarding activities we can do as people. It’s why food tastes so much better when you’ve slaved away over a hot stove for hours or why presents that are homemade stick around far longer than anything store-bought.

There’s a range of arts and crafts stores that contain everything you need to get started, such as Hobby Lobby and JoAnns; heck, even Walmart has a huge selection of crafting materials if you want to start out cheaply. If you aren’t particularly artsy, you don’t have to make colorful pictures out of glitter and sparkles; you can craft useful things from your house and garden! There are online guides that can help you create treasures such as a wooden slab key holder, a rope and can bird feeder, burlap DIY storage boxes, and many more!

It’s also a great way to spend time with your children; kids love making things, and taking the time to create projects with them will strengthen your emotional bond. In fact, all of these hobbies are perfect for parent/child bonding.

Coming to the end of your military life can be a daunting prospect. For some people, military life is all they’ve known, and they struggle to make it when they return home. Having hobbies such as the ones mentioned here are a great way to adapt to civilian life and set you up for a productive and satisfying future.