Seniors looking to keep busy and meet interesting people often consider joining book clubs. But what are the advantages of joining a book club for seniors?
The benefits of joining a book club are endless, especially for seniors. Seniors should join a book club to:
- Socialize
- Sharpen the mind
- Try new books
- Learn something new
- Gain health benefits
- Maintain communication skills
- Relieve boredom
- Escape stress
- Connect with the World
- Renew interest in life
Table of Contents
What are the Benefits of a Book Club?
The benefits of joining a book club extend far beyond having something to do for the day. These 10 reasons prove that book clubs can improve overall life enjoyment.
Opportunity to Socialize with Other Readers
As people age, it’s not uncommon for their social circle to shrink. This can be due to no longer going out to work every day, or because of limited mobility or transportation issues.
A sense of social isolation can easily set in, leading to loneliness and depression. Loneliness has been linked to higher rates of:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Dementia.
Book clubs are terrific places to make new friends. Being able to focus on discussing the same book can make conversation easier when meeting new people.
Members share some of the same interests, such as reading, but may come from all walks of life. This gives you the chance to meet people that you otherwise might not have a chance to.
Keep the Mind Sharp by Reading Regularly
Reading has been shown to slow down cognitive decline, slowing the effects of conditions like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Many of us have the intention of reading regularly, but find ourselves putting it off in favor of less mentally stimulating activities like watching tv.
A book club can help you remember to make time for regular reading since you won’t want to show up to the club not having read the book being discussed. Having a sense of obligation is just what some people need in order to stick to a regular reading habit.
Try New Books
Book clubs can provide a chance for members to discover new authors or genres that they otherwise might not have tried.
Sometimes we surprise ourselves when we try a book that we initially aren’t interested in, only to discover that it’s actually very good.
It can be fun to get out of your comfort zone sometimes by reading something a little different than usual.
- Hardcover Book
- Sparks, Nicholas (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Hardcover Book
- Nestor, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Hardcover Book
- Patterson, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Learn Something New
Discussion helps people process their knowledge more deeply, rather than just understanding it on a surface level.
You’d be surprised at how much more thoroughly you can understand a book simply by discussing it with others.
Hearing others’ opinions might cement your own ideas, or they might help you to look at things in another light entirely.
- Hardcover Book
- Johns, Susie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Rolling, Tracy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 45 Pages - 11/14/2024 (Publication Date) - Teaching Twins (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Malesky, Kee (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Reading and Socializing Have Proven Health Benefits
Book clubs combine two things that are known to have proven health benefits: reading and socializing.
Both reading and socializing are proven to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce insomnia
- Lessen depression
- Lower stress
- Strengthen brain function
- Increased relaxation
Doing both together in a setting such as a book club can improve not only your health but your quality of life overall.
Improve Your Communication Skills
Having to regularly formulate and express opinions about the books you’re reading can help improve and maintain communication skills. This is especially true for seniors who don’t have the option to socialize often.
Book clubs promote honest but respectful discussions between people who may not share the same views. This can help with expressing views in a logical, non-emotional way.
Because book clubs are small groups, speaking in meetings can also ease the fear of public speaking in an open, encouraging environment.
As we age, sometimes we can lose confidence in our ability to communicate effectively. The regular book discussions provided by book clubs are wonderful ways to combat this.
- Barker, Alan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 168 Pages - 07/26/2022 (Publication Date) - Kogan Page (Publisher)
- Tuhovsky, Ian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 280 Pages - 07/11/2015 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Alan Barker (Author) - Simon Vance (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
Relieve Boredom with a Book Club
It’s not uncommon for retirees to return to work, with about a third returning to the workforce at least part-time after retiring.
For many seniors, the hardest part of retirement and aging is the boredom that comes along with having reduced responsibilities and sometimes reduced transportation options.
Boredom increases anxiety and depression and has been linked to lower quality of life and a shorter lifespan.
It’s normal to want to get out of the same old routine and find new ways to occupy time, and book clubs provide the chance to do that.
The book club meetings themselves provide a chance to get out of the house and interact with others. But in between meetings, you’ll be kept busy by reading the assigned book to get ready for the next meeting.
Reading is not only a way to pass time, but it’s a perfect way to relax and escape everyday life.
Escape the Day-to-Day
Along the lines of reducing boredom, book clubs allow you to escape from the stresses of everyday life.
