It’s funny—some of the things younger generations teased boomers about actually turn out to have serious health benefits.

Science has been catching up with common sense in the last few decades, and research now shows that several of the hobbies boomers grew up with—or never let go of—are directly linked to longevity.

These aren’t high-tech, expensive pursuits. They’re everyday activities, woven into life without fanfare. And maybe that’s the point: the stuff that really sustains us isn’t flashy, it’s sustainable.

Let’s get into them.

1. Gardening

Ever wonder why so many boomers spent their weekends pruning roses or planting tomatoes?

Turns out, gardening isn’t just about curb appeal or homegrown produce. Studies link it to lower stress, better immune function, and reduced risk of dementia. Digging in the dirt exposes us to microbes that boost serotonin. Plus, gardening keeps you moving in a low-impact way that’s sustainable for decades.

One meta-analysis found that gardening interventions had a moderate positive effect on well-being and mental health across multiple studies. It’s a habit that feeds both the body and the mind.

I’ve noticed this myself when I tend to my balcony plants. Even just ten minutes with my hands in soil resets my stress levels. The quiet focus of pruning leaves feels a lot like meditation—but with tomatoes at the end of it. If you’ve got a yard—or even a few pots—you’ve got a built-in therapy session waiting for you.

2. Walking

Boomers walked. A lot. They didn’t think of it as exercise—it was just part of life.

Now, science says it’s one of the best predictors of healthy aging. Walking improves cardiovascular health, supports bone density, and even sharpens memory.

A 2022 genetic study of over 400,000 participants found that brisk walkers had significantly longer telomeres—and suggested that walking faster could slow biological aging by the equivalent of about 16 years.

The beauty of walking is its accessibility. You don’t need gear or a gym membership. Just shoes and time. It’s also underrated as a creativity booster. Steve Jobs was famous for his walking meetings, and research backs up the idea that walking helps with divergent thinking.

I learned this on a trip to Japan when I joined an older local group on their morning walk. Their energy was contagious, and it hit me: this is a habit you can keep doing well into your eighties. No extreme workouts needed.

3. Volunteering

Many boomers made volunteering a staple—whether at church, the library, or community centers.

Research shows that giving your time doesn’t just help others; it extends your own life. People who volunteer regularly have lower mortality rates, better mental health, and a stronger sense of purpose.

One prospective study found that adults over 50 who volunteered at least 200 hours per year were about 40 % less likely to develop hypertension.

Purpose is medicine. And volunteering gives it in spades. It satisfies the psychological need for relatedness, something self-determination theory highlights as essential for well-being. In other words, helping others reminds us that we belong.

4. Playing cards or board games

Friday night poker nights, bridge clubs, Scrabble marathons. Boomers swore by them.

Now science confirms that regularly playing games protects against cognitive decline. Social interaction plus strategy keeps neural pathways firing. In a French prospective cohort (the Paquid study), regular board game players had about 15 % lower risk of dementia over 20 years compared to non-players.

Games do something else too: they create shared rituals. That weekly bridge night isn’t just entertainment—it’s community plus mental exercise. The anticipation of the game, the inside jokes, even the competition—all of it feeds longevity.

I’ve mentioned this before, but when I lived in Spain for a summer, I saw older folks gather nightly in plazas to play dominoes. They weren’t just passing time—they were literally keeping their brains alive.

5. Dancing

If you’ve ever been dragged to a boomer wedding, you’ve seen the electric slide in action.

Beyond the cheesy moves, dancing is insanely good for you. It combines aerobic activity, balance training, and social connection. Studies show that dancing lowers the risk of heart disease and improves brain health. Some even suggest it reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.

Neurologists point out that dancing challenges the brain in unique ways: you have to coordinate movement, remember steps, and often improvise in rhythm with others. That blend of physical and mental effort is rare outside of sports.

Plus—it’s fun. Unlike forcing yourself onto a treadmill, dancing makes exercise feel like joy. No surprise it triggers dopamine release, which is linked to motivation and happiness.

6. Cooking at home

Boomers weren’t eating out every night. They cooked.

Science backs this habit big time. Home-cooked meals tend to be healthier, with fewer processed ingredients and less sodium. Cooking also engages creativity and gives a sense of control over your health.

One study found that people in Taiwan and Australia who cooked up to five times a week had a 47 % greater chance of being alive ten years later.

I still remember my grandmother teaching me how to make lentil stew. At the time, I thought it was just food. Now I realize it was one of the healthiest “hobbies” she could have passed down. Cooking ties health with tradition, creating a kind of resilience you can taste.

7. Reading

Bookshelves lined with novels, biographies, or how-to guides—that was a common boomer household feature.

Reading isn’t just entertainment. It boosts empathy, reduces stress, and improves brain connectivity. A 2016 Yale study found that people who read books regularly lived almost two years longer than non-readers.

Books are also a powerful way to practice “deep focus” in a world that constantly interrupts us. That immersion strengthens attention span, which is protective for the brain.

Personally, I find that reading grounds me in a way scrolling never could. I’ll pick up a behavioral science book and suddenly lose hours, not because I’m distracted but because I’m absorbed. That kind of focus is becoming rare—and it might be one of the healthiest mental workouts we have left.

8. Bowling and other social sports

Bowling leagues were a thing. So were golf groups and softball teams.

At first glance, they seem like just casual fun. But social sports combine three powerful life-extending elements: movement, community, and routine.

One longitudinal study found that higher diversity in social activities (e.g. clubs, groups, sports) was linked to lower mortality risk even after adjusting for health and activity frequency.

The game matters less than the connection. Whether you’re rolling strikes or gutter balls, you’re winning at health.

What fascinates me is how these activities create “third places”—spaces outside home and work where people gather. Sociologists argue these places are essential for community health, and boomers knew this instinctively. A bowling alley wasn’t just about pins. It was about friendship, laughter, and rituals that kept people coming back.

Final thoughts

The hobbies that keep us alive aren’t flashy. They’re simple, social, and woven into everyday life.

Boomers didn’t need wearables or biohacking apps to tell them what felt good. They trusted habits that gave them connection, movement, and purpose. And now the science backs them up.

So the next time you’re tempted to dismiss a “boomer pastime,” maybe lean in. It might just add years to your life.