Looking for things to do over 50? Want to meet new people, try different activities and have more to look forward to? An over 50s leisure group could be just what you’re looking for.
Let’s face it. Making plans can become surprisingly complicated as we get older.
It’s not necessarily that we don’t have friends. We do.
It’s just that everyone’s lives are busy. One friend is away, another has family commitments, someone else doesn’t fancy the theatre, and before you know it, that lovely idea you had has disappeared into the diary.
So you don’t go.
And that’s a shame.
Because having interesting things to look forward to, getting out and about and meeting new people doesn’t have an age limit.
In fact, your 50s, 60s and beyond can be a fantastic time to discover a whole new social life.
What is an over 50s leisure group?
An over 50s leisure group brings people together to enjoy things they might otherwise not do on their own.
That could mean theatre trips, lunches, exhibitions, walks, day trips, cultural events, visits to interesting places or simply getting together for a drink and a chat.
The important thing is that you don’t have to be interested in everything.
You choose the activities that appeal to you.
And because everyone is there for the same reason, ie to enjoy themselves, meeting people tends to happen naturally.
You don’t have to go with friends
Perhaps the biggest reason people hesitate to join a social group is the thought of going alone.
What if everyone already knows each other?
Who will I talk to?
Will I feel awkward?
These are perfectly understandable worries.
But one of the great advantages of an organised group is that you don’t need to arrive with your own group of friends.
There is already something to talk about.
Going to the theatre? You can talk about the show.
Visiting an exhibition? There’s something you’ve just seen.
Going for lunch? Well, there’s always the food!
You don’t have to manufacture conversation from thin air. The shared experience gives everyone a natural starting point.
And the first few minutes, often the hardest part of going somewhere alone, are much easier when there’s a friendly organiser or host to welcome you.
It’s not just about meeting people
Of course, meeting new people is one of the attractions.
But joining an over 50s group isn’t necessarily about going out with the sole purpose of making friends.
Sometimes you simply want to do something enjoyable.
You want to see a great show.
Visit somewhere you’ve never been.
Have a lovely lunch.
Spend a Saturday doing something different.
And that’s enough.
Friendships can develop along the way, without anyone having to force them.
You might meet someone at one event, see them again at another and eventually find yourself saying:
“Are you going to the next one?”
That’s often how friendships begin in later life. Not with a grand introduction, but through doing things together.
Someone else does the organising
This is another big advantage of joining an organised leisure group.
Because arranging things yourself can be a lot of work.
Finding something interesting.
Checking dates.
Booking tickets.
Finding somewhere to meet.
Getting everyone to commit.
Chasing people who haven’t replied.
Then discovering that half the group can’t make the date anyway!
With an organised group, much of that disappears.
You can simply look at what’s coming up and decide:
“That sounds good. I’ll come along.”
And then someone else has done the hard work.
Good organisation doesn’t make an outing formal or regimented. In fact, it does the opposite.
When you know where you’re going, when you’re meeting and what to expect, you can relax and enjoy yourself.
You might discover a whole new side to your area
How often do you walk past somewhere interesting and think, “I’ve been meaning to go there”?
There are exhibitions you’ve never visited, theatres you’ve never tried, beautiful places you’ve never explored and restaurants you’ve never discovered.
Sometimes all that’s missing is a reason to go.
A leisure group can provide that reason.
It can also encourage you to try things that you might not have considered doing alone.
And who knows?
You might discover a new favourite theatre, restaurant, gallery or day-trip destination.
You don’t have to be super-social
There’s a misconception that joining a social group means being chatty, outgoing and constantly surrounded by people.
It doesn’t.
Some people love talking to everyone.
Others are quieter.
Some enjoy a long lunch and plenty of conversation. Others are happy with a few good chats and a bit of time to themselves.
There’s room for all of these people.
The best over 50s social groups don’t expect you to become somebody you’re not.
You can be as sociable as you want to be.
It’s lovely to have things in the diary
This might actually be one of the biggest benefits of all.
There’s something very satisfying about looking at your calendar and seeing things you’re genuinely looking forward to.
Not appointments.
Not chores.
Not things you have to do.
Things you want to do.
A theatre trip next Thursday.
Lunch with the group next month.
A day out to somewhere you’ve never done before.
A visit to see something you’ve been curious about.
Having those little highlights in the diary can make ordinary weeks feel rather more interesting.
And then there are the familiar faces…
The first time you attend, everyone is a stranger.
The second time, you might recognise a couple of people.
After a few outings, you start to know people.
Someone remembers what you were talking about last time.
Someone asks if you’re coming to the next event.
Someone says hello when you arrive.
And suddenly, you’ve got familiar faces to look forward to seeing.
That’s when a leisure group can become something much more than a list of activities.
It becomes your social circle.
So why not give it a try?
You don’t have to sign up for everything.
You don’t have to make lots of new friends.
You don’t even have to be particularly adventurous.
Just choose one event that sounds genuinely appealing and give it a go.
You might have a wonderful day.
You might meet some interesting people.
You might discover somewhere new.
And you might find yourself thinking:
“Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
Because getting older doesn’t mean our lives have to become smaller.
Quite the opposite.
For many of us, this is the stage of life when we finally have more freedom to choose what we want to do, who we want to spend time with and what adventures we want to have.
So if you’ve been thinking about joining an over 50s social group, looking for things to do over 50, or simply wishing you had more interesting things in your diary…
Maybe it’s time to stop waiting for someone else to make the plans.
Find a group that feels welcoming, choose something you fancy doing, and come along.
You never know where that first outing might lead.
Ready for your next adventure?
If this sounds like the sort of social life you’d enjoy, take a look at City Adventurers. We’re a UK-based social club for mature adults who enjoy exploring new places, discovering new things, seeing great shows and getting involved in the occasional mystery or puzzle along the way. There are invitations to day trips, outings, shows, interactive experiences, holidays and mini-breaks — all with like-minded people to share them with.
You don’t have to wait for someone else to make the plans. Explore. Discover. Experience. Come and see where your next adventure takes you. Life is a journey so experience it’s adventure with like minded people. Sign up at City Adventurers
