Sometimes the things we avoid end up being the ones that change us most. Give that “never” a chance and you might just surprise yourself.
I’ve always been fascinated by the moment someone crosses from “I’d never do that” to “Okay… I get it now.”
It feels similar to trying sushi for the first time or finally giving audiobooks a chance after years of insisting you’re a “physical book person.”
And honestly, no generation makes that transition more entertaining than boomers.
Maybe it is pride.
Maybe it is decades of sticking to what works.
Maybe it is the shock of discovering that something they once rolled their eyes at is actually fun.
So today, let’s talk about eight hobbies boomers once swore off until they tried them and ended up loving.
Ready?
Let’s get into it.
1) Pickleball
If you have ever driven past a community court early on a Saturday, you already know how intensely boomers have embraced pickleball.
The best part is that most of them originally dismissed it as “tennis for people who cannot run anymore.”
Then they picked up a paddle.
Suddenly they were debating spin technique, comparing shoe traction, and joining neighborhood leagues with the enthusiasm of lifelong athletes.
Pickleball hits the perfect balance between competitive and social.
It is low impact but still fast enough to get your heart rate up.
I have met boomers who are now more committed to their pickleball group than they ever were to their full time jobs.
2) Air frying
For years, boomers treated air fryers like yet another kitchen gadget destined to gather dust.
Now they are using them for everything.
Crispy tofu bites. Seasoned veggie sides. Frozen plant-based snacks.
Even warm pastries they know they should probably avoid.
It makes perfect sense. Air fryers give you crunch without the oil, flavor without the mess, and speed without the hassle.
And once you show a boomer a device that makes healthy cooking easier and more fun, there is no turning back.
Before long, they are sending you photos of their perfectly crisp tofu cubes like they just completed a chef’s apprenticeship.
3) Wordle and its many cousins
When Wordle exploded in popularity, most boomers rolled their eyes.
“Why would I play a word game on my phone?”
But the moment someone explained the rules, everything changed.
The daily puzzle taps into that little mental challenge many boomers secretly love.
It is short, satisfying, and gives you just enough of a dopamine hit to keep you coming back.
Then came the spinoffs: Nerdle, Quordle, Worldle, and many more.
I know boomers who now have a full morning routine built around these puzzles.
They treat their grid results like badges of honor.
Honestly, I get the appeal.
4) Gratitude journaling
This one surprised me because boomers used to dismiss journaling as something for teenagers or mindfulness influencers.
But the moment they try it for real, something shifts.
It is simple.
It is quiet.
It clears the mind without requiring perfect meditation posture.
Once they feel the mindset boost, they keep going.
Sometimes they write a whole paragraph and sometimes it is just a single line like “the coffee was good this morning.”
Years ago I read a book that explained how the brain tends to follow whatever you repeatedly focus on.
Boomers notice this effect within days.
Once they start, they rarely stop.
5) Gardening microgreens
Boomers have always enjoyed gardening, but microgreens are something else entirely.
They are neat.
They grow fast.
They are strangely satisfying to harvest.
Most boomers get introduced to them because someone mentions how easy it is to grow salad greens on a kitchen counter.
Next thing you know, they are sprouting radish greens, sunflower shoots, and broccoli microgreens like a miniature indoor farm.
The reward cycle hooks them immediately.
You plant on Monday and you are eating them by the weekend.
As someone who loves cooking with fresh ingredients, I understand the allure. It feels almost luxurious to sprinkle homegrown greens over a dish.
Boomers try it once and suddenly they are researching humidity domes and germination tips like veteran growers.
6) Streaming fitness classes
A decade ago, boomers would have laughed at the idea of doing a guided workout in their living room.
Then they actually tried one.
Streaming classes removed every barrier a gym usually presents.
No commute.
No crowded rooms.
No pressure to match the energy of the person next to you.
The turning point is always the same.
They finish their first workout without collapsing and think, “Wait, this is actually doable.”
Before long they are comparing instructors, tracking their progress, and recommending their favorite Pilates videos to everyone they know.
It is genuinely wholesome to watch.
7) TikTok cooking videos
This one might be my favorite.
For years boomers treated TikTok as “that app where kids dance in their bedrooms.”
Then someone sent them a recipe clip. Maybe it was crispy tofu, maybe a quick pasta, maybe those smashed potatoes that went viral.
That is when everything changed.
Suddenly they were discovering kitchen tricks, budget friendly meals, high protein snacks, and flavor upgrades they had never considered.
Once the algorithm starts feeding them more, it is over.
Boomers get hooked on the fast paced, no measurements cooking style that TikTok does so well.
And honestly, it makes them better cooks.
8) Adult coloring books
This one is like meditation in disguise.
It usually starts as a gift. Someone gives them a coloring book as a joke or as a “try this to relax” suggestion.
They sit down with some colored pencils and a page… and something clicks.
Coloring is calming without being boring.
Your hands stay busy, your mind quiets down, and you get that small spark of creativity you did not know you were missing.
Even boomers who insist they “are not artistic” end up enjoying it.
Some of them become full on coloring enthusiasts with beautifully organized pencil sets.
I have seen it happen.
The bottom line
Whether it is pickleball, journaling, air frying, or finally enjoying TikTok recipes, the pattern is the same.
Boomers swear they will never try something, life nudges them toward it, and suddenly they cannot get enough of it.
It is a good reminder for all of us.
Sometimes the things we avoid end up being the most fun.
Sometimes the habits we resist end up being the ones that help us grow.
Sometimes the new thing we are skeptical of becomes the thing we talk about nonstop.
If there is something you have been hesitant to try, consider this your sign.
Give it one shot.
You might surprise yourself.
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