Retirement research from MassMutual found that 67% of retirees feel happier after leaving the workforce, compared with 8% who report feeling less happy. Yet almost a third (31%) say retirement has left them lonely at times.
Something happens between the plan and the day-to-day. Pre-retirees expect an active stage full of travel and exercise, with 79% planning to travel and 71% to exercise regularly. Once retired, watching television becomes the top activity for 83% of people surveyed, well above any other choice.
The difference between those two outcomes often comes down to one factor: whether fitness classes and hobby groups are already down the hall or have to be planned for and driven to.
The Gap Between What Retirees Plan and What Actually Happens
Nearly half of retirees who report being less happy since leaving the workforce say retirement has left them feeling lonely at times, compared with a much smaller share of retirees who report being much happier. The retirees who describe themselves as happier are also more likely to spend free time on hobbies, exercise, and time with family and friends, according to the same MassMutual 2024 Retirement Happiness Study.
Why Fitness Classes and Hobby Groups Matter as We Age
The National Institute on Aging points to staying active in music, art, dance, and social groups as a way to support memory, mood, and stress levels later in life. A 2025 study in Social Science & Medicine that followed more than 84,000 adults aged 50 and older across 24 countries found that people who maintained regular hobbies scored better on memory, orientation, and numeracy tests than those who did not, and that the benefit remained consistent across all countries studied.
For assisted living and memory care residents, fitness classes and hobby groups do more than fill open hours on a calendar. They rebuild the daily social contact and movement that a career, and later a household, once provided on their own.
Hobbies and Fitness Classes at Double Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care
For families comparing retirement communities with fitness classes and hobbies, Double Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care in Round Rock brings that programming directly to residents, so no one has to arrange transportation or build a schedule alone.
Fitness Classes Through Fit For You
The Fit For You program runs group exercise sessions several times each week, ranging from chair yoga to light strength work. A regular class schedule gives every week its own routine, and group movement replaces the daily activity that many residents built around a job or an active household.
Gardening With the Green Thumb Club
The Green Thumb Club provides residents with raised garden beds and a regular gathering spot for anyone who misses working outdoors. Growing herbs, flowers, or vegetables gives residents a reason to check in on progress daily, and a garden bed shared with a neighbor turns a solo task into a group one.
Art and Creative Projects With Art Throbs Club
Art Throbs Club meets to paint, craft, and work on other creative projects. Group art classes provide feedback, practice, and regular contact among peers learning the same skill at the same pace.
Cooking and Recipe Sharing Through My Recipe
The My Recipe program invites residents to share family dishes with the culinary team and fellow residents, from Texas barbecue traditions to recipes passed down for generations. Shared cooking projects recreate the table talk many residents miss most from earlier years.
Outings Through the Outreach Club
The Outreach Club plans regular outings, including trips to Round Rock Express games at Dell Diamond and to the Round Rock Premium Outlets. Group outings replace solo errands with company and a change of scenery.
A Putting Green and Outdoor Patio for Everyday Recreation
An on-site putting green and an outdoor patio give residents a reason to step outside daily, whether for a short game or a meal in the open air at the community’s casual bistro café.
Staying in Touch Through Sagely
Residents and families use the Sagely app to view the activities calendar, share updates, and stay in touch day-to-day, an especially good fit for Round Rock’s tech-savvy community, where staying connected through an app comes naturally.
Why the Setting Matters for New Hobbies
Trying a new hobby is far easier when a fitness class, an art group, or a garden bed is already down the hall rather than across town. Nearby access removes the planning and driving that keep good intentions from turning into a weekly habit. A senior living community built around fitness classes and hobby groups makes trying something new the plan, not the exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most residents settle in fastest when they join a fitness class or hobby group within the first two weeks. Early participation makes the calendar familiar and introduces residents to peers with shared interests sooner.
There is no set number. Team members generally recommend residents sample two or three groups, such as a fitness class, an art group, and a gardening bed, before settling into a routine.
Every program at Double Creek is built for a range of ability levels. Chair-based fitness options, guided art projects, and low-maintenance garden beds allow residents to take part regardless of prior experience.
Still Finding New Hobbies in Round Rock
Retirement does not need a single defining hobby to feel full. It calls for regular reasons to move, create, and spend time with peers, and those reasons are easiest to keep when they show up on a calendar rather than a to-do list. Boredom in retirement is common, but it rarely lasts once fitness classes, hobby groups, and outings become part of the week.
Schedule a Personalized Visit
Fitness classes, hobby groups, and outings fill the calendar every week at Double Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care, where residents can also access a 10% discount for veterans and first responders, as well as continuity of care through the Austin Geriatric Specialists partnership. Families in Round Rock and the greater Austin area can schedule a personalized visit to see the fitness and hobby programming firsthand.
