Engagement: The Importance of Doing What You Love
- Claire
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 4
'Engagement' is the next in our series exploring the pillars that help people to flourish. Our approach draws on the PERMA model developed by Professor Martin Seligman, a leading psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania and former President of the American Psychological Association.
Introduction
When we think about wellbeing in later life, we often think about things like happiness, relationships or physical health. What we do not always think about is engagement.
Yet having activities that capture our interest and attention can have a profound impact on how we experience life. Essentially we should consider:
"What helps this person lose track of time?"
What activity captures their attention so completely that they become absorbed in it?
Perhaps it is tending to a garden, completing a crossword puzzle, baking a favourite recipe, painting, knitting, reading a book or sharing stories about their life.
These activities do more than simply pass the time. They help people stay connected to who they are.
Within Martin Seligman's PERMA model of wellbeing, Engagement is one of the five key pillars that help people flourish. It refers to being deeply involved in activities that are enjoyable, meaningful and absorbing.
At Thrive Homecare, we believe wellbeing is about much more than simply helping people manage their daily routines. It is about helping people continue to do the things that bring purpose, enjoyment and fulfilment to their lives. Because life is richer when we are engaged, participating, involved.
What Is Engagement?
Engagement is the experience of becoming fully absorbed in an activity.
It is that feeling when you become so immersed in what you are doing that you stop thinking about the clock.
You may have experienced it yourself while reading a book, working on a project, gardening, painting or enjoying a hobby.
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described this experience as "flow". Flow occurs when we are fully engaged in something that interests us and matches our skills and abilities.
When people experience flow, they often report feeling:
Focused
Energised
Motivated
Satisfied
Accomplished
The activity itself matters, but so does the feeling it creates. Engagement helps us feel involved in life rather than simply watching it happen around us.
Why Engagement Matters
Meaningful activities contribute to wellbeing in many ways.
They help stimulate the mind, provide a sense of purpose and create opportunities for enjoyment and achievement.
Research suggests that people who regularly engage in activities they enjoy are more likely to experience positive wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Engagement can help people:
Maintain confidence
Stay mentally active
Experience a sense of purpose
Develop new skills
Build social connections
Reduce boredom and isolation
Improve overall wellbeing
Importantly, engagement is not about being constantly busy. Being busy and being engaged are not the same thing. Someone can have a full schedule and still feel disconnected. True engagement comes from participating in activities that feel meaningful and enjoyable to the individual.
Why Engagement Can Become More Challenging in Later Life
As people grow older, opportunities for engagement can sometimes reduce.
Health conditions may make certain hobbies more difficult.
Reduced mobility can limit access to community groups and social opportunities.
Confidence may decline following illness or a fall.
Gradually, activities that once brought enjoyment can begin to disappear from daily life.
Unfortunately, this often happens unintentionally.
Families and professionals naturally focus on practical needs, yet hobbies, interests and meaningful activities can quietly slip away.
When this happens, people may begin to feel disconnected from the things that once helped define them. This is why supporting engagement is such an important part of wellbeing.
The Importance of Identity
Many of our interests become part of who we are.
Someone may describe themselves as:
A gardener
A photographer
A runner
A musician
A teacher
An artist
A football supporter
An engineer
These activities are often closely linked to identity.
When people stop engaging in the things they love, they can lose more than a hobby. They can lose an important part of themselves.
Supporting engagement means helping people remain connected to the interests, passions and experiences that make them who they are.
At Thrive Homecare, we believe understanding someone's story is essential to understanding what will help them flourish.
What Does Engagement Look Like?
Engagement looks different for everyone. For one person, it may involve spending hours tinkering with an old car. For another, it might be completing a jigsaw puzzle or sudoku, or attending a local history or horticultural group. Ultimately it is an activity that captivates them, they enjoy doing and they can feel positively engaged with.
How Thrive Supports Engagement
At Thrive Homecare, we believe care and support should never be limited to completing tasks. Our approach begins by getting to know the person. We want to understand:
What have they always enjoyed?
What are they passionate about?
What hobbies have been important throughout their life?
What would they like to do more of?
Are there interests they have lost touch with?
By understanding these details, we can help create opportunities for meaningful engagement. Sometimes this means helping someone continue a long-standing hobby.
Sometimes it means adapting activities so they remain accessible despite changing health needs. Sometimes it means introducing new experiences that spark curiosity and enjoyment.
Often, the smallest activities create the greatest impact.
A conversation about travel.
Simple flower arranging.
A game of cards.
A reminiscence activity.
These moments help people remain actively involved in life.
A Real Example
Derek had been a lifelong artist and missed visiting galleries. His reduced mobility made trips out more challenging. When a Thrive associate spotted an immersive Van Gogh experience in London, she knew that she somehow had to recreate that for Derek.
Using large sheets to drape the walls of the home and a projector to display the best of Van Gogh's paintings, and with some atmospheric music, the immersive experience was brought to Derek. Being able to engage with the art and share his thoughts brought a focused joy to his day, as he became fully absorbed in discussing, observing, and reflecting on the works.
Supporting Engagement as a Family
Families can play a vital role in helping older relatives remain engaged.
One of the best questions you can ask is: "What do they enjoy doing?"
The answer may reveal opportunities to support wellbeing that are every bit as important as practical assistance.
You might:
Encourage favourite hobbies
Explore new interests together
Visit meaningful places
Complete puzzles or games together
Share books and articles
Listen to music
Look through photographs
Attend community events
Involve grandchildren in activities
The goal is not to keep someone busy. The goal is to help them remain connected to the activities that bring enjoyment, stimulation and fulfilment.
Living Life In Colour
Engagement is about more than filling time. It is about helping people remain curious, connected and involved in the things that make life enjoyable.
At Thrive Homecare, we believe support should help people continue to do the things they love, discover new opportunities and remain connected to the interests that make them who they are. Because wellbeing is not simply about being present. It is about being engaged with life.
Explore the rest of the PERMA(H) pillars:
If you would like to learn more about our companionship, visiting care, live-in care or dementia support services, contact us today for a no obligation chat.
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