Looking for new ways to spend a free morning or two? Ones that don’t include walking your dog, reading a book or any of your other usual activities? Here are five wonderful ways to fill a few hours.

1. Explore your city

Whether you’ve lived in the same city most of your life or recently moved, there’s always something new to discover. Take Cape Town, for example. You may think you’ve been to every museum or art gallery worth visiting, but the list is a long one – and it recently became even longer with the addition of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in 2017 and the Norval Institute in 2018. And if art and artefacts aren’t your cup of tea, the red City Sightseeing bus is a wonderful way to while away a few hours while taking in Cape Town’s most beautiful sights.

2. Get creative in the kitchen

If you enjoy cooking, why not spend the morning pushing the limits of your culinary creativity – and then invite your family or friends over to sample the delicious results. You’ll find recipes for almost every type of cuisine online – take a look at BBC Food, Epicurious and Food Network for inspiration.

3. Expand your social circle

Hosting morning tea in your home is a wonderful way to spend time catching up with old friends and making new ones – ask three or four friends to invite someone you don’t know. If you live in a retirement village like Evergreen, think about inviting your next-door neighbours or someone a few doors down who you don’t yet know. Get out your best china, serve scones and cucumber sarmies, and enjoy!

4. Sort your space

The morning, when you’re still feeling energetic, is the perfect time to sort through your cupboards, kitchen drawers or linen cupboard. Once you’ve decided what’s staying and what’s going, call a local charity or charity shop – they may be able to collect any clothing, furniture or bric-a-brac you’re passing along.

5. Connect with community There are so many ways to enjoy community as you grow older: start a monthly book club, host a card game, invite friends to join a breakfast club… the list goes on. If you’re a resident at an Evergreen Lifestyle Village, make the most of the Lifestyle Centre by setting up a regular card game or a weekly game of chess, or by starting a knitting or crocheting morning and donating the scarfs, blankets and other items you make to a local charity.