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AIBU?

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Original poster

Seriously - what do you do (home alone).

153 replies

Breadandsticks · 26/10/2025 19:43

I’m alone this evening. No children no partner.

Im sitting on the sofa overwhelmed by what I could do (read, I don’t want to watch a show, draw…) that I’ve frozen and I’m doing absolutely nothing!

What does one do when they have a whole evening to themselves?

Why is it we dream of having a moment alone without the family and when we get the chance it feels like a paralysis.

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 26/10/2025 21:16

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

When I'm home with my DH I hang out with him and we eat things we both like and have conversations. When he's not there I inevitably behave differently. That is no doubt even more true for people with children around.
I'm struggling with why that is hard to understand.

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 26/10/2025 21:02

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

Because for a lot of us we have to consider others in our decisions. Yes, I could cook or order whatever I want to eat but I also normally have to consider my children’s allergies and or tastes.
Yes, I can watch what I want but it may be interrupted multiple times and not happen at the exact times I want it to.
When you’re home alone you can only think of you, it’s a treat.

GreyCarpet · 26/10/2025 21:00

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

No. I do all the same things when my partner is around and did them when my children were around when they lived at home.

The OP asked what everyone did when they were home alone and people have answered. No one has said they can't do those things when their families are around too.

DingDongJingle · 26/10/2025 21:00

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

Do you never have to accommodate other members of the family? Eg take into account the food preferences of others when deciding what to have for dinner, or choose a TV programme that everyone else wants to watch as well? Or do you just choose what you want to eat/do/watch and everyone else does the same? Or do you all eat/watch TV etc separately?

FunnyOrca · 26/10/2025 20:59

Get in the bath ASAP
Listen and sing along to music in the bath
Have aglio e olio for dinner
Straight to bed

Catpiece · 26/10/2025 20:55

Drink. Think. Play loud music.

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

estellacandance · 26/10/2025 20:54

Can I ask why the posters on this thread ant do all these things with others in the house?

It’s a genuine question.

I live with a DP & DCs. (Not very little anymore)

But I can do this stuff if I want to. Maybe not dancing around the living room but all the other stuff. I decide what I eat/when I go to bed/what I watch on screens every night anyway.

Is my life really that peculiar?

HelloCharming · 26/10/2025 20:53

Springbaby2023 · 26/10/2025 20:47

Wine, hot bath, something yummy to eat, book, doom scroll, enjoy absolute silence.

Basically this. Sometimes tea not wine. In the summer it’s uninterrupted gardening. Sometimes I just lie and nap, that’s ok.

Rainallnight · 26/10/2025 20:52

I get exactly the same, OP. Totally paralysed, despite always craving some time on my own. I always think I have no talent for enjoyment or leisure.

Arregaithel · 26/10/2025 20:52

Whoosh will top up your lack of pizza ingredients within 20 mins @Breadandsticks 😉

Hoppinggreen · 26/10/2025 20:49

I am home alone apart from the cat and dog
I am watching a docco on sharks, painting my nails and WA 2 friends - one wgo lives in France and one who lives in The US

Springbaby2023 · 26/10/2025 20:47

Wine, hot bath, something yummy to eat, book, doom scroll, enjoy absolute silence.

DingDongJingle · 26/10/2025 20:46

Anyway to answer the OP… if I get a night off, I do whatever I want!

DingDongJingle · 26/10/2025 20:45

Cherrysoup · 26/10/2025 20:29

But don’t you then wake up crazy early? I’d be wide awake by 3am!

Show quote history

I’m chronically sleep deprived, I get 3-4 hours a night generally due to disabled DS. If I get a night off (very, very rarely!) I can easily sleep 9-7 and I’m still exhausted on waking.

SparklyCardigan · 26/10/2025 20:45

I live alone and I always find these threads pretty baffling. Sorry time to yourself is such a novelty for you.

Kim82 · 26/10/2025 20:42

I was on my own last night. I lit some candles, had a shower, fresh pjs, ordered myself a Chinese takeaway then sat on the sofa under a blanket eating said takeaway and re-watching one of my favourite shows. Went to bed at 10.15pm, starfished in bed and had the best nights sleep I’ve had in months. It was heaven!

I did hear dh come home around 2am but he slept in a different room so I had the bed to myself all night.

itsoktonotbeokitstrue · 26/10/2025 20:41

Cross stitch, diamond paint, colour while listening to an audiobook.
coffee, nice bath and a pamper followed by cuddles with dog/cat or both!
tidy the house, bit of Netflix or bake a cake.
Im never bored.

mondaytosunday · 26/10/2025 20:38

I’m alone every night now my DD has gone to uni. I cook a nice meal sit down in front of a good series and crochet. Occasionally take a break to scroll through my phone to give my fingers a break. I would say the majority of people do similar - dinner, TV or music or book. I used to also do a workout video when I was younger!

Thepeopleversuswork · 26/10/2025 20:37

Happens once in a blue moon but

  • long bath
  • film
  • book in bed/Mumsnet
CurlewKate · 26/10/2025 20:34

From tomorrow I’m on my own for 3 weeks. Can’t wait. I will eat when I’m hungry, not at mealtimes. I’ll go to bed when I’m tired and get up when I wake up, which means I might well be nocturnal for a few days. I have a writing project I want to get on with, and I have some proof reading to do for my dil. I’ll walk every day, and I intend to have all the Christmas shopping done and the puddings and cakes made by the end of the 3 weeks. And I’ll watch Rivals finally.