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Original poster

What are you doing to keep occupied.

91 replies

Bigjigsaw · 06/04/2020 22:02

As my name suggests I'm doing a big jigsaw(doing my head in). Getting the photos into an album after all these years.
Tidying the garden. Sorting out cupboards. I was baking but can't get flour.
Going for a walk every other day. Shopping on a Tuesday.
Face timeing our children and grandchildren.
What are you doing to keep busy. Are you getting bored.

OP posts:
cheesenmarmite · 07/04/2020 02:57

Nothing really. I have disabilities which mean I can't exercise or do the garden, normally I swim but the pond is only 3 feet long so it ain't happening. Don't want to traumatise the tadpoles.
I just play games online and read mumsnet. I spend maybe an hour doing a decent dinner.

TheOrigBrave · 07/04/2020 03:11

Working
Occupying my 11yo
Less free time than normal

Don't know why my FB keeps coming up with paint by number kits! I'm knackered.
I'm doing work and housework either really early or really late so I can spend time with DS.
No partner.

TheOrigBrave · 07/04/2020 03:12

Oh and care for elderly family member with Parkinson's

grandmasterstitch · 07/04/2020 03:16

Looking after my two year old mainly. I have knitted a jumper, done some gardening and sewing and baking. A lot of the time I don't feel very motivated though

OhioOhioOhio · 07/04/2020 04:42

Resting

Redrosesandsunsets · 07/04/2020 07:00

It sounds like it’s a nice time to be retired. My job level has increased, just trying to get work and money in, and I’m juggling several jobs. Never been busier, just working from home now and juggling kids (3 teens and their online schooling). I’d love to be cleaning and sorting things. It sounds idyllic.

SuperMeerkat · 07/04/2020 07:06

My job. DIY at the weekends and Netflix.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 07/04/2020 07:20

Working as usual, looking after my 19 month old so my DH can WFH when I'm not working. We're busier than normal tbh!

Gotthetshirt23 · 07/04/2020 07:32

Working
I have just started a wasgij , was given it locally and i had to stop and read the box Hmm to get it !
Planting seeds
Trying to create a sourdough starter .....

ellanwood · 07/04/2020 07:38

Going for daily walk with DC. Cooking, cleaning, laundry for a family of four. Some work, when it trickles in (freelance). Reading a lot. Watching box sets. Some gardening. Yoga. Signed up for the online Masterclasses last autumn so am working through those and doing some writing.

But frustrated with myself that I'm not doing very much of anything. I spend way too long on FB staying on touch with friends. Would love to DIY the house but no access to paint.

Pondskimmer · 07/04/2020 07:40

Working FT from home, as is DH, and sharing care of a lively eight year old, doing grocery drops and prescription pick-ups for elderly parents, part of a volunteer rota to keep an eye on/shop for elderly or vulnerable neighbours (we’re in a remote rural area and the nearest shop is a substantial drive). I’ve seldom been busier.

AreWeAnywhereNear · 07/04/2020 07:42

Working - we are so busy it's ridiculous. Looking after my Mum, who's self isolating and struggling, it's very emotionally draining but she's do the same for me and it won't be forever.

DH has completely stepped up, he's been brilliant.

I'm looking forward to a long weekend off so we can lie in, potter in the garden and plan some home improvement jobs.

poshme · 07/04/2020 07:43

OP it's tricky- for those of us having to work from home full time in jobs that are stressful & difficult, AND manage several kids' home school learning, AND remotely help elderly parents with (impossible) online shopping, AND have partners that are going out to work in stressful situations life is VERY busy.
So people may not mean to be angry, but posts from people saying they've nothing to do, are quite frustrating.

I'd love to have nothing to do. Just like you'd probably love to be busy with the kids.

Last week I was in tears trying to get everything done, and social media posts about 'filling time with baking' etc nearly broke me.

I'm sorry to hear about your DH. Can he start a project about something he can later share with grandkids?

Stuckforthefourthtime · 07/04/2020 08:57

At least you can see your children, I haven't been able to actually see my children, grandchildren or my mum for 3 weeks

Most of us haven't been able to see our mums for a long time, or siblings or in many cases partners. My own sister can't see her own husband or young children for the next few months as she's a doctor working on the front lines and she can't risk infecting her 6 year old dd, who has severe asthma.
Of course we're all seeing different challenges but when you try to say how this is hard for you because you miss family (we don't?!), or whether it's 'easier for a lady' when a disproportionate number of ladies are absolutely breaking themselves trying to homeschool, work and keep the house going (often with DH's like yours, who can't manage even to make a chili or bake a cake unaided), it does rub us up the wrong way.

Bluesheep8 · 07/04/2020 10:10

Working. And worrying about the impact this will have on our family income.

sqirrelfriends · 07/04/2020 10:14

Working while looking after toddler DS, I'm desperate for work to just furlough me already so I can stop being so stressed and having to work all evening after DS is in bed.

devildeepbluesea · 07/04/2020 10:15

Les Mills Online - alternating between Combat and Bodypump.
Cooking
Entertaining DD. The YouTube rollercoasters have been very popular.
Sorting the garden as much as possible, but this has had to stop for a bit as garden waste is no longer being collected.
Embracing my hour of exercise outside with lovely walks in our woods.
Talking to friends on Zoom.
Next week I'll be back at work.

Chemenger · 07/04/2020 10:20

Working, with much more pressure than normal for this time of year. Amending university exams to suit online exams. Looking at a mountain of online marking as well. Definitely not a time when I need to be finding things to do. I should be on annual leave but there is no prospect of that. How terrible for the rest of you to be struggling with your new hobbies and having to read books Smile.

HoffiCoffi13 · 07/04/2020 10:47

At least you can see your children, I haven't been able to actually see my children, grandchildren or my mum for 3 weeks

Equally I haven’t been able to see my parents, my grandmother or my siblings for that time.
My mum is 60 next week, she lives alone and is frontline NHS so will spend her birthday caring for patients then sitting at home. Equally it is my brothers birthday next week (he sadly died in his 20’s) which is a tough day for us all and we’ll have to spend it apart.
My dad has a health condition meaning he is self isolating for 12 weeks.
My grandmother has just lost her husband and at 87 is having to self isolate for 12 weeks. She is very depressed on her own.
SIL and BIL (abroad) have both lost their jobs and there is limited help available in their country so they’re making plans to sell their house and move back in with MIL and PIL.
I’m not angry at my situation at all, there are others who have it far worse. Just pointing out that no it’s not easier for ‘ladies’, and also that being a bit bored doing your hobbies is not the end of the world.

madcatladyforever · 07/04/2020 10:50

Endless paperwork home admin, a million craft projects on the go, all dark brown wood in my new house needs sanding down and repainting. I could quite happily never work again.
As it is I work full time so don't have time for any of that stuff.

Tableclothing · 07/04/2020 10:50

Mostly eating.

BearSoFair · 07/04/2020 11:14

Deep cleaned the whole house, still in the process of sorting through all the cupboards and drawers. Oldest find has been a WHSmith receipt from 2002 in DH's bedside drawer!
DH is working from home but reduced hours, he's been tackling the garden in the afternoons.

Once we've finished I'm not sure what else we're going to do!

Howmanysleepsnow · 07/04/2020 13:00

Lockdown- make breakfast and lunch x6, cook dinner x6, homeschool 4 dc, clean, tidy, laundry, exercise daily (run/ walk with dc on bikes and scooters), garden, play with dc
Self isolation- make breakfast and lunch x5, cook dinner x6, clean, tidy, laundry, look after 4 symptomatic family members in separate bedrooms, inventory cupboards and freezer and count days until I’m allowed to shop as nearest delivery slot is over 3 weeks away, 30 minutes on exercise bike daily while watching press briefing, TV and chats with Dd in the evening.

JKScot4 · 07/04/2020 13:03

Gardening, DIY, foodbank deliveries, walking my 4 dogs, teaching myself to knit.

TheChosenTwo · 07/04/2020 13:24

Working but only on specific days (key worker and are sharing the load at work, can’t wfh).
Other than that, trying to negotiate the emotions of 2 teenage daughters and entertain younger and altogether more energetic ds. Trying to help local relatives source food.
Helping an older and more isolated relative with some ongoing personal issues from a distance - this is not going well. I am beginning to recognise all the signs of dementia and I’m finding it impossible to care for him without being able to see him as we had been self isolating for 2 weeks. Tried and failed miserably to order him a food slot as he’s 88 and not classed in any kind of vulnerable category but with no one else around him he has had no choice but to go out and buy food. Not that he thinks this virus is anything to worry about of course Hmm
Trying to carve out some time for myself as I am slowly going a bit mad from it all.
However, everyone in my household is physically healthy at the moment and for that I’m very grateful.