What do furloughed people do if they have no family nearby, don't want to go to the shops.. And are sick of walking?

[ssd]

I've been off 3 months now. I'm in Scotland so the rules are a bit different.
Anyways, I've been lots of socially distanced walks, alone and with various friends. Also had the odd coffee in someone's garden. All my neighbours have family to visit or invite over. We don't.

What else is there to do, except go to the shops, which are only food shops here? I don't want to do that anyway, going once a week is enough.
My kids are grown, they don't want to hang around with me.

I'm not a hobby person either.

Any other suggestions?

Read!
Oh how I have wished I was furloughed.

Sorry OP, what do you normally do at weekends?

Ah sorry, I see how that came across. I'm grateful to be furloughed, it's just beginning to feel a bit lonely when I see my neighbours gardens with families visiting. I just wish it was us.

geocaching?

Netflix
Reading.
Everyone and their dog round here seem to have taken up cycling.

At weekends we go a drive to the coast, can't do that here yet. Or out for coffee, can't do that either.

We are real stay at homes, years of having no money or babysitters have got us used to this. I don't mind not going out, I just would love family to visit.
My folks are dead and I miss them.

What's geocatching?

No! Didn't come across badly at all, don't think that ssd. I was more thinking I sounded smug for working...

I would like to take up yoga, painting and read more.

Reading, gardening, on line learning, jigsaw or other puzzles, listening to music, catching up with family and friends by Skype/zoom whatever.

I have read some great books but I need some the library to open again to get some more.

Have you checked on your library service website if they offer ebooks (can be read on a smartphone or a tablet/ laptop?
I've been using mine in lockdown (ours use Libby app), which has been great. I don't feel at all guilty returning things unread if I haven't paid for them.

I would read and watch tv or sleep. Take an online course. Go for a run. See if you can do any professional development or training. God any of that sounds amazing.

I’ve been in working full time with a toddler and one I’m homeschooling hell for 3 months. I’d trade one of children at this point for a weekend alone to read and watch tv.

Netflix and Now TV or one of the specialist old films sites.

Paint your walls.

Write a novel. Write a diary. Start a blog.

Go on MN all day.

Read a really massive Stephen King novel.

Do an online course in something.

Volunteer to do something.

Eat things.

Eat more things.

Cook some things and then eat them.

Go on MN some more.

Have a nap.

Have a large glass of wine.

Listen to a podcast.

Buy some things online.

Go on MN again.

I would read, watch Netflix, learn a new skill or take an online course.

Don’t be sorry ssd!

It must not be pleasant for you. Is there anything that you have ever wanted to learn to do?

Could you maybe do some online volunteering for something? Are there any new skills you'd like to learn? My dc are finally back at childcare while I'm still furloughed, I'm very much a hobby kind of person though (knitting, crochet, sewing) so I'm pretty happy tbh!

Volunteering?
I'm working full time but there's huge amounts of volunteering to be done, some of it online or phone befriending, some face to face. A lot of people are going back to work now so there's an even greater need for volunteers in a lot of roles.

I think you need to become a hobby person as its the only way to fill your time. Something must interest you surely?

I haven't been to work since the end of March either. I've just been taking, editing and then re-editing photos. I've also been supporting my dad, with the help of my sister, so that's got me out of my house a few times. I might buy a couple of jigsaws for something else to do.

Open university do lots of free courses and you get a certificate of participation on completion of the course. I found them by googling open edu free courses. We had to complete some for work but it was interesting.

I would suggest online volunteering as well. Or join your local Covid support group and volunteer for anything that needs doing on there. I get that being furloughed for some people is actually quite tough. Thankfully I am back in work now (though working less hours and some of them from home). My mental health is much better when I am working.

Reading? Can you explore a bit? Take up birdwatching? I ordered some kits to do; knitting, candle making, flower drying, it’s been fun! You’re not a hobby person but maybe Try something anyway?

can you go out with a camera/phone?
discover foot paths?

listen to the radio?
pod casts
jog
cycle
learn a language
yoga
pilates

jigsaws are great

Catch up on anything on the to do list e.g. DIY, sorting out ancient photo albums etc? Go through what’s in the attic/garage to see if there’s anything that should be chucked out?

Otherwise read, watch films, do jigsaws..... any good at crosswords? Su doku?