I've been furloughed until March! Kids aren't at home. What now?!

[MrsMiaWallis]

I've just found out I've been furloughed until March.

Two kids at uni and one at boarding school (this has all happened in the last month, dc bursary kid at local independent, wasn't supposed to board but due to covid he has been offered a full boarding place as the day option would mean he couldn't do the thing he went there for - music).

So I have the weird feeling of having nothing to do with my life until March!

Any ideas on what a 54 year old woman can do with her life until then?!

Get a puppy

Take an online course from Coursera which has the lectures of university lecturers from
around the world.
I am taking a course on migration.

Exercise/ walk daily

Voluntary work and get your CV updated. Declutter and redecorate. Update your will. Put photos in photo albums. Polish all the silver and brass in the house. Scarify your lawn. Plant bulbs for next spring (you could become a guerilla gardener). Learn a language or an instrument or some other new skill. Write a novel. Start a new exercise regime.

I'm almost jealous. See this as a dry run for retirement.

It's a seasonal business and should be unpaused in March.Saving money though jist in case.

I would:
have all the lie-ins I haven't been able to have
do a fuck ton of yoga
walks
do the garden and loads of house jobs
read
catch up with everyone i have been neglecting
do some kind of online learning /develop my skills in something
think, tbh

Because they can get Rishi to pay a percentage of their staff's wages

Exact

Learn sign language

@joystir59 I was going to say the same thing, always wanted to write one and never had time....imagine if it becomes a best seller! I also love the countryside so would do lots of long walks, and when able to further afield to explore more of the UK, there must be some areas you’ve never had time to visit.

My mental and physical health would be radically improved by March.

I do like walking. I have a dog.

I think I'm going to be very lonely!

Goodness op, I know what you mean. You don't want to waste the time as such.
I see you have a dog, could you volunteer to walk dogs that are in rehoming centres? I know they may not be accepting anyone at the moment due to COVID, but worth a try?
And even though you won't have gained a skill as such, you will make a massive difference to those dogs lives

Has anyone been along to tell you to 'go for a walk' yet?

I have so many hobbies and things to do I could be busy for 24 hours a day for a year.

I am so jealous. Enjoy your time off 😄

If this was me I would buy a load of large storage boxes and sort out my loft which is a total dump.
I'd maybe set myself a challenge of reading 1 book per week. You could do something like read the Booker prize winner from each year and work your way back.
You could watch one Oscar winning film per day too maybe? Either work your way back per category or watch the winning film in each category going back by years.
I'd also do a yoga session daily. Yoga with Adriene is fab and she has 3 or 4 30 day courses on youtube now so free.
And go for a daily walk too.
You'd still have time for doing an online course too if you can find something you like the look of.
Good luck op

Lucky woman!

If you've got finance skills, please consider volunteering with smaller local charities. Many of them would jump at the chance of someone who could help them sort out their accounts!

Short online course. Open University does short courses.

If you think you are going to be lonely, make plans not to be
Plan a regular weekly walk with a friend
A monthly walk up a big hill with someone else who is into it (if you are)
A list of people to call and chat with
Online conferences
Check in online for a cuppa with work people if you all get along and think that would be nice
Volunteer - help out someone older who might be really truly lonely, or foodbank or whatever

I fantasise about being bored or lonely, I'm constantly with people and too busy so bit jealous tbh

Get unbelievably fit. Maybe look at getting a pelaton? They do loads of classes

For me it would be:
Write a book
Learn a language
Volunteer
Crafting

I had a temporary break from work last year (for different reasons) and was going mad from boredom. I’m not into TV, not keen on gardening and really hate cleaning, and although being out of the rat race for a while was nice the lack of mental stimulation was really hard.

The University near where I live has an Open Learning programme which allows you to sign up to do modules from various undergraduate courses. I did a module on social history for a semester which was fantastic. Would definitely recommend if something like that is available. A lot of the courses are remote learning at the moment though so that may or may not work for you.

Volunteering isn't just a case of presenting yourself somewhere with a big cheesy grin on your face.

@AnyFucker

Indeed.

I wouldn't wish redundancy on anyone but speaking as a frontline NHS professional going into the hell of the 2nd wave do be careful your diamond shoes don't get too tight.

oh ffs she wasn’t whinging about it. I’m also frontline NHS but it hasn’t made me so bitter I go online to snipe at people who get time off work 🙄

The scheme allows you to take a job firing this time, if your contract allows it.

Would you consider working, if you can find employment given the market?