If you’re a 50 year old woman ...

[Angelicabean]

What is your day to day life like? What routines/interests do you have? How do you spend your time? I know the saying is comparison is the thief of joy but I’m just interested really!

over 50 but it's been the same for the last 30 years. I work full time, look after my husband who has been ill for about 15 years also his mom who's ancient. I was taking art classes as my one "me" thing but that got stopped in March and I haven't been able to maintain momentum on it by myself.

Early to mid 50s here . Up at 6am to drive to work, work all day, then drive back, DH has dinner ready as he WFH, or sometimes in non lockdown times we’ll go out to eat.

After dinner DH cleans up the kitchen and does the dishwasher, I’ll wipe round the bathrooms and iron a couple of bits. Then watch tv or mess about on our iPads before bed.

Weekends, when not locked down we’ll mooch round the shops, have some lunch out, then in the evening make a nice meal and sit in the dining room with wine, music on the Alexa and set the world to rights.

Thank you all - it is interesting to have a glimpse into people’s lives sometimes. I’m just at a branch in life I suppose. Recently lost my full on, full time job and wondering where to go from here. I came to a sudden stop and I’m struggling to get going again. I have also started to really feel much older recently. I’m hoping to be inspired by you all!

50 this year. Work 4 days a week, ferry teenage son to things. During lockdown have started doing a monthly running challenge so go out 3-4 times per week, plus outdoor exercise classes 2x weekly run by neighbour. Most evenings I watch tv or mumsnet. I do some mentoring stuff at work through our womens network so that helps me to feel fulfilled. Meet friends when walking the dog or for coffee.

Normally I'd fill my spare time with planning holidays- but that's been less fulfilling in 2020 !

Not-quite 50.
Work part time in a professional role, been with employer for 20 years.
2 teens.
Divorced from their father, widowed from 2nd-DH, now have a bloke I don't live with.

• undertake the usual things that keep life and household running: shopping, cooking, cleaning, interacting with the dcs etc.
• work in the office 4 days a week (post-covid I'm working from home with 1/2 day in the office every week or so).
• run the dcs to various activities, clubs, matches etc.
• see bloke at the weekends, pre-covid we'd often go to the cinema, have a meal out etc one evening. Last year or so has involved a fair amount of diy projects.
• spend late Sunday afternoon & evening with my parents (and dcs & bloke). Sunday roast and then we play cards.
• walk with a friend a couple of evening a week & chat.
• attend a dog agility group weekly.
• attend a bridge club weekly, took this up after DH2 died, love it (stopped in March due to COVID, no idea when it will restart).
• watch tv, read, browse the internet.
• gardening.
• periodic meetups with individual friends for a coffee & chat or lunch (maybe once a month) and all get together for an evening meal (2 or 3 times a year).
• usually have 1 overseas holiday with bloke and another holiday with the dcs per year.

Obviously life more curtailed currently with 2nd lockdown.

Early 50s.
I live with dp and our dogs. We see our grown up adult dc once a week on average.
Have a small holiday cottage, campervan and motorbikes so we are away a lot. Have a nice house in a lovely area, plus two rentals for extra income.
We have a very active social life normally and lots of friends. We go abroad about twice a year.
We both work part-time now and are retiring in two years.
We enjoy live music, parties, dog walks, good food, films, real ale pubs, travel, national trust, train travel. We're both creative and outgoing.

I'm late 50s. My life is very different now to how it was a couple of years ago, and not all Covid related . I work part time 20 hours per week and have done so since DS was a baby . Normally have an hour commute . DH has always worked long hours and shifts . In recent years I was kept very busy providing care for my elderly parents most days , helping out FIL and ferrying around teenage DS.

We lost my dad last year and FIL earlier this year . Mum is in a care home where I've only visited once since March although I do regular video chats . DS moved out to be with his GF in April when lockdown rules meant they couldn't visit each other ; and DH redundant taking early retirement .

I'm now working from home and have DH there full time. As DH is at home not working he's doing most of the housework and gardening and I feel that I am living a life I didn't expect to have until 10 years time .

Working gives my days structure . I walk each day before or after work , sometimes with the dog. I read a lot , go out in the garden , we go out for meals when we can , and see DS and his GF and a couple of friends . We get away when we can as well , even this year have had a few UK breaks and also go out walking in the countryside on days not working .

It's strange, even though I'm working still it feels like I've already retired or I'm on permanent holiday (except at the moment we can't go anywhere ).

@HerBigChance

Work (from home at the moment) and when not in lockdown I go out for coffee in little local places, walk along the seafront and go out for meals with friends. When commuting for work, I'm in London and catch up with other friends for after work and go to the theatre.

I've started to try and be fitter (yoga) and eat a bit better. I buy frivolous make up and nail varnish. I like laughing, food, reading, theatre and connecting with people.

will be 50 in a year's time and my life is much the same as yours!

Also add, swimming, aqua aerobics, bars etc when I feel like it

@Angelicabean

Thank you all - it is interesting to have a glimpse into people’s lives sometimes. I’m just at a branch in life I suppose. Recently lost my full on, full time job and wondering where to go from here. I came to a sudden stop and I’m struggling to get going again. I have also started to really feel much older recently. I’m hoping to be inspired by you all!

totally depends what you want to do.

Friend of mine recently early retired (she also had breast cancer and recovered) does:-

walking/bicycling around various local interests/museums/country houses etc
foreign holidays abroad
concerts out
eating out
theatre

I also like, reading, baking, dressmaking, also volunteered on local projects, mosaics, salsa dancing etc. It really depends on your interests.

I currently WFH 3 days a week. I'm studying for a new qualification, so that takes up a fair bit of time. I run two or three times a week and do a weights based work out at least once a week..DH walk our dog every day for a minimum of 5 miles. I like cooking and reading and still have a fair bit of running around to do chauffeuringy youngest DD (14) around. I see a lot of my friends, either for coffee or at the pub for a bite and a drink.

I've got asc and adhd. I've had to give up work due to major depressive disorder. Every day is the same and I dread waking up. I'm bored and restless and am usually suicidal.

I’m early 50’s and worked FT for 27 years, I no longer work.

I always walk for an hour a day, before lockdown I sang in a choir and was having ballroom dancing lessons with DH and also took a watercolour class. I always met up for lunch with a friend once a week and went out to lunch or dinner with DH and sometimes DS on a Saturday. I was also regularity arranging flowers in church. Sounds all very respectable.

I also game quite a lot after many years of not having the time. I completed a dungeon solo yesterday, it’s for 3 players, in the big online game I play. Most people will never accomplish that and I now have an emblem that people will recognise in game. In a world where 95% of the player-base I bump in to is male that emblem is a total flex in what is a bastion of misogyny, I’m pretty pleased.

I read and make costumes, I was a political activist and trade unionist for years. I have trained in ballet and also done a few years belly dancing. Did a pottery cert to level 2 whatever that means and have quite taken a few art classes.

Aged 55. Two young kids. Work part time. Renovating our house- super huge job! Moved out whilst it's done.
Spend a lot of tine bickering ourselves , stopping kids bickering, shopping on marketplace!!! 🤪
And general faffing, pottering, exercising and napping and quite a lot of time with besties (not now, obv 😕)

nearly 51 year old with 10 year old dd. newly separated - lost myself then - now trying to find myself. Training to be a hypnotherapist after doing 20 years in a completely different career. Day is spent doing school run, then seeing clients, doing house chores, course, trying to groom my westie who hates it, running out of energy in the evening and bed.

I'm 53.
Up at 6am, read and pray
7am wake kids (aged 13, 15, 18) and they get up.
I head out with dog, dh takes them to station.
Walk with dog as sun comes up is fab.

Work from home, not full time, (do this anyway, not covid). Mix of meetings, working alone/preparation, and talking to people.
In afternoon I have students come to the house.
I cook most days, and generally organise house as dh works full time and I work part time.
Chat to kids over dinner and then chill with TV /internet.

I am busy. Fridays are my day, (not today though) and I usually garden, meet friends for a coffee, meet up with my Mum, do some sewing etc.

Work part time school hours 9-3, 4 days a week, have Friday off. Have done for last 20 years and don't intend to change.

2 x teenagers, one doing A'levels. They make their lunch the night before and get up without prompting and take themselves to school. Both boys are no trouble, really.

Both did football for years, so that was a huge commitment from Dh and I, washing kits, and taking them both 3 times a week, including Saturday and Sunday. Fortunately oldest has now given that up and has been doing boxing for the last 2 years.

I have no hobbies. I choose that. I spend my whole time slobbing about at home doing as little as possible. MN'ing for hours.

I spend a lot of time speaking to my friends, and my mum, on the phone and spending time eating curry and drinking wine and cups of tea with my three friends who live across the road.

We (females) go abroad for long weekends as often as possible. I do all the booking and researching, which I love.

50yo with 3 teenagers. I work part-time from home.

DH goes to work very early, then I am up a little later, wake the kids, chat with them and make sure they all eat something. Then I see them out the door and then do an hour or two of work with my coffee.

Then I do some exercise, when not in lockdown I go to a PT or yoga class or go for a run on my own.

Then 1-2 hours more work, housework, cooking, perhaps once a week I go out with friends for lunch or visit a gallery or go shopping.

Then kids come home, I let them decompress and then feed them or drive them to and from activities. 5-7pm is probably busiest time of my day.

Then collapse on sofa with wine and food with DH. Once or twice a week I go out to cinema, theatre, dinner, pub, quiz night. I really miss that!!

I'm busy all the time, but mostly due to my own planning, not because of work.

Im 47. 3 dc at home, 2 studen dc and one 22 yr old dc left home and working. plus dh

Mon-Fri
up at 6. load of washing on, coffee, life admin (on line banking etc) till 7
Dc up at 7 (12, 14 and16)
generally nag encourage dc to get ready, and wave them out the door at 7.50
head out for 3-4 mile run 3 times a week
home,super speedy shower and off to work for 9,30 (NHS clinician)
home at around 6 (although later currently as work super busy)
cook dinner
tidy house chaos
more washing
bed at 9 -read until 10 then sleep

Sat
up at 6
house clean from about 7 till 9
out for long run (10 -13 miles)
home
soak in bath
more washing
cook dinner
movie night with dc

Sunday
lie in till 7!
up, coffee, tidying
encourage nag ds (12) to finish homework
more cleaning
possibly some baking
bit of gardening
speak to student dc on phone
sort uniforms/stuff/life for week ahead.
Bed, sleep and repeat!

Early 50s. Work FT out of the house. Get up at 7, feed animals, get dressed, at work by 815 after a short drive. Older DC are grown up and living away from home. Youngest is 14.

Home about 6. DH will have cooked as he’s home first. Evening- I do some work, maybe read or watch Tv. Belong to a choir so sing once a week. Walk dog in the evening. Go to bed.

Pretty boring really.

@MelodramPatheticism

I've got asc and adhd. I've had to give up work due to major depressive disorder. Every day is the same and I dread waking up. I'm bored and restless and am usually suicidal.

You must be finding lockdown very hard . Have you got any friends / family you can chat with phone / face time or go for walk with ?

I work FT, WFH at the moment so mostly working, veg out watching tv or MN in the evenings. DH does most weekday cooking. Also worrying about kids (teens, one ASD) and one zoom exercise class a week. My hobbies are sewing/knitting and thinking about dieting, all neglected. I feel I literally work eat and sleep since Covid.

I'm 52. I work shifts so everyday different. My kids all grown and now don't live at home.
I guess l do what most people do. I work. Come home,eat,clean. Watch TV or read my book
I have been living with my partner for 4 years and now we live together so we do normal couple stuff. Obviously don't go out much in these times. She also works shifts so sometimes we don't see each other much for a few days.
I also spend quite a bit of time procastinating about all the life admin and stuff that needs sorting out in the flat. But generally give up on that and have a glass of wine.

Oh and also count my blessings that l had my kids in my 20s l don't have engery now to deal with the teenage years

I turned 50 this year ( in lockdown 🤨). I have an 8 year old DD who I get off to breakfast club for about 07.45 and i then try and walk 6k before starting work. I work 4 days a week with 3 days at home and one in Central London. I do some housework and cook dinner most weekdays while at home but I can work late on office days. I used to go to lots of art exhibitions and had a big night out in London once a month. I also went to the ballet & theatre 2-4 times a year. Now I head to the gym 3-4 times a week and have a personal trainer. I have joined a book club since lockdown and I now ensure I read at least an hour a day. I have taken up pen paling and I write at least 1 or 2 letters a week if I can. Weekends are low key - often a mooch into town or some gardening. Dinner would be out on Saturday or a take away. Today I met a friend for a long walk and we picked up coffee on the way back. She’s furloughed so I hope to meet up with her for bike rides or walking regularly. I’m planning some home workouts while the gym is closed. Housework is low on my list of priorities so I hope to get a new cleaner after lockdown. We are getting a kitten in 2 weeks so looking forward to that.

This thread from a couple of weeks ago had some very encouraging and positive posts about being over 50 - might be worth a read OP.