What to do with the the next few months off?

[Pyri]

I’ve been made redundant from my job which was a bit of a shock at first as I’m 5 months pregnant, but they have given me a decent payout and as I’m now too far on really to get a new role im intending to take the time off until the baby is here.

I’ve been working in forever though, so the prospect of an extended period of time off is a bit odd. I have children and a husband who will be working so can’t take off anywhere really, but will keep the childcare going for continuity when the baby arrives.

I’m thinking of doing a bit of volunteering for the Ukraine crisis as there are volunteers needed in our local town but otherwise no idea. Maybe repaint our kitchen?!

Just so that I don’t spend the next few months on my arse reading MN, looking for any ideas if anyone has them!

(Intending to start applying for job roles towards the end of the year to start early next year)

Learn something you have always wanted to learn? Japanese, sign language, how to grow veg, knitting.

Fix things in the house/garden? Paint, build, tidy.

Read, get fit, lunch with friends, something purely for YOU.

These are the things I’d do with some time off.

Any online courses to invest in your self and career a bit for when you get back to work? OpenLearn, FutureLearn are good places to start

are there any career development things you can do, to improve your prospects when you start applying for new roles? I have a long list of CPD I've been meaning to get round to, I'd love a break like that to get some of it done!

Yes there are definitely career type stuff I could do, especially as this means I’ll be out of the workplace for about a year now….

I was hoping for more exciting suggestions though

Write and self-publish some non-fiction books on topics related to your work?

That sounds bliss OP.

Here is how I'd spend my time;

Touristy things in own area - Visit places like museums, galleries and other attractions that you may. So much has been closed during lockdown, so it's a good opportunity to rediscover places you know.

Learn a new skill - baking, crochet, playing the guitar, restore a piece of furniture, so that you have at least one tangible outcome of your time off.

Now is the time to repaint your garden furniture! I completely changed the look of our outside space with good old Ronseal!

What about volunteering an hour a week at school listening to kids read. They love it when they have someone to hear them.