Day off each week

[Outoutoutshout]

If you worked a 4 day week and had a day to yourself on the 5th day what would you do with it? I'll be working really long days on the other 4 days.
So far, I've considered:

1. Getting a personal trainer and getting fit.
2. Different days out.
3. Volunteering in a school.
4. Other volunteering.
5. Learning a new skill.

I have a dog but can get them looked after if needs be. There might be occasional times my work will need me so I can't really get other employment on this day.

Ideas very welcome.

Any and all of the above plus I'd just enjoy a day at home

Whatever is most important to you. I would make sure you use your time wisely. Don’t volunteer if you value your health & fitness.
Dont make it the personal trainer if you’re not that bothered about how you look / feel.

Personal trainer which would take up a couple of hours then leaves the rest of the day to just chill and rest. Downtime is amazing.

I wouldn't sign yourself up to a long term commitment too quickly. Volunteering sounds great, but I do wonder if it would just become another day at work. Taking some time to be a little bit selfish and focussing on yourself, certainly in the short term, would be my choice. Personal trainer or long walking days with the dog for the win!

If after a few months you are still more keen on the volunteering than anything else, look into it again.

I would have a catch up day at home to myself

I used to work 4 days and I used my day off to do little chores, go shopping/for coffee, go for a swim, read a book etc. Nice things just for me mostly. I volunteer now I am retired and have plenty of time but I wouldn't have done it on my day off when I was working.

Personally I wouldn't be helping in a school since this will feel like giving up your day off just to work for nothing. I'd probably just relax, take leisurely walks with the dog, meet friends for lazy lunches, catch a movie whilst the cinema is quiet, basically anything that I find relaxing. I'm quite introverted and find being around people draining so I'd like most the day just to recharge after a busy 4 days. You might feel like you want to be around others however, we're all different. I'd just do whatever will make you happiest.

I do have this. This is what I use it for:

• getting appointments with doctor for myself or any of my 3 children (I can't do this on a working day due to mobile phone policy at work).
• taking dog on longer walk
• having a lie-in or afternoon nap
• doing jobs which don't get done otherwise eg. Gardening, sorting kids clothes to give away
• picking up furniture or things I've bought on eBay
• chilling, watching a movie or researching holidays/ bargains for house
• cooking a more ambitious meal than normal

Trust me, it will get used up!!

I would personally focus on the getting fit option. I wouldn't give up my one day off to volunteer in a school, unless i found that super fun (which I wouldn't). I would also use the time to catch up with friends over coffee or even lunch.

Thanks everyone. You've given me a lot to think through.

I volunteer on my day off for a few hours in a food bank and really enjoy it, but, every other week though so I can still have longer days out/visit friends etc too.

Volunteering has been really good for me, and stops me wasting the day in my pjs watching Netflix! But I definitely recommend every other week if you can.

I did this from when I went back to work after maternity until DD started school. On my day off, I usually went for a long bike ride with a retired friend or got a run. I'd also catch up with housework or things I couldn't do with a toddler in tow.

I'm new ish to working four days after 20 years of full time.

It's headspace for me. I cook nice food or bake a cake, go to shops I don't have time to, sell stuff in vinted, manage my money, clean odd bits (I like doing this and looking after the house appointments I can fit in rather than take leave.

I have a day off in the week

I always meet my friend for a walk first thing

then either -

catch up with chores
meet dh for lunch somewhere nice
go out for the day
chill and have a lovely day to myself
meet other friends for coffee/ lunch
etc etc

I only work part-time (no DC) and spend my free time catching up with housework, going to the beach, horse riding (I take lessons), meeting friends for dog walks or going out for coffee and cake.

I also love a nice chill day at home doing as little as possible!

I have a day off each week - DS now late teen and I kept it because I enjoyed it.

I usually take dog out for short walk, do a bit of housework and then go to a class at the gym. Frequently meet friend for coffee after class, do some shopping then home for more housework and dog walking.
If work is busy I sometimes end up logging in for a little bit but try to avoid it.

I find work very full on and exhausting. I enjoy not pushing myself too hard on my day off.

I worked compressed hours (5 days over 4) for a while, don’t underestimate how tiring you’ll find it. I really needed the non working day to be relaxing.

I work 0.8 now and I’ll be keeping the non working day when DD starts school in September, I’m looking forward to having those 6 hours to sort the shit in the house that never ever gets done like sorting wardrobes, clearing out the loft and proper meal planning!

I use my day off for

• catching up on sleep if I've had a busy week
• appointments like dentist, hairdressers so it frees up time to spend with family during the evenings and weekend
• cleaning the house top to bottom whilst it's empty so I can do it properly and whilst dancing to my music full blast
• going for a leisurely browse around the local high street when it's less busy during the week.

Having a day off is utter bliss!

I like the idea of volunteering every other week. I work at home a lot so the social aspect of volunteering appeals as well as helping others. However, the flexibility of doing it every other week appeals so I can do my own things too. Thanks.

If others lived in my home I’d use it as an alone time day. If I lived alone I would probably get a trainer or take a photography/art class that would only take up a few hours of the day then use the rest of the day to chill.

When I first did this, I used to do one chore, one piece of exercise (usually a swim) and one nice thing -

either going somewhere new, meeting a friend for coffee, an art class.
Then DH decided to take the same day off so we usually end up lazing about then going to Tesco.

I work 4 days . I don't work Mondays. My dd is 15

Sometimes DH has a Monday off if he's worked the weekend so we go out for a walk or lunch .

I am part of a book club that meets once a month on a Monday afternoon.

Quite often I use it to catch up on housework and errands if we've had a busy weekend.

Sometimes I just read or watch some TV and generally have some me time.

Why do you need to do/plan anything? I work 4 days and really relish a day to myself to just go with the flow, do what I feel like - sometimes that ends up being things like housework/errands, but it’s just really good for the soul to have some unplanned ‘playtime’. I’m a single parent so I don’t get any responsibility-free time elsewhere in my week.

Legoouch - I worry I'll just waste the opportunity if I have no plans.

I used to do this:

Gym
Supermarket
Coffee with DH, friends, mum

Ah... I used to like those days off.
Now the above are fitted into the evenings, weekends and when I take annual leave .