What do you do on days off / annual leave?

[ArcticArchitect]

I was made redundant recently but today I've landed a new part time job. Yay!

So I start in 2 weeks and my new role is 3 days per week. I'm so excited. But having just spent the entire morning sitting on the sofa (i cant believe its 1pm!)..... I'm wondering do people do on their days off?

I'm actually very outdoorsy but my period of unemployment has left me phone addicted fanatically looking for work.

So what do you do? Walking? Swimming? Coffee out? Browsing shops? ( Other than housework and school run obviously 😊 )

I need to find myself and embrace my days off. I think I need a new hobby too! My friends work full time...

fanatically is supposed to say frantically 🤣

I used to work shifts, and on late shift days I would often try and take the dog for a 5km+ walk somewhere new - sometimes round National Trust lands, sometimes woodland etc. Not every day but perhaps once a week. Saw some great stuff. Stick a podcast or audiobook in and just go. I used to love getting to work and feeling like I'd already had a day off! Despite working full time it felt like part time. I'm now normal hours and I miss it!
Its a bit cliche but pick up something like Babbel, learn a language. Just an hour a day makes a huge difference and if nothing else you've achieved that!
Do you have a garden you can grow some veg in? A sport you want to do (alone or with a group). Anything which gives a bit of structure to the day.

Housework, life admin take up one day. If I had another day I would probably either volunteer, long walk or craft activity.

Podcasts, long walk and new language sounds perfect!

Back in the days before I had kids, it would be house work, gym, reading and maybe binging a box set.

I can't remember the last time I had a child free day off that wasn't for a particular occasion, event or appointment.

I don't have any "days off" now as I have a baby but my other two are older so often had days before she was born. I would do house chores, go for coffee with a friend or alone with a book, walk the dog, sit with a cuppa and look at my beautifully clean home before the kids came home and trashed it within seconds 🤣

Golf

@Olsi109 haha I feel that pain. In 30 mins my house will be carnage! 😆

I am tempted to get a dog. As I'd love to walk more. Long hikes sound perfect!

I went down to 4 days a week (actually still work 5 days but have extended hours) and try to use my day as a ‘me day’. It’s taken some getting used to but I try and do things I like completely unencumbered by kids or DH.

I don’t enjoy having a routine for the day off but at the end of the month I tend to have some similar things.

I’m lucky enough to live in London and like walking so I will go off to an exhibition, followed by a walk in the area. Get cheap midweek matinee theatre tickets, cinema and lunch out, pedicure and a browse of Waterstones. Went to Chessington, Hampton Court. Last year I gradually walked the Thames path. But I also will plan a day bingeing a box set in face masks and my posh pyjamas. Basically try and make each day a little holiday for myself.and treat it like a work day so I’m unavailable for doing washing or housework.

Read, work out, create, socialise, travel, learn, volunteer, life admin - the list is literally endless. Whatever you want to do!

When I was on maternity leave, I just did everything slowly, to extend the time. Eg washing dishes, I washed each dish slowly and thoroughly, so a 5 min job turns into 15 mins. I soon got used to being able to waste time, and make the day go faster. And nap!

I work 4 days a week and that day goes so quick ! I take the dog on a 2 hour walk , often longer if we go with someone else . I do gardening , often prep tea , go out for lunch , do housework . Sometimes I go to another town and go shopping. I am on the go all day I find if I sit down it's very easy for the day to slip by and before you know it it is 1,2pm !

So true. The days go so fast. I'm beginning to regret how I spent my unemployed period 😞 I just wasted it all!

Onwards and upwards though!

I’m retired now but in my life I have done a lot of sport, running, hockey, cycling and swimming. A lot of hardcore hill walking, these days it’s more gentle and more like a 5 to 7 mile jaunt. Also lots of dance lessons, Salsa, belly dancing and ballroom dancing. Plus lots of volunteering, helping run a Food project, trade union and women’s rights activist, food bank. Also some art and craft stuff, I did pottery for two years and a couple of watercolour courses, maybe a year in total Now I’m older I volunteer in a community garden two days a week that has a forest school, I still video game and I also love Board games. I also belong to two hiking groups. I’m considering signing up to teach children to read online.

I do get bored very easily.

My goodness you're a busy bee @Adversity

I'm very impressed! I'd love to do more cycling... off to look at mountain bikes....

I take the dog for a long walk. It's very, very good for my mental health to have a day off without kids, without husband, without work.

Wow I have lots of hobbies but can't remember when I last had a day to myself to enjoy them for a whole day child/guilt/work free.

When it did used to happen I would be do family tasks (cooking, cleaning, set up activities, help out at toddler groups etc), go swimming, walking, catch up with a friend, learn a language, gardening. I did couch to 5k and then up to 10k until I got more hours at work and it all buggered up.

I don't have a day off any more but still sing in a choir, volunteer, garden and keep up with friends. With the kids (teens) we do a lot of day trips and have walked a long distance footpath together.

Not enough really.

I used to run and would be out for several hours but buggered my knees. I crochet, go out for walks and meals with DH. Try to get away regularly for a night or two.

I do swim in the sea occasionally but can feel my motivation waning as the temp drops. Need to be a bit firmer with myself really.

My default is quite sloth like really so I need a push to get moving most of the time I’m not working.

I work Mon-Fri 9-5 now so have less time than when I worked shifts.

decorate
walk
food shooping
batch cook
bake
housework

enough to do. More than enough!