What to do on garden leave?

[RosannaRosanna]

I've got 2 months garden leave coming up and want to make sure I'm not just sat at home or doing housework! I have a four year old and am thoroughly burnt out from a stressful job, so I want to make the most of this rest.

I will be free from 8-5 each day while my child is in childcare, and don't drive, so I can get a train into London or get myself to bluewater but that's pretty much it (public transport is awful round here) No nice parks or walks that I can get to without a car. All my friends and family will be at work so I'll be on my own.

Aside from job hunting, what should I do with this free time???

if you’d like to drive but never got around to learning, maybe take a block of driving lessons during your time off?

Think about what you enjoy doing now.
Then think about what you enjoyed doing pre kids.
Is it possible to mix those two things up to ensure max enjoyment?

Also you have the equivalent of the Summer holidays! How many adults can say that? Are you likely to get it again?

Read books & watch films you have never had time for. Go to museums where you can stroll by yourself without questions.

If you can access London there are so many things you can do. Museums are free, some art galleries as well. You are getting paid anyway so take your favourite book to a tea shop or for lunch. You can google which one on the train!

Also if you are knackered in general, have a day each week that you drop DC off, go home, get in your jamas and nap or watch shite on the tv.
Be perfectly dressed at collection. No one will know and no one will one to hear about another museum or tea shop

Hope you have a great time OP. Think we all need this between school and retirement!

Couch to 50k
Declutter everything
Have Christmas ready and be insufferably smug
Do Nanowrimo, if it appeals

Or do the Artist’s Way if that appeals

I'm in a similar situation. Tbh I've been pretty lazy most of the time but I've also done a ton of clearing out (mix of charity shop, vinted and those apps where you scan books and computer games etc). I still have high hopes of redecorating a couple of rooms but time is ticking on that score. Oh and I've been running a bit

Couch to 50k?! 😁

I wouldn’t sort Christmas etc. That’s wifework, just getting ahead.
Do something just for you. Is there a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, or a course or something? If you start now you’ll be in the routine of going when you’re back at work. Think about things you used to do before kids. You lose a lot of yourself once you’ve had children. Time to do something for yourself,

I would do a mixture of stuff for pure pleasure and some practical projects walking in woodland, reading, an exercise or art class or both. Then some sorting out cupboards and having a big throw out.

Gym, yoga, reading and learning a new skill.

I’m jealous! I’d

• take dc out of childcare one day a week to hang out. I wish I could have done this (mine are older now)
• sort through 20 years of iPhoto! Print some out.
• get photos and all the pictures I have sitting in poster rolls framed and put up
• do something cultural at least once a week in London (exhibition, daytime film at BFI, theatre matinee, etc)
• read through the piles of books I optimistically buy but never have time for
• exercise at a civilised time of day, instead of having to get up at 6am to fit it in before school run and work
• sea swim 3x per week
• play the piano every day
• have a general house sort out - doing a little bit a couple of times a week
• have lunch/coffee with friends who aren’t at work during day/ my mum
• lots of cooking and bread making

I could go on!

To stop yourself doing housework all the time I would read the organised mum method. You'll have time for boot camp!

I would get a bullet journal if you don't already have one.

I think learning to drive would be good.

Some sort of exercise.

Check prices on utilities and see if you can get them cheaper.

Read.

Cook good food

Sounds fabulous! I'd pull DS out of nursery for fun days out a couple of times a week and reduce hours on other days. Then, intersperse with things I don't usually get time for like reading some really long books, swimming everyday, and visiting some local places that are not massively child-friendly (like a couple of galleries with fragile items not behind glass!). Decorating is also a good practical idea or redoing the garden

I’ve heard the term gardening leave in the same terms as yours but also suspension so good to clarify which!
I’d do something like a London day (museums, parks, just wandering round looking at stuff) once a week with the little one, I know it’s not as much fun but you’ll never get this time back and one day in 5 to yourself is plenty of time to allow for this! I’d probably spend a day a week pottering about the house clearing out a random cupboard, organising small areas, just a dedicated ‘home jobs’ kind of day, prioritise seeing a family member or friend (lunch or something) one day a week, 2 days where I gym and then relax! Obviously loads of other things can be slotted inbetween but I don’t cope without some kind of structure for weeks on end so would like a loose plan in mind. Could be a great opportunity to catch up on any books you’ve been meaning to read for a while - I have a whole pile by the side of my bed which is as tall as my bedside table now 😂
whatever you do, enjoy it!

Well that shows how familiar I am with it.

If you want t

Do some courses?

For pleasure / for work skills / for interest / for new creative skills / for fitness

Sorry, sausage fingers.

If you want to learn to drive, this would be a good time. You could do a weeks intensive course or blocks of lessons. If public transport is so shit, sounds like it'll be worth it.

Reading, reading, some sketching, and more reading 😀

I’m a bit weird but I would go to court and sit and listen to some cases at the Old Bailey. Appreciate that’s not everyone’s cup of tea!

I'd head off to beautiful places and walk them. I live in London but loved when I was between jobs going to Avebury, the Ridgeway, the South Downs and Dungeness for a day trip. Just walking and exploring.

Oh and art galleries.

Definitely legoland. I took my son alone the first time we went!

If you’ve been burnt out please don’t give yourself a long list of jobs. Have some days (or weeks) to mooch, to read, to just BE! To vegetate in front of Netflix.

I would take my child out of childcare and spend time together before they start school.
Failing that I would do lots of fitness, read lots of books, write, and learn how to play the piano. I would also invest in friendships, visiting as many friends as I could and writing to those I couldn't.

Erm what? Is this a thing? 🤔