What do you do with your days when you don’t work or if your not in work?

[Tropicaliyes]

So I’m curious how everyone spends their days?

especially when you don’t have a job or when you have time off for whatever reason what does your day look like?

I am looking for things to do, I’m a homebody due to long term health issues however as imagined it’s incredibly tedious waking up to do the same thing day in day out.

I live in London and find there isn’t anything to do. I’m not someone that goes shopping for clothes or other stuff and even so that’s not a daily activity.

I have a dog and so have looked far and wide for things to do with him and in the summer found canoeing and my partner and I took our dog and we all enjoyed that, however it was expensive and now it’s cold I’m less likely to put up with being cold and wet (and pregnant).

I also somehow ended up with feet issues at the beginning of last year when I decided to take our dog on daily 2 hr walks in the wrong foot ware now causing long term foot pain even with the thickest insoles I can find (which gives me about half an hour of walking before the pain kicks in). So those walks don’t happen now and even at the time the same route over and over was starting to get to me as not many walking routes are okay where I am because of main roads, motorways or many dead ends (most people take their dogs to the local park and just keep walking in circles!)

Id love to find something to do when I am going out as I hate leaving home without a purpose, at the same time when I am at home I’m feeling cooped up, trapped, irritated with the endless cycle but at the same time I’m loosing motivation to keep trying to conjure up things to do.

what do you do?

Oh I also forgot to add, I don’t have friends and family to be visiting them or spend time with them either so that’s not an option either unfortunately.

I'm not sure there are that many people who don't work or have kids etc to fill their time up, but I might be wrong. You could try jigsaws? Or do some volunteering or something? What are your interests?

My days filled with cleaning a house, sorting appointments, ironing ect because i have a little one. However, what about volunteering? Contacting the local foodbank, homeless team ect. Adult colouring in books, jigsaws, netflix series, paint by numbers, gem art, self care, listen to a podcast, socialise with others online, arrange meet ups for coffees ect

I was coming to post almost the exact same thing.

When I worked part time, I would do housework. Today, I’m at home for the first time with no one else at home and I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to do housework (doesn’t need it for once) and, while there are things I could do, I don’t want to do jobs for the sake of it.

I've been for a walk and don’t want to go outside again for a bit. Reading/ being on here feels like I'm wasting my life and I have no money until payday, so I want to avoid shops.

Even being with the family is difficult at home. We go out for walks/ bike rides etc. but being at home is strange. Don't always want to 'do something', but sitting/ TV feels lazy.

Sorry. I don’t think I’ve been much help!

Online dating?

I figured there would be stay at home mums/dads, and as much as they will have kids to keep them occupied, you will still need things to do with them as even keeping them indoors would get to be too much for many people.

even so, when your on your days off what do you do? Just stay at home relaxing?

my partner and I plan to buy some bikes that can take us to different places and give us something to do while keeping fit, but we have a space issue in our flat so it’s not something we can just go and do without making space for the bikes at home first.

I don’t really feel like I have any interests anymore. I use to do puzzles, and even bought a sewing machine to make blankets but again space has been a issue so I don’t have a table to use it on (I was using it on a board on our bed which was bad for my back).

I work part time but outside that I volunteer for a charity a couple of hours a week (from home), sort out and attend appts for my SEND children, usual cleaning and life admin (yawn), sometimes meet my mum for lunch or just pop in for a cuppa, ferry my son to 6th form occasionally and also knit/cross stitch/crochet. Knitting or crochet might be worth a try now you have a little one on the way?

I was actually debating posting something similar when I spotted this! I’m in the same boat. Too unwell to work but feeling fed up now and want to start having a life.

Do you have any interests? I’ve been looking at Meetup and there’s lots of interesting groups on there for crafting, drawing, board game meet-ups, hiking, language groups, social meets at a local pub. I’m also looking at studying part time just for fun, if I can find a flexible college who’ll allow me to study from home on bad days. Cooking classes, learning an instrument, visiting the theatre, yoga classes, escape rooms, visiting national trust sites, therapy, volunteering with a local food bank or charity or getting involved with your local library. It all depends on what you’d enjoy really but there’s lots of choice out there, especially in London.

I read alot, I play video games.

But ti be honest, if I have time from work and kid stuff I'm usually so exhausted the idea of collapsing on the sofa in front of the tv for hours is utter bliss!!

I run a martial arts club so am out a few times a week doing that. Could you join some classes, or start volunteering?

Read! Read books. Go for a book a day. Pick a subject, download the book — easier than ever! This is what I do on my time off (ideally with a book and occasionally some chocolate/biscuits!).

draw. Get some pens and start drawing. Draw your dog. Draw your face. I see you like sewing, so also: needlework?!

plan. Brainstorm your future. Who or what would you like to be or be doing? Make a bucket list.

write. Write stories, poetry, diary entries.

Study. Watch ted talks, online courses in subjects that interest you.

and then, have some good food (read a cook book and make something nice, or just buy something nice!) and then end the day with a bath, op it’s tough having foot probs in a small flat (I relate!) but there are lots of things you can do from your bed/chair.

reading is never a waste of time!

I walk a lot & go swimming. I also meditate & have started yoga. Otherwise I read, listen to audiobooks, cook, garden & feed the birds. I like planning days out & weeks away.

I quite like cross stitching to keep my hands busy. Reading as well. I do a lot of gardening when I don’t have my children with me.

Have you been to see a doctor about your feet? Having a child means you never really get to sit down again so you probably need to get that sorted given you say you are pregnant.

In London? I'd spend a lot of my time in galleries and museums.

I am a SAHM with just one school aged child. During school term I have about 5 hours during the day (the time between when i get home from drop-off to when I leave for pick-up). I spend about 2 hours cleaning, then 1 hr watching TV and some days an hour might be home admin stuff. During other parts of the day I crochet, read books and learn French (DuoLingo). I also started to learn the piano (app based). I have a dog that needs exercising (dog park or walk) plus I have time to do a short workout too.

I live in London and find there isn’t anything to do.

I don't understand this. This is literally the most exciting city in the world. I am just going to list the free things: galleries, museums, talks, book clubs,fringe theatre, sport clubs, volunteering, Parkrun....

I have kids, so I was always looking after them, when they were little it was toddler groups and playmates. Now they are back home and I home educate.

I had a year when there were all at school, and apart from cleaning tidying and sorting the house, I had many things I volunteered at.
I still ran one of the toddler groups I had run when my kids were there, so as well as actually doing the session, I would be planning the next one, sorting out a craft or activity.

I'm very involved in a church. So again there was youth group activities to plan and lead. A Carol service to organise, etc. But also coffee mornings and weekday services if I wanted them.

I suppose it depends on your health. Could you volunteer at a food bank or a toddler group, do the admin and bookings for a local community hall, run the Facebook page for a local group, be on the committee of the local scout group or parish council/local government etc?

I work from home and I sometimes have days with nothing to do. The best thing I ever did was join my local council gym, which cost like £30 a month and included swimming and daily pilates, yoga and fitness classes. I love the classes and having got into a routine with them where I know the teachers and some of the other members, I enjoy going and could happily attend one or more classes every day. When I first signed up years ago I did it out of a sense that I 'should' be fit, but zero enthusiasm for actual fitness activities, but over time I have come to love it. So, that's what I like to do in my spare time, and I can highly recommend it.

I look after my baby 2 days a week but when she naps i try to batch cook.

Saturdays I'm involved with parkrun whether that be running, touring or volunteering

I am astounded that you can't find anything to do in London or do you have any issue with any travelling (noting that, like me, you have "problem" feet so don't want to spend hours walking)? There are loads of free museums, churches, art galleries etc and it is much nicer to do them in smaller "chunks" if you have the time - I did the Tate Modern over six months - a couple of galleries a visit. Loads are accessible by tube. There are often free lunchtime concerts up at the Southbank and the Barbican. I spend the journey up to town people watching or getting on with my (very very basic) knitting or reading. Another thing I did when on enforced health related leave was the whole of the Dishoom cookbook - literally did every recipe (including the cocktails). I have never done that with a cook book before - I always tended to cook the same things. It also meant I went out to shop for ingredients in the shops which the local Indian restaurants use - that was an education in itself. Gym every other day makes the subscription to the local council one worth the money - it includes classes. Have also done a few different adult education classes. If you aren't earning then some places offer free places - always useful to learn a new skill and they are at set times so get you out of the house.

ive also just realised you want things to do outside the home! In London you are absolutely spoilt for choice. Go to every gallery, museum in town. A day at the V&A then a day in Greenwich etc.

Go on an adult learning course thar interests you (eg city lit have loads - day courses, or termly courses!) . Or research your local library/further education centres where you live. You’ll also meet new people this way. Eg sewing, pottery, small business course, whatever floats your boat.

volunteer at your local food bank, or charity shop.Or ask your local primary school if they need any volunteer readers or etc. again, you’ll meet new people, but you’ll also be doing something really great!

if you just want to chill, but not be “alone”, sit in your local cafe/library and read a new book.

i love just wandering round town, ideally with my OH or a friend, but your feet and pregnancy might make that hard!

There are so many things in. London! At any one time, there will be a free lecture on in one of the universities or museums/galleries/public spaces.

Ypu need a big long list of things you can do so that on each day you can pick the one you are in the mood for!

Live drawing classes at the local art school? Sketching around London where you turn up with a pad and paints or book a small lesson in the gardens by Charing Cross.

Have you visited all the markets? They are full of treasures and characters!

In the summer, you can learn the flying trapeze in Kensington. That’s one the think about🤣

So many art galleries and exhibitions, so many museums. So many quirky old book shops ( have you visited all/any of them)?

What about the magic shop off Leather Lane where people gather to chat/hear stories/learn from the guy who runs it. They gave me a cup of tea last time I was there - it’s very friendly.

Concerts in churches - the best acoustics. The Royal Philharmonic have just announced their 2023 dates and will play St Paul’s next Christmas with John Rutter - cheap tkts still available. Even if you know nothing of his hymns it is a beautiful place to be and the RPO Christmas nights are stunning.

Out door concerts in the Spring/Summer - lots of 80s bands are playing plus there are always pub gigs.

Cinema in the park?

Have you really got to know the British Museum? You need lots of visits to start to make sense of it all as there is so much there- have you looked at the Rosetta Stone? The Nineveh friezes? Have you taken time to really appreciate that we have these artefacts here, in our city, and can freely just visit them and learn about what they mean?

London Zoo ( not too sure about this one but I guess it’s important they get some funding) - Hornimams and it’s breeding programme. The London Aquarium,Shakespeares London, old London off the embankment where the Oxi Tower is and you can walk on to the river bed when the water is out.

Day trips from London - Darwin’s home in Kent, Oxford ( an hour away), Winchester ( 50 mins on train).

I can’t tell you any more as they are secret but you have to find the hidden London that works for you - it might be a jazz bar, a gallery, a magic shop, a weird and wonderful hobby place, a choir but then all of a sudden it all falls into place here.

Don’t forget open water swimming on the Thames, rowing and skiing.

🙂

I work full time so I catch up on housework, shop, run, cycle with ds, practise karate and see friends and family.

But when I was furloughed, and I wasn't allowed to work, I redecorated the house, weeded the garden, planted a hedge, grew fruit & veg, more running & cycling, helped ds with school work, read books, explored my local woodland & canals.

Get an old fashioned paper ordinance survey map from Smiths and explore your area. There is loads on there that we normally miss.

Lots of community gardens to volunteer at and some really lovely places that are trusts/National Trust that give you benefits, training, etc - they make you feel connected to the area in different ways.

Roughly where are you in London?