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?

@LivingDeadGirlUK Thank you so much! I obviously cannot say anything for sure just yet because our little one isn’t born yet but don’t feel like it will be a time where everything stops and I won’t have the ability to do what I want anymore. I just see it as a different way of life and I’m looking forward to having a baby that doesn’t know anything yet to teach them what the world and the great outdoors really has to offer, the fact that they world is your oyster and you are free to explore every inch of it. I want to bring out their curiosity and drive to go out there and discover more! I know in the beginning it won’t be glorious or easy but as they grow I’m hoping they will be driven to go outside the box and see what the world has to offer.

@Cinnamonandcoal i read your response thinking 🧐 you didn’t read my last message at all about what interests me, but then when you ended it saying “but no, you are not going to find mountains” I started to wonder what the point of your reply actually was?

I have walked regents canal, and the zoo I don’t think should even exist let alone visit it but hey that’s me🤷🏽‍♀️. And I’d rather boat that canal than walk it but again that’s just me…

Greenways?! This seems like a random addition… a greenway is a shortcut from A to B, I wouldn’t list it as something to do especially since they are not somewhere I would be finding myself in the best of times! (When I was growing up they were very unsafe, no CCTV or lights and plenty of crimes committed.. now the police patrol our local ones so most certainly not a place to be!) You say there are wetlands in East London where I am, but where am I? East London can cover a lot of area and many are not close at all so saying things are near me just because it’s east London doesn’t make sense. Epping forest I use to go to as a kid and we would drive there! It’s also in Essex not London. Hampstead heath is north London and Richmond park is South… At least if I went to Greenwich park I could walk the whole way there in the underpass which would take me to all the museums, galleries, cuttys ark and other stuff I already mentioned not being interested in.

And yes I know you can visit things more than once you know, but you have to have a interest in those things to be taking yourself back there in the first place, I can understand going the one time and realising you don’t like it but there is no need to keep going back hoping there is something there you missed that you might like.

and free cultural stuff?! This country is built on a load of other cultures coming together. I’m from the Caribbean which has a very rich and diverse culture that is hard to find elsewhere, likewise many cultures are nothing like they actually are in their homeland and so I’d rather visit their countries, and learn how they live and their way of life instead of learning about the cultures mixed with British (also many cultures cannot be found here) but if that rocks your boat then go ahead by all means!

@WinnieFosterReads yeah i have been doing my driving lessons and have another test booked in April after failing 2 already but during covid I’m having to wait 5 months between finding another test which is putting me backwards each time and I’m also having to sit them at random locations I don’t know so that’s great. I have my access course starting next month then baby due 5 months after so anything to fill my time in between then is what I’m looking at.

You sound very unrealistic.

I'm sure lots of people would ideally like to travel the whole world experiencing other places and cultures rather than staying in London (or wherever). That's not possible, but exploring what London has to offer in terms of cultural diversity can also be fun and interesting. Around me there are communities (and therefore food shops) from various places - African, Carribbean, South American, Portuguese and other European. Lots of recipes online. Just a suggestion.

Greenways - maybe we mean something different. Look at eg the Green Chain walks, they are walks across areas of London primarily through green spaces. Not dangerous.

You say that my suggestions are all over London and that the ones in East London aren't close to you. Sure, you will need to get on a bus or a tube, and pay for that. But what on earth do you think happens outside cities? You need to drive places which also costs money. You sound like to have the time to go exploring if you had the drive/imagination/desire to do so.

You obviously don't like my suggestions which is fine, but I think you're overlooking a lot while pining for some kind of fantasy land of international wild scenery which doesn't require any travel.

Look, don't worry about replying to me. We obviously have different perspectives so can leave it at that. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Yy I guess I was making the point that since two of your activities overlapped with what I did, you might like some of the other things I did too.
I hope you find something and enjoy this time. Life will be much busier when your baby arrives

Not a hopper bus @Tropicaliyes, the hopper fare on regular TFL buses. So long as it's within the hour you can hop on and off buses, rather than paying repeat fares for separate buses. If money is the more pressing issue than time, it makes for a cheap way of getting around.

@Cinnamonandcoal I don’t see how I’m being unrealistic just because I’m saying that really and truthfully London is not all what it’s cut out to be! Everyone can have a difference in opinions just like we do but there is no point splitting hairs and going on as if to say that because you like I should like and vice versa.

maybe it’s unrealistic for you to be able to travel around and see more than what is in your own back garden but the fact of the matter is that if you grew up in London and was already an outdoorsy type of person that had explored most of what London had to offer, then there is nothing wrong with wanting to move on to stuff more further afield.

As for the “Green ways”… your now saying Green Chain Walks🤔 They are two very different things, in two different places that are nothing alike! I did Google it like you advised me to and found it’s on the other side of the river and is a stretch of scenic walks and such.. the greenway however is very different, here is a link Greenway which shows you the vast difference between the two.

If you had read the rest of my threat, location, travel and cost has already been mentioned plenty of times. It’s all well and good finding somewhere to go each day but if I’m doing a daily commute out to these places the price will add up in no time. If I was to go outside of the city I would do the one time commute, book somewhere to stay for a period and explore what it has to offer over the course of the time I’m there before travelling back home, no way would I be commuting from London to wherever daily just to see what is there.

This is the difference between going on holiday and choosing a beach holiday, going on an action packed holiday or choosing a sight seeing package.. different people will chose different things and there is nothing wrong with that.

“You sound like to have the time to go exploring if you had the drive/imagination/desire to do so.” What is that supposed to mean?

I didn’t say I wouldn’t travel, I said I was looking for something to do daily and so whatever it is, needs to be affordable. Your suggestions of the “Green chain walks” was reasonable, if I was in south east London it would be a great alternative to the local parks to take the dog on a walk but with my inability to walk longer than 30 minutes without excruciating pain, it isn’t so doable from here (but once I’m driving I will certainly check it out).

@WinnieFosterReads I think when the baby comes it would be great to do Geocaching with them, orienteering is a handy skill to have. Driving will be my pass out of the city to find things further afield but I’m not sure when that will be as it’s been a long time since I originally started now. I’m sure when that time comes I will find enough to do but until then I will enjoy my free time since everyone has been saying it is something I will miss 😬.

@PinkArt ooh your talking about the daily or weekly fare cap! Yes on a bus that is only in effect for an hour. This is quite handy providing you time it right, not in rush hour and don’t have much waiting between buses because I have had times where I have been stuck in traffic on one bus and then the next bus is delayed so I miss that cap. The trains I think will cap a little over £7 something however there are a few times I have been charged way over (even recently) just going/coming back from my appointment which again peak and off peak times can affect pricing. I for sure wouldn’t be doing trips like that daily as times that by 2 people and it’s not cheap. But does for sure make it a lot cheaper indeed!

I never understand the point of posts like these - OP asks question, people give interesting, relevant answers, then OP lists a multitude of reasons why she cannot possibly do any of the things people suggested, and insults posters into the bargain.

We get it OP. London's shit and there's nothing you can possibly do to get any enjoyment out of it.

Perhaps you should move?

OP you keep mentioning rush hour/peak travel times but one of the advantages of not working is that you can avoid having to travel at rush hour.

Reading your posts it’s increasingly clear it’s a mindset thing rather than a lack of things to do. You’re finding a problem for every solution. I wish you well and good luck for a smooth easy birth, and I hope one day you find yourself living somewhere you enjoy as it seems London isn’t for you.

Ok thanks

Also wanted to add, London has nothing to do with the post, it just keeps being brought up because we have many tourist attractions here and inner city stuff, fact of the matter is had I not of mentioned my Location things like museums and galleries and whatnot wouldn’t have come up as much as they are.

In my OP I mentioned looking for things to do with my dog, which is why canoeing even came up as it was an activity that could include him, same as me mentioning the walks and parks , it’s dog friendly. I can’t take my dog to most of the suggested outdoor things. Agility, training, bigger parks, green spaces and waterways have been the only suitable places I can take him.

I can take on the things to do indoors for myself and even some stuff that would be great when the baby comes but the fact of the matter is, I brought up the dog because regardless of what I do, he cannot be left home alone for too long as many dog owners know they can become destructive , make a load of noise, toilet in the house and all sorts just because of being alone all day. To go out without him I would have enough time to maybe grab a bite to eat, do a quick mooch around, maybe even pick some items up from the local shops but for sure not leaving him longer than about 3-4 hours without there being issues made.

I don’t see this being much of a issue because with a new baby I would not be taken out the house for too long even if we left him, most things he can come to and even travelling i mentioned before that he will come also. He has been mentioned in many of my replies actually.

I also haven’t insulted anyone 🧐 there is no point making “suggestions” if your not willing to hear me say if it’s something I would do or not, after all if everyone gave me ideas and I just said “thanks” the reception wouldn’t be great from that either as I’m also not listening to people. People ask my interests, I tell them and I’m being “difficult” simply because they cannot list anything that could match those and I should just be grateful I’m in “London” where there are interesting things for other people🤷🏽‍♀️.

Anyway thanks for everyone telling me how you spend your days (as that didn’t include needing to give ME suggestions), I enjoyed reading what you all get up to and got some ideas of things to try myself or to try later on when I have the ability to and those that gave suggestions that could possibly match what I would like, I really appreciate that.

Christ OP, don't take the fucking bus then! So many ideas from people about what to do, how to keep costs down etc and it feels like you've just waved them all away. I can sense how frustrated you seem, but it very much sounds like none of us can give you whatever it is you're actually looking for, which I think isn't actually ideas of what to do but a space to vent.

Disclaimer: I work full time and have 4 dc so I rarely/ never get chance to do anything besides work/ housework/ admin/ kids. But in my imagination, if I had time I’d….
Take my book to a cafe or park and read there.
ride horses occasionally
Write (and rewrite) a novel.
Stroll around a museum occasionally.
Join the library (it only opens when I’m in work)
Volunteer at a food bank once a week (or, on a PP’s suggestion, at a school listening to children read) or as a befriender.
Swim.
Learn a language on Duolingo.
Dye my hair, paint my nails, do skincare, basically give myself a little attention.
Plan holidays/ days out/ something to look forward to.
Redecorate the neglected bits of my house.

I don't live near London

However, I follow several groups on social media

Perhaps they will inspire you ?

Mudlarking finds in rivers & seas

Litter picking & art made out of it

Photography

Hidden history & places in London

Walking groups

Yellow sticker groups

Charity knitting groups

Travel & holiday groups

Yes, except she has cheap social housing there, so probably won’t move. No one could get bored in London. It’s ridiculous. There’s loads of stuff to do here. Very sad that you have no interest in Art, museums, theatre, music etc. perhaps try to expand your horizons and show an interest in the culture of the country you live in.

@Howmanysleepsnow Im looking into some horse riding places i can go to (that was listed in my interests) and some would allow me to bring the dog along also which is a win win.

I use to write, which is why I don’t do it now, but I’m looking at getting some published as i sold a few to friends which they seemed to love so might be a possibility.

I have already taken the PP’s advice on the Befriender as it really interested me as well as some other opportunities they had available on their website for the future too, just waiting a response now.

I mentioned I was going to resume my swimming but at some outdoor Lidos as I didn’t want to be indoors with covid and no mask.

Im also quite far with doing Chinese on Duolingo already and about to start a uni course next month.

Im in the process of doing my house over to get ready for the baby and need more storage places so redecorating and doing the place up so I can move this year or early next

And I also plan to travel this year, said I wanted to explore different parts of the UK especially down south and take the baby along when the time is right.

@Angel0ftheMiddleEarth where can i go to find more about these? I tried a google search and have come up with all sorts of random stuff and information about them but nothing on how I can take part in them? Im not on Social media either but wondering if the groups and such are in a specific place I can find them?

@PinkArt Im not sure what warranted that response! My reply to you didn’t say anything about me not going to use the bus, I was agreeing i knew what you was referring to with the hopper bus thing.. I was explaining it was handy that it existed but said it has to be planned out and timed correctly (and explained timed it didn’t quite work out for me). I mentioned the train and how the fair on there added up on recent trips and that I personally wouldn’t do reoccurring trips those daily… But okay if you feel your response was acceptable for how I replied to you 👍

@FrownedUpon excuse you?! How dare you imply because of social housing that is what is keeping me here! Like thats not insulting in itself! yet I don’t say anything like this and I’m the one insulting others!

Social housing exists all over the country so has shit all to do with London and meaning I can’t possibly leave to go somewhere else. You don’t know my financial situation so don’t assume you know anything about me. How incredibly rude of you!

I have so much more I can say to you but you know what, your not worth it, I wont even stoop to your level! So bye 👋

Sounds like you have a lot of my fantasy life planned out! Please let me know if the reality lives up to my imagination.

@Howmanysleepsnow haha i will let you know, im determined enough to make it work, just need to figure out how but will let you know for sure. Thanks