If you didn't need to work what would you do?

[RoseLoverrr]

Assuming you still had responsibilities like young children, partner, home etc, but you could afford not to work, what would you do with your time?

Eg how would you structure your day (around school drop / pick up) and what projects or activities would you do, in what order and for how long?

[There's a chance I might have a sabbatical opportunity and I'm thinking about how I could make the most of it. Got preschool / primary aged DC.]

Bump!

I would do some exercise every day.

I’d sign up to a weekly course of some kind - something creative.

I’d spend time doing my garden, maybe I’d volunteer somewhere. I’d read all the books I always mean to, I’d knit/crochet/sew more than I have time for. I might decorate my house.

If I had the money I’d also travel, both in the Uk and abroad :)

Gosh, theres a thought! No kids so school drop off etc not an issue. I love routine and like being fairly busy, so would need to do something at least 4 days a week. Maybe a mix of courses and volunteering with a charity. Cooking courses (lots of different cuisines), maybe train as a nail technician. Assuming money is no object, have a long weekend away once a month. Go to the gym 5 days a week.

I’d take a bit of time to improve my fitness - my favourite activity is hiking but it’s obviously a time consuming thing!

I’d also consider some further study, I’m fascinated by philosophy, psychology and linguistics so I’d look into avenues to delve into those academically.

And I’d probably look at volunteering, our local cat rescue is always looking for help.

It depends what you mean by "didn't have to work".

I don't have to work now. DP earns enough and would be very happy for me to jack in work <if only to stop me constantly complaining about work>
In that situation, I'd likely take on all/most of the housework, cleaning and life admin. So my days would have some of that in them. I'd also do the garden, I'd do an extra two session a week with my PT, I'd read, I'd finally write my novel, I'd take the dog out, I'd meet friends, I'd do more craft projects.

If we had enough that DP also gave up work then obviously we'd share life admin type stuff, and my days would have much more joint stuff with DP in them.

Definitely exercise
All those to do jobs you’ve never got round (decluttering, fixing things etc) to so you go back to work with a clean slate
Is there any building work you’ve been wanting to do? Now is a good time
Volunteering
Look into adult courses - although many run 9-5 or evenings which isn’t when you are free, but there may be some eg online that can be done whenever
Any interests you have let go during the small child years - creative, reading, gardening, cooking etc
Catch up with friends, if you have any who aren’t working FT
Yes as a pp said more of the life admin, cooking, housework etc will fall to you. Be careful this doesn’t become permanent.

You will be amazed how fast it goes. And if one is at pre school (half days?) that doesn’t really give you that much time.

I don't need to work for financial reasons .
However I do choose to work 3 days a week . I like meeting friends , exercising etc but I can't do it all week . Work gives me routine , social interaction and pride and purpose and I use my brain . I also work in a low paid "caring " profession so like to think I make some difference to people I work with.
I know it's a luxury to be able to choose but I'm definitely happier working than when I was at home all the time .

If I didn't need to work I'd probably still work.

Depends if you’d be taking the sabbatical for a purpose, like to do a course or something.

I would love to declutter and redecorate my whole house! That would keep me busy between school runs!

Personally I do have that option but choose to work around my kids schooling as it keeps me interesting.

Women I know that don’t officially work are either helping with husbands job or running the home/walking the dog/ going to the gym/having constant work done on the house and project managing it.

Exactly. Plus when you earn your own money you don’t have to justify spending it or frivolous nonsense and presents.

I had a few years of this. Here's what I did

Exercise

I learnt to run (C25K) with my dog, cannicross. Then every morning I'd do school drop off in running gear and with the dog, drop off at school and straight for a run.
• If I'd got stuff to do that day, just 5k (home within 30 mins)
• Average day would be 7-10k (home in around an hour, give or take)
• Some days as a 'treat' I'd spend the whole morning running and walking, a big 3h session.
Then home, shower, eat breakfast, feel smug about the number of steps I'd done

Food and Home

I cooked from scratch daily. At first I thought this would be a big chore but once in the swing, most meals only take 30 mins or so in the kitchen. Me bring home also meant we had very routined mealtimes - always 5.30pm

I'm not overly house proud do didn't go mad for a tidy home, but since I've been back at work these last 2y H and the kids have definitely noticed how much more they are required to do now I'm not doing it

Have more kids(!)

Eek. But yeah, I had two extra children. I'd have probs stuck at 2 if I had to work. Since I didn't, we have four now

Volunteering

I did several quite substantial voluntary roles. Not substantial as in lots of time, more lots of responsibility. These ultimately made up the majority of my CV when I did return to work. Mine were
• Local town councillor
• Chair and Vice Chair of Governors at two schools
• Sat on pupil exclusion panel and teacher disciplinary panel for both local multi academy trust and local council.
• Sat on the board for two local charities
• Commissioner and Head Office roles within Girlguiding (so not in units with girls, more on thr strategic planning side)
• Set up a new toddler and parent support group in my area, making sure policies, funding, finances and training were in place so it was legally compliant.

These weren't all heavy on my time - often only once a month/term. But because I did so many concurrently I had something on (often several) each week. Kept me busy, kept my mind working and also very good for transferable skills.

Learn New Skills

I taught myself coding, using online resources. Then built a few websites, for practice.

I read a lot on my favoured subjects (science, education, politics, current affairs) keeping abreast of new developments, reading journals and scientific papers etc. I also read a lot for fun too.

I ran a service business for a while. But it wasn't about making money, it was about keeping busy. I just made enough to cover costs plus a bit. I learnt how to do self assessment, accounts etc tho.

Embraced Solitude (with a bit of socialising)

I'm naturally an introvert, so for me I loved silence, solitude, calm and contentment of the daytimes. These were my priorities over big amounts of socialising. I can see other personality types would embrace daytime socialising ("Ladies That Lunch"). I did this every now and again but I think others would probably embrace socialising more than I did.

Sleep 🤣. Watch crap on TV. Knit. At the moment I dream of going on a retreat and just chilling out alone for a while.

I would foster loads of rescue kittens!

Assuming that I had the money and in my dreams, I would get a dog or maybe two, focus on my fitness, finally sort out my garden (patio needs replacing), do a Psychology course or similar, redecorate my house properly, visit lots of places in England for days or short breaks. In reality I would do none of those things and would spend my days stuck in front of the TV playing on my phone or laptop and wasting my life

Do a creative writing masters, try to make money from writing and also do some voluntary work.

This basically.. I tend to do sod all around the house if I don't work because there's always tomorrow to do it 🤣