What do you do in your 'spare time'?

[IhateSPSS]

Looking for a bit on inspiration really. This is not a working versus non-working/ competitively busy thread. I am interested in what you do when you don't have work/caring/household responsibilities? What do you enjoy? How much of it do you do?

I have realised that when I am not working/mothering all I really do is walk - I love walking and taking landscape photos but feel like I have become a bit one dimensional and I don't really get much pleasure from anything but looking at the countryside on my walks (I walk 35 miles a week, so takes approx 1.5 hours a day) and sex with DH which averages twice a week and makes up an hour of spare time at best I'd like to make better use of my spare time so I am more fulfilled so just wondering what others do?

I love walking as well. I often chat to family or listen to an audiobook when walking. This means I get to enjoy nature but also connect with faraway loved ones or learn something new.

Aside from that, I write, which is a sort of hobby-turned-job for me now. I started with committing to just 2 hours a week, and it's amazing how much you can get done in that time. I'm sure that goes for any hobby like crafting or learning something - just start with an hour or two and see where it takes you.

Most recently, I've started learning Spanish. I take one lesson every two weeks with a teacher and then do some exercises and reading most days.

@Katspin that is an amazing idea. I love writing too, but the thought of it overwhelms me as I write a lot at work. I will start with one hour a week, great tip. Thank you for posting :-)

Knit, crochet, spin, learn a new language.

For me it's mainly walking with the dog, reading and mumsnet. But I also usually have a series on the go - currently on Season 10 of Greys Anatomy and it's taken me about 8 months to get this far as I'd never watched until last year. It's a project 😂

I also walk while listening to a podcast. I like it because I'm getting fresh air and exercise but my mind is also occupied listening to something interesting. I view it as a bit of time out for myself.

I also go to the gym and lift weights. I enjoy seeing my progression of being able to lift heavier weights than I could previously and it makes me feel strong.

Other than that I spend time reading and read my Kindle every day and I like doing puzzles, I either have a puzzle magazine on the go or I do online puzzles. I particularly like buying a puzzle magazine, going to a café and sitting down doing some crosswords or something with a cup of coffee.

Walking, reading, cooking.

Knitting, cooking, gardening, reading, cycling, walking, exercise class, games, volunteering, brewing.

Jigsaws, sewing, podcasts, gardening, DIY, puzzles, volunteering (helping language students develop conversation skills, helping at a youth club, running a small library)

No problem! If you need inspiration, this is the free course that got me started in lockdown: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction

Ever since completing it in lockdown, I've been writing every week.

I volunteer with scouts and am a football season ticket holder.

Weightlifting at the gym, yoga classes, crochet, reading, seeing friends & family, playing with my foster cats, going to language class (Italian, one evening a week), feminist campaigning with my local Women’s Rights Network group, managing the website & social media for the cat shelter I volunteer for.

I’m happily single & childfree so quite a lot of my time is ‘spare time’ as you define it (is that why you used the quote marks in your title?) but still really busy!

Lots of dog walking, tennis, gym, run , I like to read , and I plan regular gigs/theatre visits - so love to browse online for nearby events to go to. We have quite recently moved to a different part of the UK so there are lots of new places/walks/venues to discover for me at the moment.

Walking, running and just getting into wild swimming, meet a group a couple of times a week. Also love the theatre but a few times a year treat.

Run, read, cook, bake

Exercise. Running, team sport and yoga.
Play guitar which I started learning in lockdown
Read
I also go to lots of concerts and to the theatre regularly.
Online Scrabble

Gym
reading
football

I think I was trying to define it as absolute spare time, where there are no demands on you, not just when you are at home but the kids/partner/pets/housework is in the background if you get what I mean? I was avidly trying to avoid the term 'me time' because I hate it

I'm trying to be busier in the time I have for myself because all I do is walk or go to the allotment, so I feel like I'm a crushing bore really when speaking to people. I used to live a very chaotic, rock and roll life in a different time and had lots of tales that people used to laugh at, but now I don't drink and socially I am struggling. So interesting to read how people fill their time.

Walking is wonderful!
For me it’s running and….
watching live video of arrivals/departures from various airports as well as having RadarBox open in a half-tab so I can see where the plane has come from/is going and what aircraft it is! I’ve become quite good at telling my Airbus A380 from my Boeing 787 lol.
I get especially excited if a Boeing 747 flies in as it’s my fave and there’s not many still flying. This hobby started when DS was born and I randomly watched an aviation documentary at silly o’clock when feeding him!