What type of outing? How would you spend time locally?

[BallerinaFall]

I am a single woman in her 40's, restarting life again.

Last year I experienced severe burnout, following a lot of issues. So when I say restarting life again, I mean from scratch. I currently am unemployed and looking, live alone, and don't have many connections to my local area, bar 1 relative. I used to manage a 40 hour a week career in the early years, working 4 days, plus a normal social life, I used to go to meetups in my previous town - I have moved across the country.

I explained it like, I used to have a full pizza and now I have the tiny sliver left over at the end of the meal.

My doctor suggested a befriending scheme, as I currently feel like the new girl who joined mid year during year 9, and has no idea about anything. I have just spoken to someone and they suggested that this befriending service could help me access things in the community and maybe I could make a list of what I like to do, or what I might like to do.

But I have no clue; I used to like to go out for brunch, go see an exhibition, go to the theatre and cinema, I like swimming, exploring new towns, just before my breakdown I travelled Australia solo for a month. I keep meaning to go to an exercise class.

So what hobbies do you guys have or want to try?

If you went out for a couple of hours in your local community where would it be?

What type of activities might I be able to do alone, or with the help initially from another unknown adult.

Definitely sign up for some form of exercise, yoga or pilates class. While they're not social events you will benefit from the activity and being around other people. There is usually some small talk at the beginning or end too.

See if there's any Meetup or social Facebook groups in your area. Ditto volunteering, either for a voluntary or charity group. Volunteering in a charity shop will help make you a familiar face in your area.

After that plan solo activities of all the things you enjoy, even if your start small by going for a coffee and people watching.

It will take time, some disappointment and knock backs, but it will be worth it in the long run. I wish you all the best, remember the worst has already happened so it's onwards and upwards from here.

Solo activities I do - walking, gym, browsing bookshops, lunch/coffee and people watching, shopping, visit local attractions, museums, galleries etc, cinema, drives to whenever takes my fancy, solo holidays.

If no one is available or interested I just go it alone.

I joined a choir. Singing is good for the soul.

Do you like reading?

Book clubs are always a good bet if you do as they aren't focussed on people iyswim? Nice easy way onto meeting people.

Or local WI?

If you like swimming why don't you see if local clubs have a masters swim group? You can be as easy going - or even compete - as you like.

What about evening classes at the local college? They do baking, flower arranging or even computer skills if you want to improve knowledge for job prospects.

I would join something regular that has an opportunity to mingle as well as taking part in an activity:

Nordic walking - very social as people walk and chat for an hour. Plenty of walks to choose from across the week and weekend.

Join a group for something you are interested in - a craft or local history or sport.

One thing with a social aspect is to volunteer as a backstage runner for local amateur dramatic groups.

Something social and useful -WI, Zonta, Rotary, charity shop, choir, community garden, hospital auxiliary shop, whatever.

Something solitary - walking, reading through a list, evensong if I lived handy to one.

A handicraft for your at home time.

See what is available and choose one of each.

To be honest, id have to say, don't rush it, don't force yourself to join every social club because that's what you think you should do.

I feel you need to try to reset yourself, take some time out, do what YOU want to do, it might be nothing at all, it might be to go for a walk in the countryside, give yourself a bit of time to think, to process about restarting life again, and i bet you'll begin to feel better about where to go from there.

Paddle boarding , peaceful calming good social scene of you want it. I have a really stressful job and a five year old but I'm never calmer than when I'm on the water

I'm a sahm with school aged dcs, so I spend a lot of time doing day time activities on my own. Over the years I've enjoyed doing art classes, gym classes, swimming, visiting gallery/museum exhibitions, watching films and plays, other college classes like pottery or photography, dance classes, public lectures, taking a walk exploring a different neighbourhood. For me I'm quite introverted and like having time to myself so I'm not seeking any social contact.