Pep me!

[Summershame]

I’m a 46yr old single parent and I’m in a rut. I’m spending way too much time indoors / sitting around and it’s making me bored and lazy and just feeling flat. Not depressed, just meh.

I’m not talking about social life - I have one of those - I just mean hobbies/ things you do which make you feel inspired and give you life. I do no exercise but haven’t for years and don’t really know where to start and I’ve never enjoyed it!

I don’t know what I’m asking really, I just feel I need to do SOMETHING but don’t know how to start.

any tips, ideas or inspo? Anything that’s changed your life?

Art classes have changed my life. 20 quid for two hours once a week. I’m amazing myself with the progress I’m making, and I’ve met some really great people.

Regular exercise is a life changer. I started with yoga, progressed to running, then weight training with a PT and I also have a stationary bike. I only started taking it seriously in my 40s.

Wild swimming. I bought a wetsuit on a whim and swim March - October. I paddle-board, too.

Teach yourself a musical instrument. I bought a guitar and learned a few chords. It’s very absorbing. I’m crap though!

Just a few ideas!

thanks @LunaNorth that sounds great! Where do you do your art classes?

I’m disabled and pretty much house bound, I do a lot of baking I love making bread and pasta is so satisfying and the best thing is it provides a nice meal fir the family.

i sew, dress making and patchwork a bit but I mostly do embroidery. But nothing beats cooking as far as I’m concerned, it can be good exercise kneading bread and the results are enjoyable.

Thanks @Floranan - I’m really not a cooking person though!

Get yourself some penis.

@CosySwan I think becoming trans is a hobby too far thanks

A local artist runs a studio near me. I just googled ‘art classes near me’ and he popped up.

If you’re anywhere near York, I strongly recommend him!

@LunaNorth unfortunately not, in London - but I guess there must be loads if I actually look!

Get a dog. Will change your life for the better, guaranteed. Oh, and I am also learning a language through Duolingo with a view to going to conversation classes soon.
A friend of mine took up the piano - loves it.
Another friend took up wild swimming. She lives in the north of Scotland though, so is clearly bonkers.

Art is a great suggestion, there might be drop in life drawing classes or a course as pp suggested. It’s really nice for the mental state and often you find yourself with something you’re proud of creating, even if you don’t think of yourself as arty.

also in London, have a look at places like the Shala or Triyoga for different sorts of classes- “yoga” can be movement of course, but there’s fast and slow, different styles of movement or relaxation; and then things like Kirtan which is singing/chanting, sound baths, meditation… even if you’re not a fan of exercise it might offer you something you haven’t experienced before.

finally if you are near a park or canal, could you just go for a walk? Maybe count your steps, or count different birds, or just walk somewhere you haven’t been before? Keep it simple, like.

There’ll be tons! Good luck!

You need some mental
Stimulation.
Any subjects that you'd like to learn more about?

Dog is a great idea.

I get energy from exercise. I know you say you don't like it but I swear it will change your life. Doesn't have to be anything dramatic, just a walk or a ten minute yoga video on YouTube.

Also finding a nice recipe and making it and eating it.

And going for a nice massage or just getting my nails done for a tenner occasionally.

Or going to art galleries and museums - I'm in London too and there are so many amazing ones that cost nothing.

Why don't you volunteer? Social interaction AND doing good would make you feel amazing.

Dog defo not for me as I’m out too much in evenings and I have a cat!

@PerambulationFrustration my job is quite cerebral so I think I probably need more physical stimulation than mental but a good general tip.

Thanks all some great ideas here. lots to look into!

Another +1 here for volunteering. I teach music once a week for two hours in a women’s prison and play the organ on Sundays in my local church.

I wandered into my local church one Sunday morning a few years ago and after chatting to the priest for a while he asked if I’d like a go on the organ. It was an instant win-win because it meant that the congregation got a regular(ish) organist and I got permission to play more or less whenever I wanted to outside of mass hours. They’re also very generous around Christmas and Easter etc.

Another +1 for some kind of sport too. As a newcomer the gym or running etc will take a little bit of dedication but you will thank yourself later on. For me the main attraction was/is the social aspect (I live in a foreign country and knew nobody when I moved here), but the health benefits are great too.

I second arty classes - the local community college to me runs pottery courses, with full on kilns and professional teachers (ie, not just painting a pre made plate)

it's been so totally absorbing and I've learnt so much. 3 hours every Wednesday evening just disappears

Sorry, on the sport aspect I was referring to run clubs!

Currently I find it hard to commit to regular weekly things as I have my child different nights each week. When she’s a bit older I should be able to do more of these.

I'm going to second @Purplecatshopaholic and suggest Duolingo but with an end goal. Book a city break somewhere for a few months time and decide you will be able to order food, make enquiries, read basic signage in that language. It will energise you to keep practising and you'll have a great sense of achievement when you get there.