How can I spend 200 hours of free time this year?

[ouipamplemousse]

I had signed up to volunteer with a charity, which required me to book off several weeks and weekends throughout the year.

They have just told me they don’t need me after all, which I am absolutely gutted about.

However, I’m going to try to find a silver lining and choose something else that I can do in that time (equivalent to 200 working hours) that is worthwhile and enjoyable to me.

I’m childfree and single so just ‘free time for myself’ isn’t that special as I get that everyday anyway. I want to have a project of some sort and something to show for the time that I gave to it.

What would you do / what can you suggest?

Fancy coming to decorate my bedroom?

Different charity?

Can you find an upholstery course or some other course you fancy?

Write a book

Fitness

Take up a musical instrument
An art course
A long-distance walking path, in stages

Become a befriender for teens leaving care or older people who are getting lonely.

Or do something like amateur dramatics or learn an instrument.

Are these 200 hours like a hour an night or 4hr on Saturday afternoon?
Because that could make a difference.

Thats really rubbish - Hopeman hasn't upset you too much.

Gardening! That's what I'd prescribe anyway. Start now and you'd have lovely things but the end of summer. But it might not work with the space and time you have.

So I'd echo learn a language, or an instrument, or a skill/craft. Like macrame, bread baking, rug making...

For some reason I can't edit. That was obviously meant to say hope it hasn't upset you....

It’s chunks of time, so three 3-day weekends, and two 7-day weeks.

I like the idea of writing a book or a walking a long distance trail, because they’re the sort of things I can do in bursts.

Although, if there was a different idea that required me to switch the time around, I could do that.

I’m gutted about the volunteering, it was a project that involved doing what I love with young people (think residential drama courses, it’s not that, but similarly specific and hands on) and it would have been helpful to me career-wise too.

So I’m hoping to find something I will look back on and be able to say “well, If I’d done that drama project, I would never have been able to do X”. I just haven’t decided what ‘X’ is!

Are you able to split it into regular days each week through the year? As a op said, being a befriended to older people could be a good option. It may not lead you directly to your unknown X, but might give time for you to think about what X could be whilst also doing something valuable for others

You’ve just reminded me that I need to get some work done on my own home! So that actually could potentially be the project…

How old are you?

What about volunteering with Guides or Scouts doing camps. Either with a local group or the nearest outdoor centre!

Weekend craft course if funds allow eg here

Mentoring young people in Youth Justice?

37

1 would do 3 different things. So spend one of the weeks walking a long distance trail. Maybe a craft project for the weekends - upholstery or quilting. And then a house decoration/renovation for the last week.

If you like physical/outdoors stuff, why not a local Woodlands or Wildlife Trust or suchlike? It could involve direct conservation/repair work or working in education centres with young people.

If your employer has granted time off for voluntary work, they might require you to actually do voluntary work rather than finding stuff to fill the time like decorating your home - obviously doesn't apply if you've actually booked annual leave and it's nothing to do with them.

Try contacting your local scout group. Loads of hands on experiences with children and lots of training available- you could become an archery instructor or a qualified hill climber etc etc

OP at 37 I think maybe do a mix of things. So you can widen your friendship groups.

Reading between the lines this is annual leave time and you want to do something with it bit friends are coupled up so not free to go on holiday.

Do some beginners courses in whatever you fancy. Kayaking, rock-climbing, baking crafts, horse riding week, language courses, diving holiday (but that might be better if you go with a club after practicing in a pool).

But volunteering with Scouts or Guides would be good too. Not every group does week long camps because that's a week of leaders annual leave taken up.

Could you go on national trust working holidays for one or two of them?
I like the sound of the long distance walk too, something that would be a great achievement.
It's rubbish about the volunteering falling through. That's a lot of time that you've offered.

What’s your fitness and health like?