What to do with two weeks off?

[stevegrabshall]

I'm probably going to get gardening leave for the last few weeks of my notice period. I've had a rough time and need to use the time to recover and build myself back up. I can't go away due to finances/kids, so have a couple of weeks of free week days to. be kind to myself.

What should I do? So far I've come up with going to the cinema, but I can't do that every day!

Similar situation recently and I borrowed some big Lego sets from a friend and built those. Really helped me switch of my mind.

Ooh that sounds like a good idea!

I would do some batch cooking, and some 'new' cooking, e.g. try making my own butter or bacon.
I'd do some jigsaws and puzzles.
Get all my Christmas presents bought and wrapped.
Sort my wardrobe out, sell /.charity some and make sure the remainder is organised and ironed.
And meet some friends for walks / lunch.

I'd organise my house to within an inch of its life. Tip or sell everything we don't love.

I'd go to the cinema, a coffee shop, a wool shop...

I'd make sure we.were on the best deal for all bills.

I'd go to the dentist

I'd get my hair done

I'd sort my emails - blocked all the shite and set up an address for website sign up shite

I'd buy a big, thick blanket and sit under it for 1 whole day reading, stuffing my face and watching tv

I'd batch cook like crazy

I'd bottom the laundry baskets

I'd do my Christmas shopping

My list is endless. I'd love it!

2 weeks, sounds wonderful (shame it’s because things were shite though) I would have a home pamper day (face mask, long bath, scented candle etc), binge watch trash tv for a day or two, mooch around a big shopping centre, clear out my wardrobe, take myself out to lunch, cinema like you said, sleep, lots of sleep.

Making your own bacon?

I would go for walks (in all weathers!), bake, clear out my wardrobe, go to the local library and sit all day with a magazine or a novel. Maybe get out a crafting kit from long ago - cross stitch or needle felting or candle making.

Yes, out of a piece of pork.

Something I have always planned to do with a glut of time!

I would declutter my house, stock up my freezer, sit with the calendar and plan out the next couple of months, sort out my wardrobe, then whatever else I fancy.

I'm sorry you've had what sounds like a difficult time OP. I was in a vaguely similar situation earlier in the year. I must say though that my expectations of the the things I would achieve in a certain time have been far less than I'd hoped/assumed. Take time out for yourself OP and don't worry if you'd can't get done everything you assume you will. Some ideas:

-Get a good book to read
-Write out your Christmas cards (if you send them)
-Try something new. Crochet, gardening, chess, go sea fishing, cook with a different veg you've never tried etc
-Christmas gift planning. Buy, wrap and label to be ahead of time.
-Clear 1 kitchen cupboard at a time getting rid of things are woefully out of date
-Clear your wardrobe of old clothes and donate/put on vinted etc
-Get a beauty treatment/spa day for yourself
-Walk through a local park, museum etc you've never been to before or go to a neighbouring town to do similar

Thanks all - some great ideas. My house is a huge tip at the moment (haven’t been able to face doing anything so everything has piled up) so I think it will be a slow tidy/sort out, with some fun stuff.

Lots of time outside - get walking, especially around water. It's very healing. Or a forest walk.

You might be surprised at how many friends work part time and are available for a mid-week lunch, how many friends wfh and can fit in a coffee and how nice it is to just be slumped on the sofa watching what you want to watch.