To think 6 weeks will be hard to fill

[trees4thewood]

I am a teacher, it’s good to have the time off but to be honest I’m dreading it a bit, I remember getting really badly depressed a few summers ago and I can see this one being similar.

what should I do

I could spend a week of that just going round the museums and galleries in London. They are all free. Wow. That would be amazing.

Yes, but hotels and trains do London aren’t I probably will go there but not for a week.

Find voluntary work and sign up for courses in line with your interests to make friends. Sign up for online dating. Visit museums, art galleries, NT properties.

Great. As hard as it is, only you can change your situation OP. Very best of luck.

trees I have no friends
If this is the case, the six weeks holiday isn’t your problem. You need to join some groups, be proactive, the 6 weeks is an ideal time to start this process.

Where do you live OP? Could you do a house swap to visit new places? Or volunteer yourself to look after (my) someone's pets while they're away? Having a dog to walk was always something to organise a day around when I was feeling low? I realise that you probably can't get a dog as too busy term time but it could be fun to look after one?

I’m not finding you helpful cardi.

Just in case you’re trying to be and not goading. You’re not being helpful.

Borrowmydoggy.

Internet site for dog care arrangements.

Or join a house sit website like trustedhousesitters - you can go to different places for free.

I don’t know why you are getting such a hard time OP. You mention depression and how you will be alone. I suspect it’s not that you can’t fill the time but that you will be lonely.

You need to make sure you get human contact every day. The volunteering is a great idea - shop, playscheme, holiday club etc.
Could you also do a bit of future planning for next year? Save up to go on a week or two week holiday that specialises in single travellers. Or a working holiday? I’m sure the National Trust and places like that do things (again you might be able to arrange for this summer).

Can you join a couple of clubs (book club at local library etc, gym, local history, knitting, walking club). Look at meet up groups too. On line dating? Not to meet Mr (or Ms) Right but to just have some evenings out with company. Put yourself out there as it were!

I think cardi is right, joining groups and being proactive is exactly what you need.

If you had friends and partner, the 6 weeks wouldn't seem so lonely, so the holiday is only part of your issue.

OP I hear you. I now have a child but dh is working a lot. I'll have some very long days with no routine or structure and it's bloody hard. I've got a couple of books to read.
In a way the evenings are worse, I'm so used to working I don't know what else to do with them.
I think this conundrum depends on your personality too. I now try and make as many plans as possible way in advance. Then I won't back out. Whereas if its the day before I won't bother.

YADNBU,you sound really down treeshave you got any family/colleague's you could spend some time with?

Is there any hobbie that you've wanted to take up but haven't had the time or energy to start?Starting something new could be a good way to make some new friends.

Taking up an exercise class or yoga or swimming need not be expensive and you could meet some new people.

Do you have nice neighbors?If you do you could invite them round for a bbq one day.

If you have any good museums where you live they're a nice way to while away a few hours that and having a nice picnic and sitting by the river and reading a good book.

If you enjoy cycling or walking have a look and see if there's a local group you could join.

Set up a book club,you host the first week and then you can take it turns so you host one week and then someone the next week after that and so on and so on.

Could you do some tutoring whilst your of work?You could make some extra money and it would be something interesting to help keep you busy.

Teachers don’t get paid for 6weeks? What utter rubbish! They are paid for holidays. Like the rest of us, just longer. Presumably the monthly salary payments come from the tooth fairy then?

I am constantly hearing how we should feel sorry for teachers because it isn’t holiday, it’s time to catch up, prep lessons etc etc. How come you aren’t busy then? Sorry if that sounds unsympathetic, but I’d like 6 weeks off too. I can think of lots of things to fill up that much time, frankly.

Either do some prep work for school or use your imagination. And be grateful you have that much free time.

Teachers are paid for holidays. If a teaching job is advertised at £38k they get that spread over 12 months the same as any normal job.

My DSis and DM are teachers, I asked DSis do you not get paid for the summer holidays and she laughed and said of course she does.

Whether I get paid or not isn’t really what I’m saying

The lack of empathy on this thread is astonishing. It's fairly clear from the OP's posts that this isn't a case of "Yaaawwwn - I have sooo much free time, I'm bored!". If it were, I'd be joining you all in being indignant. I'm a teacher too. But I'm married to a teacher and have my husband, my children and other family to spend the holidays with.

OP, you need a project of some kind! Volunteer, join a local group of some kind?

I do definitely yes. I even looked into getting a summer job but it seems that it harder than it looks.

Teachers don't get paid for the holidays. We get paid for 195 days work per year. This amount is then split into 12 equal monthly pay cheques. Why do people find this hard to grasp!?

I'm sorry you've had some quite harsh replies op. I was talking to my DSis about this last week, and she was saying exactly the same thing - she's nearly 50, kids grown up and left home, and is single. While she was very much looking forward to the end of term, the six weeks felt quite daunting in terms of how to fill it on her own. She does have friends, but none are teachers, so they're all at work. She's put together a bit of a structured plan for herself - yoga class three times a week, a few decorating projects in her house, sorting out the garden, reading the books she never has time for in term time. She's also booked herself a city break for four days to Milan - just on her own, but she's taking a good book, and will be happy to find pavement cafes to sit and people watch.
I know she was worried that if she didn't put together a plan, she's spend the six weeks floundering on the internet, and feel crap at the end of the holidays.
Hope you get sorted op, and get some enjoyment from your break

Teachers are paid in holidays not for them. We get paid for 195 days plus statutory holiday. The rest is unpaid but the sum is split into 12 monthly payments. It’s why teachers’ pay is often low compared to other graduates (although it isn’t enough to account for all of that - we are underpaid).
trees I am a bit exasperated with you, but I am trying to be helpful. I’ve suggested things to do, ways to make friends, a volunteer organisation for teachers...what more do you want?

How depressing this thread is. What the hell has teachers holiday pay got to do with it. So much animosity towards the OP who is basically saying she is struggling being alone and having a long period of time to fill and has previously suffered from depression. It has nothing to do with her career.
There is nothing stopping all the moaners from training as teachers. Have some empathy; can’t believe some of the vicious comments.

I don't get what people don't get about the OP's situation.

Plenty of times people have posted about feeling a bit alone on weekends, with the time stretching out before them. Yes, they can read a book for a while, watch Netflix, go shopping, but actually, doing these things alone whilst everyone else is out with family or children can grind you down a bit.

Even I don't like being alone for more than about 2 days, I get cabin fever and a bit demotivated. I'm like you, OP, I like the structure of work and so need something a bit more structured and not just loll about- that's fun for a day or two not for six whole weeks.

There's been some great ideas on here, but in general, people with families or partners or heaps of friends are quite dismissive of those without those things, and aren't just happy reading a book by themselves the whole time. Sometimes holidays can bring things home to you and loneliness is the modern disease- you are not alone in that, OP, I hope you find some interesting things to do this time around.

Where in the country are you OP?

Where are you in the country op?