If you don’t work, what do you do

[C4tintherug]

For the first time in my life, I’m unemployed. I’ve been sitting at home since March and have no idea how to fill my days. Every morning I start the day with an hours exercise and then I don’t know what else to do.
I’ve spent all day crying today, I just feel like I have nothing to fill my time with. I’m searching for work. My own children are teenagers and don’t need “looking after” like young children.

Sorry you're feeling that way. I left my job at the beginning of lockdown to look after my family and now things are (sort of) back to normal it does feel strange to not have the routine of work. I am very into crafts and can spend hours lost in my paints or crochet. Have a vague plan to sell my work one of these days Make myself go for a walk each day. See friends or family for a cuppa. Ignore the housework.
Honestly though I'm a real home body and don't yearn for a busy life.

Do you have an interest or hobby you could turn into a small business perhaps? And/or volunteering with food shelters or animal shelters, even fostering animals? I wouldn’t be able to do nothing either, it would depress me. Hope you find something fulfilling soon.

I feel for you - it's difficult. Especially if all your friends are working full time.
I potter around the house, go out when I have the energy, but because of my health condition I can't do much.

Structure is your friend. You are doing regular exercise, that is a good start. Can you build other regular activities into your day? For example, online job search 10-12:00; 12-14:00 prepare and eat lunch (perhaps occasionally with a friend or former colleague?); 14:00 go for walk (or another activity that gets you out of the house) etc.etc.
I hope things look brighter tomorrow

OK so many people may comment that you are "lucky" etc but Please don't listen.
Any change in routine is hard no matter why. So first spend a bit of time realising it's a big change and you will need time to adjust. Then think about turning the worry into a positive and thinking of what you can do or what you have always wanted to do.
Obviously I don't know if you have to look for work or you can spend time focusing on yourself. But either way stop with any guilt or worry and breathe. (I know its easier said than done)

It can be really unsettling to go from having a job that takes up most of your day to having a lot of free time to fill. I agree with the suggestion of setting up a timetable for the day. It was very helpful for me when I was in your position last year. If you don't need to job-hunt at the moment you could explore the volunteering opportunities at do-it.org.

In the kindest possible way you need to get a job. Even if it isn't your ideal job, is just a stop-gap or a volunteer position. I'm sure there's something out there that you can pick up for a few hours a week that gives you some structure.

I retired as planned on 1 Feb and it's absolute bliss
I'm single, no kids or other family, but I love my own company

I go to the gym 5 days per week, take daily Rhine walks, read a massive number of SciFi Kindle books, eat at restaurants (outside)
I've just bought a little dinghy to go rowing

However, totally different if it's not voluntary and / or you are short of money

And to answer your question most people who don't work either study, look after children, care for other relatives, are unable to work themselves or have an active social life and don't need to work for financial reasons and instead choose to take up activities such as travel, art etc.

I go to the gym, run a lot in forests with my dogs, drive teenagers around a fair bit, decorate old house, garden loads, see friends, waste time on here! Volunteering would really help you I bet.

Yep - volunteering and exercise or hobbies.

If you're fit and well, contact a local charity shop. We're DESPERATE for people to get stuck in. We've lost a lot of our volunteers since lockdown and are really struggling.

I care for/home educate my daughter and am doing a Masters part-time.

My daughter is younger, but I'm sure teenagers would still benefit from increased connection in some way.

Presumably you have plenty of time for cooking from scratch, at least, so you can make healthy cheap meals.

Are you looking for another job?
Volunteering? Set up a local litter picking group?

Clear out the attic?
Learn a language?

@SuperCaliFragalistic it appears you've stated the obvious there for OP to get a job, but she's clearly struggling to find one if she said "for the first time in my life i'm unemployed",
I wish people would have more sympathy during a recession that state the obvious "gEt A jOb"

There's some brilliant free online courses. Loads out there. All sorts of topics and subjects. Some are bite size, some are more structured than others, some offer a qualification (if you want to pay). It's definitely worth checking these out.

I have been unemployed 3 times in my life, 2 voluntary, now redundancy.
First was new kid, etc. Second: bigger kid, but in school, now teenager.

What I have done in my "downtime":

• knitting (6 pullovers, 3 shawls and 2 scarfs since March - I'm almost ready for winter)
• sorting 20 kg of legos into colors, types + some sets to sell
• played solo boardgames
• read at least 5 long books
• watched way too much netflix/amazon whilst sorting lego or knitting
• wrote 3 short stories that nobody will ever read. I don't like humans too much, but nobody deserves this punishment :) But I had fun doing it and polishing it
• did 5-6 coursera/udemy courses
• started properly learning the bass guitar

(obviously I don't have a social life)

What I didn't do:

• our flat is still very clean, but by no means sparkling
• didn't learn japanese - was planned, but meh
• didn't become a 50's perfect housewife :)

I'd say it all depends on what you did before and what you want/need to do now? Volunteering is great to prevent a CV gap, offers the opportunity to branch out into new skills and a potential foot in the door for paid employment. But if situation is that you're currently reliant on benefits and need to get back into paid employment to cover bills then that's a very different kettle of fish.

OP

I worked all my life even when I had children I went back to work when the baby was 13 months old.

I was working when my son died in an accident nearly three years ago.
I had to stop because I could not function. I was not sleeping or eating and I was wondering around at night and had to be brought home more than once by the police.

I stay at home now. I look after my grandson sometimes and I have my dogs and there are jobs to do around the house plus the garden is massive. I used to adore gardening before my son died and now the garden is like a brick around my neck.

I am not rich but I am not poor either. Lockdown has stopped me from going out and I now have a fear of shopping and although it is irrational I only go when there is no food in the house.

What I am trying to say is being at home is only as bad as you allow it to be. Some days I am lively and do things and on others I do nothing.

It's getting motivated to be useful, but it all depends upon how much you want to be so

@Anordinarymum

Your post made me so sad. I’m sorry that happened to your son.

[quote LunaNorth]@Anordinarymum

Your post made me so sad. I’m sorry that happened to your son.

[/quote]
Don't feel sad for me. I'm fine honestly. I'm sorry it happened too.

I don't know if this is helpful, but I know a few people with trust funds or other private incomes, and they mainly seem to have a small business, although not necessarily generating much income. Or they do a competitive sport quite seriously.

I'm the opposite. I took voluntary redundancy two years ago, and didn't realise how hard it would be to find another job, especially at my age. Other than a few temp jobs I haven't done anything - and I'm loving it! If I could afford to I would retire - and I once thought I would work until I was 70 as I couldn't imagine not working. It's not that I'm doing anything much either, but the days fly by (and I'm not looking at my watch every five minutes, as I did when I was employed). If it wasn't for the fact that I need to be earning money I would retire right now. Sorry to hear that you are struggling, and I haven't been any help.

@BigChocFrenzy - it sounds as though you are living the dream. Like you I'm single with no kids, and I love my own company - makes it a lot easier.

I used to work in an office 4 days a week but changed jobs & now work in a supermarket. For various reasons its only on a Friday & Saturday morning - more hours, more $$ would be nice. After the newness of the job wore off I decided to volunteer as a community driver for a local organ'n that transports clients to health visits & appointments. Ive needed to have a clear driving licence & have a full First Aid Cert but usually at least once each week I'll be driving clients about. There is also Meals on Wheels to consider if you have that locally.
Im of the view that I have spare time & the ability to help someone else who for now is in a worse off spot than me. Maybe one day, someone will help me out if I need it too.

Study? Try the Open University.