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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask what you do to fill your days?

26 replies

Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 20:53

I've been out of work since May, In that time I have cleaned, walked, baked, cooked, garden-ed(?) Read, Puzzled,Watched,Shopped (a little)Crafted,Sorted and cleared. Now, the kids are back at school and I am on my own alllll day. What can I do on my own, that doesn't cost a lost as I am currently unemployed and is fun to do on your own? I've tried walking on my own but I get bored lol.

OP posts:
CastleCrasher · 09/09/2020 20:59

Do you want to get back into work? If so, job hunting, training and volunteering.

Apart from that, volunteering (again, but with focus on fun instead of development), redecorating, learn a language (Duolingo is fun and free), try a new craft, art..

mdh2020 · 09/09/2020 21:04

You only need a pencil and paper to start drawing. There are lots of exercise routines on You tube. Like CarleCrashed I would recommend volunteering

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 21:04

@CastleCrasher I am currently looking for work, I do that daily too.

OP posts:
formerbabe · 09/09/2020 21:06

I'm currently decorating my house and ebaying old stuff. Soon going to try painting furniture. I'm surprised you can't find much to do. I'm a sahm of school age dc and just keeping up with the housework, laundry, cooking etc takes up loads of time.

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 21:14

@formerbabe I spend about an hour a day cleaning and tidying, if that. I cook at tea time, do laundry every day but that only takes minutes.
I have put a few bits on Ebay, most of the stuff that I cleared wasn't worth selling.

OP posts:
Ragwort · 09/09/2020 21:21

Why don't you do some volunteering? What are your interests? I work with volunteers and in my spare time I volunteer ... I was initially furloughed at the start of Lockdown but I was able to legitimately go out and about because I was volunteering with vulnerable people

HaggisTheGreat · 09/09/2020 21:25

Walk while listening to podcasts or audiobooks - audible has a free trial or you can get most limited choice of free ones from your library too.

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 21:26

Volunteering is an idea. I would love to get into social work,(i've even considered retraining, but think I'm too old now) not sure if volunteering within that sector is allowed?

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 09/09/2020 21:29

Schools are short of help - my friend listens to the children read and helps with cooking etc.

wolfmom · 09/09/2020 21:30

If you have Internet access why not try a course on openlearn? Free and can look good on your CV

OffForARun · 09/09/2020 21:31

I spend around 2 hours a day exercising (mix of walking, running or weight training) and volunteer for Shout (so it's from home), always cook from scratch so that takes an hour or so...the days just get taken up really....mumsnet

Ragwort · 09/09/2020 21:33

Just there's loads you could do which will have some relevance to community/social work .. slightly harder to get into things now with Covid but I volunteer with street homeless, Food Bank, old folk etc.

speakout · 09/09/2020 21:33

I run a small business from home- it is full time ( or more if I didn't contain it!) I have been self employed since the kids started school, always found it easy to make money from home.
Apart from that I garden, walk, take photographs, write, cook.

WearyandBleary · 09/09/2020 21:33

Are you signed up to agencies? Plenty of agency work around here: even my teens are working. Try hospital bank roles maybe, if social work is an interest? Or look at HCA roles.

Cookiecrisps · 09/09/2020 21:34

@ the OP is best to phone the schools first as schools in my area aren’t having any visitors in and many aren’t even allowing parents in the playground or school at the moment.

Op if you enjoy studying there are some great free short courses online from Open University. Some are 15-24 hours long and you get a certificate of participation on completion of the course.

DDIJ · 09/09/2020 21:35

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

speakout · 09/09/2020 21:35

And exercise of course- yoga every morning right now.
When the kids were younger I trained as a breastfeeding counsellor and sat on the board of governers at my kids school.

mallowa · 09/09/2020 21:37

LP here - I work from home (design), draw, do lino printing, yoga, waste time on mumsnet! bimble about, declutter, clean, cook....

AliceAbsolum · 09/09/2020 21:37

Meditation? Play free rice. Learn to cook different foods.

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 21:39

As I am on benefits, If I do temp work, My benefits differ (which isn't a problem as what I earn will obvs make up the difference), However, It takes weeks to start them up again once my temp work ends, and I need to live, pay bills and ensure there is a roof over my children's heads. I hate being on benefits, Never have been on them before, I don't know how people on long term benefits manage, both financially and mentally.

OP posts:
Angliski · 09/09/2020 21:40

Learn an instrument? Sort family photos? Learn to dance

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 21:41

@cookiecrisp Thank you, I will definitely look in to that, Can I do as many as I want or is it limited?

OP posts:
BlueJava · 09/09/2020 21:47

Could you take some courses to improve your skills in your chosen area of work? Something like Futurelearn, Udemy etc?

Cookiecrisps · 09/09/2020 21:59

You can do as many courses as you like. Here is the link www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

Original poster
Justpickaname · 09/09/2020 22:02

@cookiecrisps That's great, Thank you,

OP posts: