To ask what to do with 2 hrs 45 mins a day?

[Rabbitheadlights]

Not AIBU but I want traffic.

I have 7DC, 1 of whom has complex additional needs - he is starting at a specialist setting in September for 3 hours a day Mon -fri. Initially I will probably use the time to rest and catch up on sleep (I only get 4 hrs a night) but long term what can I do with the time? Gym? (Wouldn't know where to start though) Course online or not? Lunch out everyday, alone? (My waistline can't really handle that though?)

What do you want to do with the time? What would you enjoy?

All of those options, different one on a different day?

I'd do yoga or go for a swim
Read
Go to a museum or gallery
Sit at a pavement cafe and enjoy a coffee

If you join a gym they will be able to give you an induction on the equipment. Join one with a pool and then you can go for a swim too.
But catching up on some sleep sounds like a good place to start.

Lie down and read.

Ooh swim then nap

I would do something different each day.
Sleep on a Monday and Friday!
Swimming, lunch with a friend or a coffee and cake.
Is there any decorating you’d like to do that you can’t do with the dc at home?
Sit and read a chunk of a book, go for a walk.
Please try and use the time not to just get the housework done though!!

Thanks all, the problem is I've not been alone for any amount of time for about 9 years. Although it sounds quite a light-hearted thread I'm quite anxious about it, I really want to try to do something for me or for my benefit wether that's sleep, or something to make me feel good? I definately think some form of exercise is a good option but it's been soooo long.

A hour long bath
A hour long snooze
and 45 mis of pampering

But then I am a lazy sod at heart!

@lotsachocolateplease if don't make a plan housework and admin etc is exactly what I will end up doing and I really don't want to. My hope is that if I do something beneficial to me I will be a better mum/friend/partner/sister etc because I hopefully won't be as frazzled.

I’d run Monday, Wednesday, friday. First thing, then yoga to stretch off/ cool down, a long shower before a nice brunch/ cup of tea and a read.

Then on the other two days I’d have a brief tidy / clean up first, followed by a craft project (I like sewing patch work quilts!). You end up feeling you’d used your time productively, but also for yourself.

Whatever you decide, enjoy it!

Or the less lazy version of me would

go for a hour long stroll or bike ride
stop for a coffee on the way home
do some gardening

Have you thought about a course you fancy doing ? Open uni has 100s

I had 3 hours twice a week (my non working days) with dd in preschool this year. I did a long run both days and then just enjoyed pottering in house and garden, popping to shops etc and occasionally a haircut etc. Just nice to do boring normal things without kids in tow, much easier, and meant I didn’t have to do the chores at the same time as looking after kids later on. Things like Xmas shopping easier too!

Is there anything you used to enjoy that you don't have time to do anymore?

1st priority should be catching up on your R&R/pamper time..Maybe make a list of some tv series you can binge on- get showered &into fresh pjs-eat some nice takeout-then when that gets boring maybe a course at local college,youd expand your social circle..have a go at some activities/sports thst look interesting..check out local meetups..I had to get used to a fair bit of downtime when my2when from a lifetime of homeschool to face2face earlier this year-i spent weeks working through my bingelist

Look at local hotel gyms - especially ones with pools. If there's something like a Holiday Inn or Hilton near you they sometimes do good membership deals and they usually aren't too busy during the day. I'm a member of one and it has a sauna, steam room, lovely pool and well equipped fitness studio. It's not going to turn me into and Olympic athlete but goodness, it's amazing for my mental health and I'm much more toned than I was a few months ago. Sometimes they do 5 day passes so you can get a feel for whether you'd like it or not.

I have a lot of free time coming up soon when my youngest starts reception. I usually work evenings when he is in bed but have managed to arrange some extra hours to work while he's at school but still have a fair chunk of time to fill. I've been writing a list of local walks to do and am joining the gym to do swimming. I've written a housework list too but it's all really just to structure my time because although a little time free will be nice, it does feel a bit daunting too

I know you say you don't want to do housework, but would it help to spend one of those days batch cooking, to relieve the load another time?

If I was only getting 4 hours sleep a night then I would DEFINITELY use the time to catch up on sleep.
Sleep is crucial for so many aspects of physical and mental health.

Honestly I'd probably get the kettle on, get my book, find the comfiest place in the house and then just read lol

I'd do an exercise class - yoga or weights or circuits for an hour and then read a book/journal/ soak in a bath/meditate. Choose activities that really restore you, Definitely include at least an hour of exercise. Nothing restores you better than that.

4h a night?! Jeez Louise how do you function?! I'd definitely sleep. Sod the gym! Get some rest.

Read, a lot! I find it such an escapism. Sleep.
Exercise definitely, I recently started, after never doing any in my whole life! Boxercise is great, Pilates and yoga also.
Enjoy the time, sounds like you definitely deserve it!

Sounds like some very deserved you time :) have you thought about the couch to 5k you can get the app? I love being outdoors it just makes me forget about everything ( mainly because I'm dying out of puff trying to jog haha ) but I feel so great for it and it's only 30 minutes-45 minutes out of the day then you can enjoy the left over time doing other things - rest/ coffee and feel like you've accomplished a lot.

I also think there's a lot to be said for journaling too always a good distraction and gets all the thoughts out of your head both positive and negative :)

I think I'd nap most days with just 4 hours a night, but some exercise sounds like a good plan too.

How about something creative - I read an article that I can't now find but it was talking about the 7 kinds of rest and how we need all of them to be really balanced. There was the usual physical, mental etc but One of them was creativity and I think that's one that so often gets left out as a "waste of time" if it's not productive. If it were me (and schools are back any day for me so very soon it will be!!) I'd do something that usually I would consider totally frivolous and give my permission to "waste" some time. There was also social rest so catch up with some friends who you haven't had time to see. Most of all, enjoy it because you'll bring that joy back to the rest of your life.