If you never had to work again, how would you spend your days?

[humbugaboo]

I’m wondering if a life of not working is really all it’s cracked up to be? I think with time you can probably end up just binge watching TV shows and napping.

Language classes to further improve my fluency
Walking
Volunteering
Maybe set up small home business
Lots of travel assuming I could afford it.
My friends also all work, so they'd need to not have to work too so we could do lunch.
See more films at the cinema.

If you have good health and a reasonable disposable income then the world is your oyster.

If you are unwell or anxious and have little money then it would be a struggle.

Getting super fit and super babed up. I would spend my entire time at the gym, making healthy meals for myself and family. Getting facials. Buying nice clothes. Getting my hair done/ nails done.

I would be a total babe.

Riding, walking, more time on my volunteering role, travelling, bird watching. I might even manage to learn more than a few phrases in Finnish.

I could certainly fill the time but where's the purpose?
I'm with you. Freud was a barmpot in many ways, but I do think he was right about meaningful work being a cornerstone of a life.
I work too much, I'm very aware of that, and often feel like I'm on a treadmill.
But not working at all... I'd drift and get depressed.

Absolutely agree with @Nevertime

In preparation for retirement, I have become more involved with the running of a few charities and volunteer groups. I notice how different my thinking is from many of the other members of the committee. Rather than grab any opportunities to save time or effort using simple technology such as taking orders on line, the committee appear to want to cling on to admin tasks. I can only imagine it helps to give their contribution purpose.

I am still looking for how to replicate the satisfaction from launching something new at work or making real improvements, without the work infrastructure.

Any ideas welcome.

I’d happily be a full time SAH-cat-M.

Sleep late every morning. Get up, go on the internet. Have lunch. Play videogames, go for a walk, go shopping, that kind of thing, then home for a nap. Dinner, then TV/movie/games. Bed.

I would love this. I'd go hiking, climbing, caving, diving. I'd do lots of exercise classes. I'd probably volunteer with some sort of outdoor charity and do various outdoor qualifications.
I dream of winning the lottery and having a little cottage in the countryside

I don't work

I spend my days looking after my child, running a small scale pet sanctuary (I take them in needing serious rehabilitation they don't get rehomed), walking the dogs, knitting, helping on neighbour's farms, baking, doing kids crafty stuff, gardening.

Live rurally so nice surroundings, I'm happy and my days are full and worthwhile

I think everyone’s different but I know for me it would be bad for my mental health so I’d need to structure my week/day with voluntary work or a job that I’m doing for the pleasure not the money, and/or have some projects on the go like researching family history or history of my house. I’d also like to build up a weekly routine of exercise classes. I’d enjoy spending more time watching tv etc but only if I felt like I’d achieved things too.

Most of these replies assume health and wealth. So often people retire and don't have the option to do all these things. I do enjoy crafts, spending time with my family and going for walks in the winter sunshine. I also do some charity work but have had to cut back recently for health reasons and I am no longer able to travel much. I am generally very happy with my non-working life but do wish for the money and health to be able to do more.

Just drifting. I used to get more done before and after work than I do in a whole day now. I do a lot of reading, spend a lot more time sleeping, but I am also bored a lot more now.

Not working is ok for awhile but you need friends who also don't work and a good amount of disposable income. Otherwise your on your own alot and not really doing much.

Long term unemployed is not all its cracked up to be. I really believe people need routine and purpose in their lives. I know people who haven't worked for years and they all have mental health problems and/or drink too much. They didn't start off this way. I honestly believe their bored and dissatisfied with their lives.

Go to my lovely local yoga studio every day (I try now but work gets in the way!) Bake, potter in the garden, go for long walks, swim in the sea every day, read, travel, etc.

I might take a job in a local independent shop or cafe for a few hours a week for a bit of structure but apart from that I'd just please my damn self, all day every day.

Long term unemployed is not all its cracked up to be - I agree but I don't think that is what this thread is talking about! 'Unemployed' is very different to 'not having to work'.

I'm retired so this is my life. I read, write, do online study, watch movies, play computer games, volunteer twice a week at the local museum. I'm also secretary of a community group. And every morning I take two grandchildren to school. It's a pretty good life.

@Nevertime

I'm thinking about this too. I dont think I can carry on foubg what I'm doing much longer and I could (probably) manage OK financially.

I could certainly fill the time but where's the purpose? I could sew, walk, have lunch with friends, yoga, garden, learn to play golf, all things I enjoy but I don't know if it's "enough" on full time basis iyswim. None of it matters if it doesn't get done.

I've also done quite a lot of volunteering in my life both whilst working and not working. Alongside a job it's great and rewarding, instead of a job it doesn't have the same satisfaction. You're still "helping" not actually doing.

the purpose is to be....just to be. You don't have to be validated by job, achievement, or seniority (and I had them all) You can just be yourself. I think its a toxic thing that has come to exist where we judge people and ourselves by our job or our social persona. I am me and that is enough.

This is me. I used to travel a lot but not recently. I go to the theatre most weeks, sometimes twice a week. I go to the gym 3/4 days a week. I have craft type hobbies. I read a lot. I meet friends for lunch a couple of times a month. I also enjoy the luxury of being in bed by 9.30 most nights.

Sadly over the last 4 months my mum has become quite frail. We aren't close at all but I'm her nearest relative geographically so I spend more time than I would like running errands for her or checking in on her.

Oh gosh, I’d bloody love it. I’d ride for hours every day and start competing properly with a hunt subscription to boot. It would be bloody marvelous.
But only if I had oodles of cash obviously.

DH on the other hand would become fully embedded in the sofa and would be dead from inactivity in a year!

I think it depends if you have money. MIL is 68, retired after selling her own business a few years back and is very comfortable (not a millionaire, but doesn't worry for money). She spends her days crafting, walking, seeing friends around the country, going for lunch, getting involved in local campaigns, looking after our DD/her DGD and her cats, doing an occasional shift for her friend in a tiny local seaside gallery and generally having a lovely time. She's a great advert for being a retiree if you're solvent and in good health (sadly I know that's not true for lots of people, my own parents being a good example).

I’m retired. Read, exercise, volunteer, bake, socialise with friends, browse the books in charity shops, go on days out, photography, enjoy coffees in coffee shops just watching the world go by. It’s great. I’ve particularly liked being able to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year rather than being stuck in an office all day.

Do another PhD. Bake. Nap. Volunteer at an animal sanctuary.

Ugh this thread has just served to remind me that I have another 20 years of slogging at work before I can even consider any of this!