To ask what you do when you have nothing to do

[Notthatbusy]

Very strange question...but what do you do when you have nothing to do?!

For context, I am relatively busy. I work 4 days, have 2 year old, have a relatively large house to keep on top of. Don't have a cleaner, cook from scratch 80% of time. I recently gave up some bad habits - social media, scrolling on the Internet and...vaping! I never did the latter anywhere near my child but wfh full time meant it had reached epic proportions. Usually, when I had nothing to do, I would sit down for 10 minutes, scroll and vape. This is no longer an option. Similarly, when child is entertaining themselves for 10 minutes and you have nothing to clean/cook....what do you do?!

I already read a lot. I guess I'm struggling to remember what I used to do back in the day when there were no smart phones (I'm 35) to constantly divert my attention. And I really mean those pockets of 10 minutes here and there, not time to have a bath/go out to do a hobby etc.

Also, giving up these habits has made me realise I'm not quite as busy as I thought I was.....

I'm struggling to remember what I used to do back in the day when there were no smart phones (I'm 35) to constantly divert my attention.

I used to read newspapers and magazines constantly. I would spend a fortune on magazines every month.

Now I just look at the news on my phone, look at MN or read books… on the Kindle app (on my phone 😬)

Thanks for the suggestions. Clearly some expert potterers!

I exercise, read, see friends. All the usual. It's the small bits of time when you can't leave a young child to their own devices and can't start something 'big' or all consuming. And I'm trying to stop picking up my phone as the default... I don't like her playing and seeing me just sitting on my phone...

I’m very impressed you’ve managed to give up social media and internet scrolling. I’m so bad for this, it’s like a reflex - I just automatically do it without thinking.

I’m going to try to follow your example.

I like to do a couple of minutes of yoga occasionally. My 1 year old finds it hilarious and tries to climb on my face though…

discovered recently i like doing jigsaws. it's a good thing to do for a few minutes here and there when you've a bit of time in between something else. i do huge ones that take a good few weeks or even months. you need somewhere that you've the space to have it out all the time over that period mind you - although you can get matts they role up in.

I really might go back to hard copy magazines I could have lying around. The annual subscriptions are actually pretty good deals. Easier to just pick up than a book.

I would LOVE to get a newspaper delivered instead of reading on my phone. Husband is resistant.

Outside of work and spending time with my daughter, i am an artist so i paint and draw, i read, i meditate and practice my spirituality and i self learn all the time.

Play the piano, garden or read. But actually I spend too much time reading Mumsnet when I could be reading books! Must change that.

I love tidying/deep cleaning and have found Audible quite good to stop me over thinking daft things while I'm doing it. So maybe try out the week-free offer, see if it floats your boat. Technically that would be like having a radio on, better than just being on the phone, but far more interesting.

Are you interested in drawing or even colouring in? Just idly, doesn't matter if you're not Picasso incarnate. Draw basic pictures for your little one to colour in later on?

Meditation. There's an app called Insight Timer which is good to close your eyes to and shut off, some of the tracks (verbal or music) last around ten minutes. (same as before, you don't need to hold your phone so technically just like having the radio on 😇)

Are you into To Do Lists? Could you write out plans for the week? In a positive way more than having it as another chore.

Get a body brush if you don't already have one. Get those arms and legs polished up in time for summer coming.

Practice mindfulness. I'm not sure that's the right word but sit back with a coffee while gazing out the window perhaps. Look into the distance, notice the shapes and colours. Bring the view further in, notice the different colours of the trees/buildings. Notice the smell of the coffee. Notice the sounds from outside. Notice the noises your little one makes as they play away. Once over I'd have thought that was such a boring, pointless thing to do but I did it at yoga a few times and quite enjoyed 'being in the moment'.

I bought a hula hoop with a ball thing on it two months ago. I hula while watching tv or in the garden. 3” off my waist and 2 1/2 off my hips - it’s a worthwhile pastime if you’re bored.

If I gave up the phone games (damn the Mumsnetter who recommended TwoDots ), I would write in my diary or notebook. I try to keep a diary that DD could read when she's older, 10 mins jotting down what we've done. And we had a funny things she said book, which is hilarious to read 10 years later, wish I had spent more 10 min pockets of time on that. Also has general what's she like/interested in bits too.

Notebook is for random thoughts, lists, present ideas, holiday ideas. Reading a book like Phillippa Perry's and jotting my thoughts down. Also doodle with coloured pens, bit of collage. If you're after things DC would observe you doing then that's a nice one.

I like making quilts but hard to have stuff lying around ready to pick up for such a short time, that's more half hour plus. Hand sewing toys could be picked up and put down, the simple things like a bean bag frog.

I started sewing.
My friend makes and sells little sewing kits. Even though I wasn't very good at sewing I tried one and it was so easy and relaxing. I also take them out with me, they're great if I've only got a few mins or half hour or so. I now get a new one each time I finish and I've ended up with several different little bits of artwork. I love them.

I love the idea of notebooks to jot down lists and other things....would just need to keep them out of reach of 2 year old!

I know it is lucky but sometimes I feel I have too much thinking time or time on my hand just split from dh so in the evenings I literally have time where I don't know know to do and during this time I usually wonder what everyone else is upto who I know, not who I would txt but who I know of which is really quite sad but I'd love to be able to see behind closed doors 😂it's funny because when I am sat alone bored I think people don't see this side

I look to see what I can flog on eBay.
It gets addictive!

Tidy the kids rooms or put laundry away or wipe something usually

Crochet
Read about it
Watch videos about it
Search patterns I can do
Look at yarn on various websites

I am never ever bored because I am crochet obsessed

Have a cup of coffee, write a list or go and look at what's growing in the garden.

This. Only takes five minutes.

I ring my siblings/mother to chat.
Play the piano
Read
Watch tv
Listen to music
Cook (fun cooking, decorated cakes etc)
Exercise

Perhaps not around the 2 year old?! 😂

Since MN became so much less user-friendly, I've been doing online jigsaws

Yep this is one when you are at home on your own, definitely!🤣

Thank you, @DilemmaBlah, for mentioning Zentangle!
I had to Google it, but now I'm hooked. Since yesterday. 😀

I play an instrument, so whenever I have a few minutes I'll pick it up and practice a few bars that I'm struggling with. Or I'll phone my grandparents for a little chat. I'm not the kind of person who gets bored easily, luckily - I love reading, gaming, playing my instrument, walking .. so however much time I have to spare, there's always something that can fill it!

I am never, ever bored or lost for something to do. When I have free time I do the following:

yoga, knitting, crochet, reading, listening to podcasts or audiobooks (in various languages!), practise the new language I've just started on Duolingo, walk the dog, go for a run, MN.