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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What would you do with ten weeks off?

30 replies

tenweek · 19/06/2023 11:33

I have ten weeks off work/studying etc. I have quite a bit to do around the house, getting stuff to dump etc. I have a 10 year old that goes to her dads once during the week and every second weekend. I have two dogs and a cat.

I've been known to fall into a bit of a depression with too much time on my hands. And day one of my 10 week break I am laying in bed dosing on and off. Trying to be kind to myself and allowing this once in a while.

Have a massage booked for Wednesday, going out a walk with friend this week, got reading I want to do, more exercise, catch up with appointments and gut the house.

What would you do with this time off? Any suggestions how to keep a bit of a routine?

OP posts:
restie · 19/06/2023 11:47

Snap similar time frame off and similar re depression...so looking for some ideas..
Good that you have some things lined up OP

Original poster
tenweek · 19/06/2023 13:12

BUMP

OP posts:
itshotontheplayground · 19/06/2023 13:14

travel and get out of the house as much as possible!

Sigmama · 19/06/2023 13:22

Volunteer? Learn a new skill?

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 19/06/2023 13:24

I’d allow myself the day to just mooch with only one goal that will take no more than an hour (e.g. go for a walk; clean the fridge; colour your hair).

Then I’d write myself a big list of the jobs I need to do, broken down into much smaller tasks that will take an hour or two, and a big list of the fun things/treats I want to do. And then balance a treat against the same time doing a chore for the rest of the week.

At the weekend, review. Make sure you keep the list of things you have already done so you can easily forgive yourself if you have an unproductive day.

BlinkeredBay · 19/06/2023 13:24

Take a walk every single day! It’s good for you.

SparklingMarkling · 19/06/2023 13:26

Walk, read and potter. I’ve had 10 week stretches before and loved every minute. Work depresses me.

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 19/06/2023 13:28

I’d sleep for a couple of days then force myself to get active.

I have so much that needs doing to the house so I’d make a plan to do some of that. I really need to get more exercise so I’d make a plan for that. And I’d make time to chill - read books, watch films.

so yeah, I’d try to keep it balanced and have a mix of productivity and relaxation. My default is to retreat and do nothing, but then I go nocturnal and a bit down, so I’d try to avoid that.

PurpleParrotfish · 19/06/2023 13:32

I’d aim for 50:50 getting house jobs done and spending time outside: gardening, exploring London and maybe volunteering for the local wildlife group.

NotMeNoNo · 19/06/2023 13:36

I'd set up my sewing machine and work through my stash and create a new wardrobe.
In between some catching up with friends and exercise, etc.
In fact TBH it may get taken up in DIY.
I'd love to have a project to work on or I'd get to 4pm each day and realise I'd just munched on snacks and been on MN all day.

hattie43 · 19/06/2023 13:40

Hire a camper van and explore the British isles .

outdooryone · 19/06/2023 13:54

Take your daughter and go on a long distance walk staying at youth hostels etc.

ActDottie · 19/06/2023 13:54

I find the best thing for structure is booking gym classes as you have to be there at a set time. My favourite is spinning as even if you don’t feel up for it you can have lower resistance and just spin your legs around.

NeverendingCircus · 19/06/2023 13:54

Make a list which is 60% really good fun stuff. Otherwise your precious time off will feel like a duty and burden.

I'd:

  • get a pile of books I want to read and read them in the sunshine
  • take on an exercise regime (yoga and a walk every day or bootcamp 3 times a week) and do before and after pics day 1 and day 70
  • decorate a room in my home
  • visit an old friend
  • write a bucket list and do one thing from it each week
  • go on a long challenging hike or climb a UK mountain
  • do daily meditation and journalling
  • do some self maintenance - dental check and polish, well woman check, haircut, pedicure, manicure, brows, clear out my wardrobe and add to it
angelopal · 19/06/2023 13:56

Walk, the cinema, haircut. Binge watch a TV series.

JuneOsborne · 19/06/2023 14:02

Organise my digital and physical photos!

If you want structure, you're going to have to make it.

So, morning alarm, with a goal of being ready for the day at X time. I'd try and get out every morning, so no matter what you do with the rest of your day, you've got up, got ready and got out.

pillsthrillsandbellyache · 19/06/2023 14:05

Sit down. Alot.

weathervane1 · 19/06/2023 14:08

As a recently retired person of a few years, I can say - based on experience - that if I don't have a woodwork or similar project on, or if I'm not ferrying people to the hospital etc - that it's easy for a day, then a week and then a month to pass by without any obvious accomplishments. What has helped is getting up early, taking a cup of tea down the garden and planning the day. I seem more positive in the mornings than in the previous evenings. Even a morning walk and a quick shop can seem more pleasurable. Doing nothing is actually quite tiring and can lead to mild depression.

Whataretheodds · 19/06/2023 14:10

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 19/06/2023 13:24

I’d allow myself the day to just mooch with only one goal that will take no more than an hour (e.g. go for a walk; clean the fridge; colour your hair).

Then I’d write myself a big list of the jobs I need to do, broken down into much smaller tasks that will take an hour or two, and a big list of the fun things/treats I want to do. And then balance a treat against the same time doing a chore for the rest of the week.

At the weekend, review. Make sure you keep the list of things you have already done so you can easily forgive yourself if you have an unproductive day.

This is good advice. I really struggled with trying to do too much and not achieving any of it.

Agree allow yourself a day or even 1 lazy morning per week, but the other days have an appointment booked or a commitment that forces you to be up and out by a certain time- it will make it easier to make the most of the day.

Rainyrunway · 19/06/2023 14:14

It's funny isn't it? To me that seems like a complete luxury, but then I work full time and have 2 primary age kids so I have literally NO spare time. Ever. I literally feel guilty spending an hour reading a book at the weekend. And have an alarm set 7 days a week, which I hate (kids have clubs on the weekend) But then if I actually DID have 10 weeks and no plans I'd probably be going nuts by day 3. Could you travel? That's what I think if like to do if I had the time and money.

itshotontheplayground · 19/06/2023 14:16

Another way to look at it, when you look back at the 10 weeks what do you want to have achieved?

It can be anything from decluttering your house from top to bottom, painted a portrait of your dog, finish couch to 5k...but I'd start there.

When you have "nothing to do", is when you can be the busiest doing all the things you enjoy but never have the time for!

ladyinthecampervan · 19/06/2023 14:17

I'd personally make a sort of routine, either daily (e.g. morning for exercise, middle of the day for a job/project/activity and later on for chilling out/reading/meeting friends, etc); or weekly (so every Monday is a chores-in-the-house day, Tuesdays are for gardening/hiking/cycling, Wednesdays are film binges, etc).

That was you can balance fun and lazy days/times with actually getting something done.

2bazookas · 19/06/2023 14:17

Go house sitting or dog sitting anywhere you've not been before.

burnoutbabe · 19/06/2023 14:20

I play computer games. It passes many hours!

Ac Valhalla is now up to 70 hours.

SnapPop · 19/06/2023 14:25

I'd aim to achieve every day:
One active thing (walking / swimming / whatever)
One item from the "to do" list (eg decluttering a room or doing an admin task)
One thing just for fun (eg meeting a friend, having a massage, baking a cake, sitting in the sun reading a book)