How to cope alone

[Pinkpercy]

I’m sorry to start yet another depressing thread. I’ll do my best to keep it as positive as I can!

I’m looking for ideas really on what to do to fill the many hours on my own.

I split with my boyfriend 3 weeks ago so I’m single. Most of my friends live over half an hour away and have kids so they are busy with their families (quite right). I don’t have a bubble as my mum is with my sister for childcare purposes. I work from home too so no interaction there!

I do online exercise 3 times a week, do my food shopping and adult colouring. It’s getting very dull and I can feel myself drowning in solitude.

Please help me with ideas for what I can do to entertain myself lol. I’m in tier 4 by the way and have very little money spare each month - that’s not made it easy has it?!

Thank you in advance :)

Hi op, are you able to access nice parks to walk in or beauty spots, it may help to break up the day?.
Then have you got Netflix etc, to loose yourself in a wonderful series? There are some fabulous things on there.
Do you have kindle, or good books to read?

Any projects you can work on, Groupon always have excellent printer pix offers to make photos books and it's very easy to do.

Thank you for your reply. I do have Netflix. I like comedy (can’t cope with anything sad right now lol) is there anything you’d recommend in that genre please?

I do like reading but it’s mainly self help stuff at the mo which I’m not sure is actually helping open to book suggestions too!

Every Christmas I want to find some kind of volunteering to fill the days & hours & there's never anything suitable. I'll have a look in a moment...

You could play mumsnet bingo.

I play every day and see how quickly I can jump up shouting 'HOUSE, OVER HERE, HOUSE'

20 bingo words/phrases needed

Poor you, it must be tough, esp at this time of year (cold, dark).

Things that friends of mine are trying:

• Meeting people for walks and chatting
• Crafts (I'm not crafty myself but some of the things my friends are producing are amazing).

-Audiobooks (at least you hear another voice and you can listen whilst exercising/cleaning)

• online classes/activities. My book group has gone online and honestly it's a life saver
• pets. Obviously not one to rush into but if you've always been meaning to get a cat or whatever, could this be the right time?
• WhatsApp groups with friends. Just nice to hear from people as and when.

Sounds really tough op. If you are allowed out I'd try and get out for a walk daily. Ideally somewhere pretty.

I think the idea of volunteering is a good one because at least you would get contact with other people.

Book wise maybe something more cheerful. I love Miss Pettigrew lives for a day also enjoyed this is going to hurt for laugh out loud funny although its dark in places.

Do you have a project or goal you could try and achieve?

Would you consider buying a games console?

OP I’m in a similar position so can really relate - live alone, work from home, no friends local and now facing Xmas alone as well! It’s really tough isn’t. I have been learning a new language (the Duolingo app is free) and doing lots of reading. Plus watching classic films I have never got round to watching before. Walking has been my lifeline over the last few months- I had not really realised the benefits of getting out in the fresh air (even in the rain!), it makes me feel so much better. Hang in there, this won’t be forever

Sorry to hear that you're going to be on your own. I'm not sure of the tier 4 rules but can you still meet people outside? Try to do that if you can. Also try goal setting. If you have something to focus on and aim for then the time will pass quicker. So, learning a language, a fitness goal, anything else like that really.
Volunteering would also give you a sense of purpose although I'm not sure what the rules around that are.
Keep checking in with us here. I've been through a long period of loneliness myself in the past and I found getting outside in the daylight and fresh air every day made the world of difference. Hope this helps a little bit x

Urzila Carlsen is v funny on Netflix. I’m on my own for all but Xmas Day - I’m going to start my “walk 1000 miles in 2021” but get into the habit early. I have a tiny postage stamp sized garden so I’ll give that a tidy. Have a purge - got bin liners and box files and plan to do wardrobes, kitchen cupboards and paperwork. I have three jigsaws that I should start. And I’m going to try and get better at decorating cakes so will make some cheap biscuits to practice on. Picked up Pokémon Go again too.

Read happy escapism fiction whilst it's cold and miserable outside.
Think about ways next year sometime you could boost your income, overtime, evening job perhaps in a pub when they return, and put that money towards holidays.

Get out for a walk first thing if you can. Usually there are quite few people out and people often wish each other good morning and merry Christmas. I know it’s not much, but it’s a connection to people and the wider world.
Listen to the radio for a bit, again it’s people talking and another connection.
Have you got family you can speak to over video call?
There are also telephone befriending services if you fancy volunteering for something.
Buy yourself a couple of Christmas presents that seem like a treat.
Plan a few goals for the new year. Often that helps to put a positive spin on things.

We can still meet one other person outside for a walk in tier 4. Can you do that?

I'm meeting a friend for a dog walk Tuesday morning.

Check the rules on bubbles, but a childcare bubble (if that's what your mum has with your sister) is separate to a support bubble. Your mum could have the childcare bubble to provide childcare, and also bubble with you to support you as a single adult household.

If you ever enjoy drawn or would like to try draw there is great series of books by Betty Edwards called drawing on the right side of your brain. New paragraph this is really out in but I know how how difficult it is when you feel alone as I also live alone.

The series of books has two instruction books and then a workbooks books that have been revised over the years. New paragraph this is the outing bit I've ended up registered blind a couple of years ago after having a very busy work life and I found it exceptionally hard to adjust. I saw this book recommended on Mumsnet about 8 months ago so I bought first two booka.

When I want to draw or read/write t I've a big magnifying unit called a CCTV unit and when I put either a book or drawing paper or painting paper under that I can see enough to be able to draw and paint. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to put any pictures on of the work that I've done but if you've got any interest to draw give it a go or if you'd like to have a go and you totally skint
let me know and I would like to lend you one of my books for a couple of months. New paragraph I really hope you found something that you can do isolation is bad enough but when you're bored as well that's torture I really do feel for you.

I hope the link works, or do the search but for images only.

www.google.com/search?q=drawing+on+the+right+side+of+the+brain&oq=drawing+on+the+right+side+of+the+brain&aqs=chrome..69i57.4930j0j4&client=tablet-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8