How do you fill your time as children grow more independent?

[GoldenTrees]

What do you actually do with your free time?
I had kids young, it’s been chaotic and I’ve loved it. My identity has very much been just about being a mum, and now they’re getting older going to high school they don’t need me as much. Im getting more and more time to myself. I have started to potter in the garden, but there’s only so much time I can spend in the garden without starting a big project. I.e redoing the slabs. My friends are not in to gardening, and honestly we mainly socialise by going for a meal or night out.
For those of you that are at this point, or further down the line. What does a typical day look like. I need to start easing myself in to life. But honestly don’t know how I will fill a day / whole weekends / weeks off without spending a fortune or going crazy from boredom. I don’t know what to do with myself.
I refuse to spend my new found time cleaning more 😂

Most people work. Surely you already know that!

Is there a reason why you can’t work?

volunteer.
study.
create - sew, paint, crochet….

In the evenings, after work I bike, climb, take dogs for a walk, run.

On weekends… when I’m not in work I bike, climb, take dogs for a walk in the hills, run

Work! I think I might just die if I started pottering.

I found myself luxuriating in being able to work more and take on more interesting projects because I wasn’t so chained to the clock.

I did couch to 5k and a couple of running events, plus parkrun with ds.

I volunteered in several things but the biggest was the Woodcraft Folk, I was a youth leader for three years. If your children do Guides or similar they are always looking for leaders, and if you like kids it’s a great thing to do.

Do you work? Do you have a partner?

Working

This is a luxury question to ask, you don't have to work?! If I had lots of free time and didn't need to earn I would probably volunteer at an animal shelter, charity shop, something to give a sense of feeling worthwhile.

So many options...study/help others/explore new hobbies/chill and read...

Also, as you were a young parent you are still quite young now so no why isn't getting a job a possibility?

I assume you work FT but perhaps it’s quite an ‘easy’ job - could you not study for a better career in the evenings?

I’ve just completed my masters degree which took up a lot of my evenings and weekends.

I go to the gym, meet friends, play PlayStation, read, do DIY projects, hike/bike riding.
I still don’t have enough time to do everything I want to do.

I have less free evening time now mine are high school age because they need taking everywhere!

Mine are still relatively young (8 & 13), but work and retraining for a new career, reading, gardening, wild swimming, hiking (I’ve done several multiple day treks, including wild camps, I’ve also walked a camino), travel, I bought myself a horse, I volunteer and am on a charity steering committee, I belong to a few support groups because I have chronic illnesses (also have a fair few hospital appointments) and I still do a fair bit of taxiing everyone around and coordinating one dc’s sports practice and travel as she competes quite seriously in a sport. I’ve definitely never been bored!

Sounds lovely, 🥰 I have recently joined a committee and getting more involved in other things in the community as a result. I would like to do some more hiking, and I live in an area that has a lot of lovely walks. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah I work full time, I’m limited on any further promotions as it’s quite niche with fairly limited opportunities. I did start an Open University degree during Covid in a completely different area, so yes good idea I could return to complete the final two years. I really enjoyed the course.

I took up a new sport and play 3 times a week, go out partying a lot, go and do lots of mountain walking, camping, festivals, volunteering, singing in a choir, gardening, cooking and watching Netflix.

Yes there is this, but mine have always had activities on during evenings / weekends. They’re more drop offs now, and I don’t need to stay. Struggle with this also tbh, as we live fairly rural I find myself trying to kill time a lot as it’s not that close to nip home.

Mine both left home last year. I work, read, garden, exercise, ride a motorbike, meet friends, spend quality time with my parents. I have no problems filling my time.

I'm a creative person so I always have a project or two on the go. I like to visit exhibitions and see plays, films and concerts. I like going on history walks in different parts of the city (usually self guided with a book). I do a couple of sports and some performing arts. I usually have some kind of course on the go (am currently doing an OU degree part-time).

I do fairly minimal taxiing as we're in London and my kids have been comfortable using public transport on their own since Yr 7.

I work run swim sing socialise. Very busy. Mine still need a fair amount of ferrying around

If it’s an area suitable for walking, get some exercise and perhaps listen to a podcast?