Bored on mat leave - any suggestions?!

[Christmastree43]

Hey,

I know there are bigger problems and things to worry about so please don't take this as anything but light hearted.

I've been off on maternity leave (from WFH due to corona) two weeks now, am due in just over two weeks, and am SO BORED! Obviously corona doesn't help and I know a lot of you will probably say welcome to my world , I think WFH saved me, I think id have hated being furloughed.

But I can't do any of the things I imagined doing - spending loads of time with family and friends especially older ones, pampering and Spa days (someone to paint my toenails!), shopping (I'm not standing in those queues), enjoying restaurants, cafes, cinemas child free for the last time!

Any physical things I could do (touching up some paintwork, gardening, deep cleaning, long walks if the weather is ok) I'm struggling with due to being heavily pregnant. DP is WFH/ sometimes in the office so I have noone to amuse me either 😭

I just wanted to know if anyone else was in the same boat and if so do you have any exciting suggestions, I'm spending most of my time knitting, binging TV, and scrolling on my phone and I'm BORED TO TEARS!

You could try learning a new language? This website is running an online course of italian lessons
www.viverelitaliano.com/timetable.php?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9Wc46KL6gIVGLLtCh1emQDlEAAYAiAAEgKK5vD_BwE

Do you like games? I bought a Nintendo Switch and I’m saving it for mat leave...

Knitting / crocheting? It's a bit of a cliche but it does help you switch off and I enjoyed making a little hat! Paint by numbers? Baking? Start reading game of thrones!?

Thank you for the great suggestions, in fact theyre so perfect for me I already do two of them I'm a language learning addict and already knit.

Thank you so much, please keep the ideas coming

have you joined any baby/pregnancy groups? A lot of them are running online but it might be worth researching ones you can join when your dc arrives? paint by numbers is a good idea as PP said

Honestly, just get as much sleep as you can because of you don’t you’ll regret it once baby is here believe me.
A switch is a good idea too though.

Knit a blanket? Lots of YouTube vid if you don't know how. Wool warehouse are delivering fairly quickly (within a week).

Yoga and walking. Anything keeping you as mobile as possible.
Also this is possibly the last time you’ll ever be bored, so try and enjoy it! xxx

There's an app called blink list. It does recaps of influential books so you get a snapshot - really interesting!

I got all the photos I had on Facebook, Instgram and various computer files, got them printed and out and delivered by boots and made photo albums and put them in picture frames. It was a nice activity that took very little energy.

I started a small sun flower garden on my balcony. Baby is two weeks and I am still waiting for them to flower though!

There is always clean and organise everything but I never managed to get around to it! I did iron everything in the house because I knew I wouldn't do it after the baby was born!

Sleep!!! Nap, doze, zone out, slob....all of these delicious activities you may not be able to do for a while (unless you're lucky and get a sleeper!). A good tip I have is buy any cards and presents for upcoming friends/relatives birthdays and have them stamped/bagged ready to send/go. If you're able you could also make a dent in Christmas presents too. Batch cook some meals for the freezer. Set alarms on your phone for anything important you may need to do in the next couple of months (renew insurance / car MOT) just so when you're frazzled and distracted you don't miss anything significant (and anything you can do now, don't put off).

Or you could start a bullet journal of some kind. Or cross stitch. Painting/drawing (again lots of classes on YouTube). Pack & re pack your hospital bag a few dozen times? I agree with doing some batch cooking.