Low Boredom Threshold- too much energy

Maybe you need to learn a physical skill - a sport, an art, a craft. Something that stretches abilities you have not so far used, but can be picked up and put down as you wish.

Do you sew? If not, you could learn. If you do, have you tried pattern cutting to create your own designs? There are many other arty-crafty things, mosaics, stained glass, clay modelling, silk painting, watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels. There are woodwork, miniatures, metal-work, leather.

There are enough sports to keep you active for the next hundred years, as well as golf, bowls, badminton, tennis, swimming, all the more common ones, there is archery, for example. One gransnetter has taken up archery at a greater age than yours, and with a considerable disability, and is loving it.

Whatever you take up, other people are going to be a big part of it. They will stop that feeling you have of being adrift in a mist.

I admit I can be a bit. of a butterfly and am trying to ground myself more.

There has also been a bit of getting away from DH, who has a bad back and does everything very slowly. He also gets up at 10-11am and goes to bed very late.

I think a large part of my 'getting it all in' is to do with my late mother and her sisters, who all had earlyish onset senile dementia. I have a fear of also 'losing my marbles' in my 70s and am trying to stave this off by keeping mentally active.

Gracegran, I've no interest in gaining a degree, especially now they are so commonplace. I spent years studying at night school for my banking diploma and don't wish to be bogged down by assignments.

Thank you all for your suggestions. And I'm jealous of those women who find it so easy to chill. However, I'm fit and healthy- so far- so should count my blessings.

There's the rub. Most occupations that are not just for your own entertainment, or for filling in the time until old age and decrepitude make you incapable, involve interacting with other people, and they do like it if you are reliable.

If you don't want a tie, I think you will have to find something that is self-powered. It is up to you what that is, and how long you persist in it. The excitement will have to be generated by your own interest so you will not then have any input from outside.

It sounds as though you will become bored with that too. Commitments to others may be a tie, but they apply the discipline to keep going through the flat times.

Not easy to find work at my age Jain. It might be easier to start a small business. Maybe dealing in vintage stuff from boot sales & charity shops etc might be an avenue to pursue.

Was thinking of offering myself for dog walking, but you have to be reliable & available, which is a tie.

Sorry gracesgran, guilty of skim reading - I've got a lot on today!

If it seems you are alone kittylester than I was being too subtle in my post..

However, in an effort to help trueblue I would agree with janeasworth about going back to work or, of course set up a business, perhaps running it from home so DH feels involved could prove challenging. The problem with a "low boredom threshold" is it can mean you don't stick at anything. As I said, you do seem to have run through quite a few things in a "done that, now what do I do for a change" way.

Perhaps you should be looking for a challenge that you are not so sure you can achieve. How about a degree or, if you already have one, a degree in a completely different area or a higher level degree. I think that perhaps being measured by others (business/academic challenge) rather than your own level of willingness to be involved in the more mundane bits of any undertaking might mean you get through something very challenging and through the boring bits too.

Why not see if any of your less energetic friends / acquaintances , can do with a bit of help , go visit some of them and wash the floors/ clean the cupboards /walk the dog / feed the baby .................

There are many oppurtunities to volunteer. And many many organisations crying out for them.

Am I the only one to feel mildly offended that trueblue has written us all off in one fell swoop?

At 66 I would love the chance to be bored although I don't have a long list of activities like true blue. My list does include gossipy lunches, holidays, but also volunteering, grand children, cooking, shopping, DGC, family comittments, a little work, gardening - oh and DH!!

Why don't you just go back to work Trueblue?

Sorry, never been bored.

I am not surprised you feel "positively lazy" vampirequeen as being told by someone they are "... born industrious" and then reading many of the interests that forum members have found interesting and talked about in the past written off in one fell swoop certainly brought on a large yawn from me.

I do think some younger pensioners do miss the regular rhythm and feeling of being needed that work provided but each will have a different way of adapting. You have written off so many avenues trueblue that I do not know what to suggest. As you are only 63 and presumably retired at 60 you seem to have run through quite a few things so far although you may have retired when your husband did of course, if so, lucky you as so many will have to go on to 67 in the future. Counting your blessings, particularly the good health that enables you to do all these things might fill some of your time.

I use up a lot of time and energy [physical and mental] thinking of all the things I SHOULD be doing. Which leaves me with no time or energy [mental or physical] with which to do them.

I seem to have developed a remarkable talent for quietly doing nothing much at all, in the last few weeks. It's surprising how many things don't actually need to be done.

At 63 trueblue you could be expected to have a reasonable amount of energy. So just keep on doing the things you have done up until now. Why stop if you don't want to?

Each to his/her own.

Gosh what a busy life. I feel positively lazy. I rarely feel bored so I can't help, I'm afraid. I love days out. DH and I belong to the Historic Houses Association and English Heritage. We can also go to RSPB sites because we belong to the Caravan Club. Then there is the internet, reading, sitting in a cafe or on a bench people watching and housework/garden. We also volunteer at a local community centre which takes far more of our time then we thought it would.

Oh, how I wish I was properly retired. I would love to have plenty of time to do nothing. I am happy to potter around, doing nothing in particular. I would like to be able to take up bowls again, I have my own set, but after work I am too tired to do anything other than make the meals and do the housework.

I have a friend who constantly has to fill her life with one activity after another, with hardly a free day, and I often wonder why?Are some people scared of a blank diary, or are they bored with their husband's company, or
Unsure how to fill their life after retirement?

Try meditating on why you feel compelled to engage in constant activity? Pausing and reflecting on life, thinking deeper might help you to find new ways of being. Om....

What dreams do you have?

And start with the ones that require the most energy.

Write a book! Good title could be "How to keep busy"

Reading the post exhausted me.

Me <raises hand> I don't have any ideas though because I'm not at the same stage of leisure as you yet.

I'm not going on them...no inclination or money for that

PHEW !

'Interminable cruises and holidays...'? I should be so lucky!