House work vs free time

...he wasn’t amused!

When I got married 46 yrs ago my Grandmother gave me a word of advice, I never ever forgot!
"If you are Black Leading the grate and your Husband asks you to go out do go, because if you don't there are plenty of other women who will" ? ?

Wise words ladies? So I've always kept my housework to a minimum!

Since retiring I have employed a cleaner fortnightly just to keep on top of things. My husband died 5 years ago. If I find the house/houswork too much I shall move to somewhere smaller so that I can still have a life!

You ask what you can do with all your free tine, and the answer is ANYTHING!
If that is a little overwhelming, just have a crack at one thing at a time. Avoid anything that you cannot afford, or are unable to do physically.
Think what amused you when you actually had time off from work, and elaborate on that (if it's travelling, then amuse yourself with plans for later).
Perhaps, to start with, just let the weather decide for you: if it's raining, read your favourite/new book, if it's sunny, get out and about.
If you drive, then drive somewhere nice for lunch.
If you don't drive, take up cycling, and cycle somewhere nice for lunch.

I cleaned my oven yesterday ....it took 5 hours to totally get it clean!! In future I’m gonna get it done professionally £60 around here , if you don’t want you hob done,.. too good a chance to miss... what’s money for!!

If the house needs cleaning it can wait,i would much rather be on Gransnet//youtube with a cup of tea or a glass of wine,
the latter would be the wise choice.

I'm with pensionpat.

My magnet is on the windowsill and says, "Dust testing in process; do not disturb the samples!"

Im one of those that can’t get on with enjoying my time unless my house is clean and tidy. So first part of my day is cleaning and tidying then I can go and have my time to do whatever I want. Guess we are all different I have one DD that is exactly like me the other only does it when it’s needed.

Well, DH switches the TV on, and I'm afraid I watch too much of it. Mind you I've usually done a bit of housework by then. I do the cooking in the house and baking and sewing and repairing things and of course checking gransnet!! It all keeps me busy!!

My sole fridge magnet (a present from a friend) says 'housework is for people who don't garden'. That sums me up. But I do like the house to be clean so housework is for rainy days.
I have no compunction about going out for the day and leaving the house in a mess.

My 7 year old grandson pointed out a while back that my kitchen floor needed sweeping and got the broom out! I was further mortified when he said he'd noticed I didn't sweep it very often & made me a sign to remind me to do it! The shame!! The sign did have a big red heart on it though! I had the best of intentions but they've slipped since not seeing him due to lockdown.....

My late mother in law often said that no one lay on their deathbed and said “I wish I’d done more housework!

I dont do the housework because we have a lovely cleaner. As I can no longer do very much she is a treasure and her 5 hours here also helps my foreign language skills as she doesnt speak English. My husband now does the washing machine and dishwasher duties and was having a moan the other day so I pointed out that I had done it all for 24 years so it was his turn now. Unfortunately our lovely lady hurt her back last week so didnt come. Yesterday the kitchen floor looked a mess with all the bits the dogs bring in from the garden attached to their fur. It's obviously not bothering my husband so looks as if I shall have to have a sweep up ....

I have a fridge magnet that says 'tidy people are just to lazy to look for things'
I think I'd like the one Theoddbird has 'I cleaned my house yesterday......
I have two cats moulting as well.

I do quite a lot of housework, and don’t intend to justify it.
I don’t consider my life wasted, I have time for some voluntary work and some hobbies, though it’s hard to get stuck into anything as I have caring commitments as well.
I hate those mottoes telling me to ‘seize the day’, ‘dance like nobody’s watching etc’, ‘boring women have tidy houses’.
I played with my own children, and love playing with my grandchildren. My only motto is to be kind.
When I was working, I found my job so horribly stressful it was a relief just to wipe my mind clean and do housework. My days off were during the day, so I had the house to myself.
I wouldn’t criticise anyone who doesn’t mind dirt, untidiness or complete chaos. People can keep their homes and live their lives as they like.

Must admit i do less now than ever. I wasted so many years wanting the perfect house, perfect kids, to be perfect hostess etc. As I say. What a waste of time! . Even working full time everything had to be just so. Since retiring things get done when they need it. I have kept my lovely lady who has done my ironing for last 15 years ( supporting the local economy ?) and I pay someone to clean my oven when needed. Everything else is as and when

My husbands grandmother always said "there'll be no one to polish the handles on your coffin" god bless her and my motto is "great at having kids (we've got 5, 2 still at home) rubbish at housework" I do the bare minimum, life's too short and I'm lazy, my house isn't filthy or dirty x

I love my little home but housework isn't the highest of my priorities. It's comfortable but the shelves are a bit dusty.
I make sure the kitchen and bathroom are clean and don't believe that I've poisoned anyone and that's the main thing. I hope that if it becomes dangerously grubby someone will be brave enough to tell me.

Some of us enjoy housework and hate gardening. I am one of them, but I do what I consider necessary in the house and garden.

I spend my time reading, and other hobbies.

Decide how much housework you think is necessary and stick to it.

I put things away after I have used them. That's it, done

You should do what makes YOU Happy, I think if you haven’t got much in your rooms you are going to be able to whizz round quicker, I dust when I see it, lol but there’s lots more things to do than focus on housework although for some people they don’t feel content until they have tidied, hoovered etc. Then they can relax

Lots of fridge magnets here but we have a built in fridge, so had to buy magnetic strips to accommodate them all - lots of holiday memories.

Back in the old day when we could have people round, was when we did the big clean. Now it’s an occasional occurrence.

I have a cross stitch picture I stitched and framed "An immaculate house is the sign of a wasted life", and I am determindly working on not having a wasted life!

I clean the kitchen and bathroom every morning and a quick clean up after evening meal. The rest of the house is done when it needs it and i must admit my bedroom is quite untidy! I find it difficult to relax if the house needs cleaning but there are so many other things which i prefer to do i can sometimes live with it.

Lovely cleaner here today, thank goodness. Never was very good at cleaning, we got her when I had my hip op. So glad when she was allowed to come back.