Looking for inspiration 🤔

Try a walking group or the Ramblers. There are normally lots of groups and many that do short walks and have coffee afterwards. They are very social and you get to meet lots of interesting people. You can choose one that fits in with the grandchildren and your mum.

No, you don’t just pluck one out of thin air Narnia, but give very serious thought to what you’ve always wished you had more time for, other than working, running the home, caring for grandchildren and your Mum! Quite a lot isn’t it? When I first had some free time, following retirement, I joined a French class, continued with my Yoga, met regularly with other dog walkers, did a gardening course, as well as caring for my Mum, together with my sisters and carers. Then, when my granddaughters arrived I looked after them for two days/week when my daughter went back to work after maternity leave. 15 years on, I am now learning Spanish (slowly), I volunteer at a charity shop (great fun), still dog walk, enjoy meeting up for coffee/lunch with friends and still love gardening. However, I’m looking for something else to fill a few gaps and, like you, am struggling. Let’s hope someone inspires us. 🤞

If you look at your local U3A website, you will probably find a large choice of groups, from walking to crochet! to languages to hietory, to ukelele etc. Perhaps a book group?

You could try dipping your toe in the water, a group might only at once a month, and see how you get on, if you don't like a subject after a few weeks, you could find another one.

It's good to find another interest after so much time spent caring for others.

Excuse typos.
Sorry.

Volunteer.

Can you find something that relates to your previous work? Or something that you feel strongly about.

I treat my volunteering as wirk so, although I know that I can take time off it i need to, I don't unless it is very necessary.

I have made lots of new friends from volunteering and I know I make a difference to some people's lives.

You don't actually have to do anything, there's no law. Why not just relax and spend time with your own thoughts? See what pops up.

Cadenza123

You don't actually have to do anything, there's no law. Why not just relax and spend time with your own thoughts? See what pops up.

I agree.I do childcare and work part time but with extra shifts when I need the money or colleagues go off sick.I make sure Mum is ok, housework and so on.Leisure time is some tv, looking on here or MN, and reading.
Put your feet up when you get a chance😃

kittylester I agree entirely it changed my life completely

I think the thing is to be open minded. I’ve tried a few things. Some I’ve stuck to and liked, others I gave up quite quickly. I was told once by a group of older widowed ladies to say yes to everything. That way you could whittle down what you liked and work out what you didn’t. That stuck with me and I’ve found it very good advice when I retired and moved area.

Do you want a hobby, or is it just that other people are making you feel that you should have one? If you're happy with your life and family, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

HowVeryDareYou2

Do you want a hobby, or is it just that other people are making you feel that you should have one? If you're happy with your life and family, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Spot on!
Im a bit of an OCD cleaner but I'm getting better at not doing as much.
I do like reading and scroll trivia on the internet.
I could spend my free time cleaning at my dd house which I'm sure she'd appreciate.
Everyone seems to assume i need to get out and do something

What do you enjoy apart from caring for others?
Do you like dressmaking or another craft?
Learn a language, family history, a book club, U3A , cookery, baking, join a bowls club, volunteering too.
Classes are about to start again for the autumn term so quickly look up your local authority adult education programme and sign up.
I think you should treat at least one day a week to doing something just for you.

"I don't have any burning desire to learn to crochet, belly dance,firebreathe!"

Then try something that does interest you.

Have you ever watched TV, a filk, read a newspaper, and seen something that made you think " I'd love to do that. I wish I knew how to make one of those. That looks like fun".

Narnia, why do you think you have to be doing something, I never had any desire to join groups, my OH and I retired at the same time, we spent the time walking most days or not , just sitting reading enjoying our leisure time after working for years

Narnia. I expect you’re very tired after all that child care, I would be and it’s not over yet you’re still doing plenty. Give yourself a break see how you are.
I think at the moment you just need to be see if you’re bored. Could you visit friends for a coffee and a nice walk in the fresh air and look after yourself for once.

Local libraries often have a range of activities going on. And/or notice-boards with information about activities/groups in the area. Or have you thought about joining a local Women's Institute, if there's a group near to you? (I do appreciate that some people think the W.I. is a "fuddy-duddy" institution, but truly it has evolved with the times, and these days most W.I. groups are modern, friendly, and interesting. You can visit a W.I. group's monthly meeting three times, without making a commitment to join.)

Lots of good ideas!
I'm being pushed more into the 'take care of yourself" join a gym, do some exercise type thing.
I do love to read, usually only get to do it before bed.
I'm only just 60 so a lot of my friends are still working.
I do have a lot of younger people i meet at groups with my granddaughter which is lovely.
Will see how i settle into the new routine!

I tried doing nothing much when I retired but got very bored. We had a voluntary sector hub in the town and at their suggestion started volunteering in an advice centre and stayed 15 years. It was the best job I ever had, nice people, great friendships made, extremely interesting and rewarding work and I could take as many holidays as I liked. As a bonus I ended up in a paid position working until my late seventies.

You never know what you will like until you give it a try. You don’t have to continue if something is not to your taste. I have in the past year joined a Tai Chi class with all the other participants decades younger than me but I love it and really enjoy the more youthful company.

Yes, Gin I think we fear boredom and loneliness and think if we slump in a chair in front of the TV we'll never get up again.

When my son left school aged 16 he announced he was done with school and just wanted a rest!
I reckon he slept for a year not all the time but a fair chunk
Then gradually he emerged and somehow decided to go to university because his girlfriend was going, so he did and that led, indirectly, to his career as a film maker.

I think it's a good thing to do what you want and not what's expected of you.

At 60yrs old you could be my child! 🤣😂

I would definitely suggest exercise. I didn’t do much and now have osteoporosis. Perhaps more exercise would have prevented this.

I got bored after retiring too. It was lovely at first not to have to get up early when it was cold and dark but gradually found my self losing curiosity about the world I live in as I met fewer people and only went to the places I knew.

I started evening classes every Winter for a few years and had some great times and met a few people I am still friends with - antiques, soft furnishings (I've always made blinds and curtains but can do other things too now), pottery (more for laughs than anything else, I'm not a natural potter 😄), and others. When I did art classes my teacher told me my interpretation of the still life might mean I was going to be the new Picasso 😆

I used to do a Pilates and yoga class every week to keep my muscles strong, but I recently started callisthenics instead to give it a go and I'm quite enjoying it.

I find swimming very beneficial, it makes me feel a lot younger than I am

HowVeryDareYou2

Do you want a hobby, or is it just that other people are making you feel that you should have one? If you're happy with your life and family, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

I agree with this. If you yourself feel that you’d like a hobby, then all well and good. But if it’s just to please others, and doing it just to placate them, then actually, just smile and nod and continue as you are doing. It’s your life, not theirs.