loneliness, weekends and having a routine

I think a lot of people feel the same Navy.

I fully understand your post OP. It's an odd thing, weekdays have quite a different feel to them sometimes.

Doing nothing special can seem attractive, until you are several hours in and realise it's only 2.30 in the afternoon!

This might sound strange but could you make yourself a little timetable?

In terms of ideas, are you rural or city based?

Why the necessity for a routine?
It comes across to me as a straitjacket acquired from childhood on - daily timetable at school, commuting and working hours, a domestic routine which decrees washing on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, changing the beds on Wednesday etc
All of these tell us where to be and what to do with our lives.
The lovely thing about retirement is that you can at last be spontaneous, devise time and space for YOU and act as the spirit moves you
Unless of course you shrink from this freedom and would rather take refuge in a routine as many elderly people -my late father included- seem to do or did.

Sunday is absolutely the worst day when you are on your own. I am lucky to have a good friend and neighbour we try to busy ourselves making use of the free pass for the train, don't go far we check whats on in our area from markets to just a wee trip to local resort a walk on the beach and a drink in the pub or occasionally a meal out. I hope you find someone to share these ideas with. Xx

I'm sorry to hear you find yourself feeling lonely at times and particularly the weekend. I respect other PP's right to express their views but the view that you are not lonely when you experience lonliness is not one I share. If you feel lonely, you are entitled to express that you are lonely. Have you considered volunteering, eg, in a charity shop? I have a very good friend who lives a couple of hundred of miles from me. I used to go and stay with her up to 4 times a year for a weekend. She roped me into joining her on a Saturday as an occasional charity shop volunteer when I was visiting. I even ended up on the rota for my visits and served at their stall once when I happened to be there for one of their Charity Auction evenings. I met a lot of interesting people and felt "part of it". I also understand your comment that you like your own company by yourself from time to time. I am the same, but that doesn't mean you can't feel lonely. Good luck in finding a way forward that suits you

I get this. I know exactly what you mean. If the weekend were a weekday, one's mind would not dwell on it. You already meditate, so I suspect you've tried all the mind tricks you can.
Working on my fitness is probably the most powerful antidote to loneliness, and I thoroughly recommend it if that's possible.
I also think one has to be far more proactive socially when alone. I sometimes invite friends for drinks or supper—most people love being looked after for an evening, and an impromptu drink on a summer evening is hard to turn down. Even if you don't have a garden, there is usually somewhere to go.
Don't invite those who don't bother to respond or whom you don't feel are worth the effort again.
A city break is good over a weekend if you can afford it, especially abroad in Europe (trains are good for this) and there are so many single travellers now.
Some hobbies are weekend-specific, such as lock-keeping or certain sports clubs. Most need people to run bars or help shepherd juniors.
Good luck.

My answer to feeling lonely at the weekend is to treat Saturday and Sunday as weekdays and do some of the things I used to reserve for weekdays after work on Saturday or Sunday.

Before I become busy with my voluntary role which I do virtually at weekends as well as in the week, I found the best thing for me to do with weekends was to treat the days as 'working days' and to give myself a relaxing day or two in the week.

Wine

Perhaps Sunday Dinner lunch clubs might help.

Our U3A has a Sunday lunch club once a month.
My husband works at weekends and my friend is a widow so we have joined. There were 24 people at the last one 🙂

I save most of my housework for weekends, always plenty of books to read, puzzles to do.

I get on a bus and go for a ride, or look around shops, I have got used to the solitude and look on it as a time to recharge my social battery.

Hmm yes but sometimes its difficult to get away from the idea that the weekend is when families get together.
My DH works each weekend so I often on my own for hours so have a bit of an inkling of what this is like.
This is where church comes in but am now an atheist.
Think it's something to work on.
Perhaps Sunday Dinner lunch clubs might help.

Lots of suggestions for you to consider NavyandPeach. What appeals to you? It is always appreciated to get a response when people go to the trouble of replying to your post. 😊

Sometimes ramblers meet at the weekend if you are into walking.

Not 1950's ages 50's

There's an App call MeetUp, that might help you . You enter your area (or areas) and find groups to meet up with. They sometimes do things at weekends. Today I went to a Cuppa, Cake or Brunch meeting at 10:30. They dont do much in the evening at weekends in my area but in some of the others they do. Also if you are on Facebook, there are Meetup groups for all different decades i.e. 50's 60's 70's and they meet in groups to make friends and then attend events.

I would love to volunteer but due to my home situation I would be as useful as a chocolate teapot as I can’t rely on my three. Being lonely isn’t necessarily being alone in my case but talking to someone.

Another one who agrees with Georgesgran and Marge75 comments.

At a loose end yes, but lonely no.

Almost sounds like bragging.

At the moment I keep a large jigsaw on the go. It's amazing how quickly an hour passes.Do a bit from time to time.

Visit some places you haven't been before. Stop for lunch and most of a day has gone by and you've had a good time exploring.

Could you leave most of your jobs for the weekend? Washing, ironing, changing the bed, cleaning the bathroom, tidy the garden, putting the hoover round etc. A bit of local shopping. Just a thought. In the evening you will be ready for a sit down and watch tv with a glass of wine. There will be millions of people who feel exactly like you. Of that you can be sure.

If you enjoy hosting invite someone to stay for the weekend. You may then get a return invite.

If you are into vintage how about antique and craft fairs or car boots? There are always lots around here (Manchester)

Are there any sporting activities you fancy or activity groups you could join? Park run etc. Lots of those probably take place at the weekend.

Much as I loathe shopping centres at this time of year they are great for cheering you up with the antics of the children.

This morning I was laughing at a little girl, face painted like a reindeer, chatting with Father Christmas. She was obviously in awe, and when he wandered off down the street she watched until he was out of sight, then begged her Mum 'please can we go that way' - pointing after Father Christmas. Her next words were 'Will it snow now?'. I was chuckling away as I walked down the street.

Maybe you just need something to make you chuckle now and again to give you a bit of a lift?

Should read friends and family

I am in full agreement with Georgesgran, I would say with such a busy week and with lots of family and family around you have an ideal life. A day or two on your own should be something to look forward to, not dread. There are many really lonely people out there with no one during the week as well as weekends.