What do your days consist of?

Starscream84 said:

I always say I’ll do what the other person wants which then gets annoying for the other person.

I have done this since the beginning of time. I used to think that this would make others happy and I think it does to a point but too much and I get told I never offer suggestions. Maybe I leave things to the other person because I’m happy doing nothing and that’s why I don’t suggest anything. I love listening to audiobooks and podcasts, either when I’m at work or when I’m in bed. You could perhaps make walking your new year’s resolution to get yourself back out there. 

Thank you for sharing that bit about focussing on others before yourself. I found that helpful in that if asked what I want to do I always say I’ll do what the other person wants which then gets annoying for the other person.

I too have lists of things (and can spend more time researching what I might do than actually doing it and then struggling with the plan I’d thought would happen not happening and the getting frustrated at myself and then everything is just wrong and I feel stuck. Repeat cycle….). 

Podcasts or audiobooks are what get me through the housework (when I actually get myself into doing the housework) and when walking (if I ever get back to waking….). 

I work as a software engineer, which is the perfect job for me and my way of thinking. My work days are therefore pretty structured. I'm also a father, so before/after work requires me to be responsible for other people in various ways. Weekends too. So me and my wife get not nearly as much time to ourselves as we would like, but I tend to make sure that my wife does all the things she wants to do - something is built into me to make sure everyone else is happy, even at my own expense. But I am trying to get better at thinking of what I want/need.

So in the spare time I do have I tend to catch up on a long list of video games, TV shows or films to watch. I literally do have a list (which is very long), so that when I've finished one I try to decide what the next best use of my time is. In between all that I also listen to podcasts a lot since I can combine that with walking (exercise) and that can fit in with lots of other things.

This is not in any way a criticism or even correction, but you might consider that some people don't do much when they ARE employed!

"Doing things" is highly recommended, as you will get plenty of time for NOT DOING when you are dead. That gets increasingly obvious  and relevant as you get older, so it's worth letting that seep in...

I've just spent a year "not doing much" (to be honest I am at a sweet spot where I don't have to do a lot to get by) and it's very overrated in my opinion...  

I take my morning medication. Go downstairs, put my headphones on and listen to epic the musical or Hamilton. I will scroll tiktok sometimes. 

I like to spend my time doing the things I love so like listening to music, writing, being creative. I like to try and be productive, if I can. Sometimes I go out for a walk but it depends how I’m feeling. A lot of the time I feel like I need to stay inside.

Oh and of course spending time with my cat, Mittens.

Time spent with animals = happiness = inner peace. X

Hi Nexus11, what things do you review? I enjoy watching  or reading reviews (fountain pens, Transformers, games, books, etc being my general special interests)

Fantasy novel? I’d love to hear more as someone who is just getting back into reading fantasy and is watching miniatures and role play tabletop videos online but not quite able to turn up to an event in a shop or club.  

I don't do much, since i'm unemployed, but I'm doing online Uni so I spend my early mornings doing some coursework then I just watch tv/listen to music. Sometimes I go out if I absolutely can't avoid it. Look after my pets too, and go to bed quite early + maybe play a video game before bed.

I don't work presently, so there really is not much aside from doing any important stuff needing doing on my PC and watching TV.

I'd play on my Switch but I'm not allowing myself to do anything until I get a job.

Retired Teacher, there is no mention of fresh fruit in there Perhaps you do not like it. If you do perhaps a visit to a supermarket is due. I tdon't know if you live with anyone, if not I think it is desirable for humans to be around other people from time to time to try and stay mentally well. Have you ever considered as well home delivery for grocries in the future to give you more choice? Hopefully they deliver to where you live.

I have been involved in some intense writing projects at home in the past, but need a second interest in the real world going on as well for some time away from home to try to maintain my mental health.

My main work day is a Sunday and the rest of the time I’m supposed to be responsible for use my time effectively. So it’s often a lot of guilt about what I’m not doing (like housework and cooking more healthily). I think I’m learning about the need to decompress from being around people and that being ok. I’d like to get some more structure (eating regularly and more healthily, doing some exercise) and also finding the courage or emotional / mental bandwidth to do more with other people (eg tabletop gaming, playing music with a band). Having been diagnosed was ASD I’ve also been told to request an ADHD assessment so I hope that might help me learn how to balance the sense of need for routine and structure  / struggling to create or maintain the routine thing for myself. 

I hope you are able to find the routines that work for you and thank you for sharing your experience and asking the question. 

My work days consist of: showering, breakfast, going to work (I have lunch during this period), going to the gym, making dinner, having my evening shower, calling my partner, having a night time snack/brew and doing stuff I enjoy like reading till I fall asleep.

Non work days consist of making plans to meet up with my partner/ friends. I also still go to the gym and do my other hobbies like reading or gaming.

Non work days can also include various errands when they pop up like going to the library or getting my haircut.

Work days are pretty much just that - I get up, shower, go to work, have dinner when I get back which is rarely cooked from scratch. Evenings are watching TV or crafts.

Non work days are spent doing a lot of solitary activities to recover from being with people at work. Crafts, TV, reading. Naps. I love sleeping.

Every so often I will see friends or family but this becoming more of an effort not because I don't like them but because of the draining effect and lack of interest I have in being there.

I want to do so much more with my life but not sure if possible. Certainly not right now

Loosing weight is my main goal of the moment. Have become very single minded, and have lost 60ls in 1 1/2 years.

That sounds cool!

I'm wondering  whether to try setting up a blog for my reviews of various things. I tried to set up a Fanzine once, but u fortunately the I ternet took over, and photocopiers had a nasty way od doubling krvtriplung their prices once I found what seemed to be a good one. I used to write short stores too.

One old friend of mine write a lot of SF even whilst still working, and has gone back to painting too now.

I think it's important not to waste the time there now is.

Someone passed onto me about inclusive onkine activities. They are a website aimed at folk like us.

I have myself booked to do an event they are running. They have different  meetings from dog lovers to Bible stories called Bible Tales. May be something for someone to consider to help pass the time.

www.inclusiveonlineactivities.com/

Normally school till the afternoon or evening. After that I’m attending a ton of hobbies. On Mondays band practice, on Tuesdays going to the gym, on Wednesdays I lead a school club at my school (first aid) and go to an elementary school afterwards to do the same thing, on Thursdays I sing in my schools choir and on Fridays I take piano and guitar lessons. 

The rest is filled by walking the dog (or going on runs with him), practicing my instruments or doing school work and volunteering at the Red Cross (mainly in the field of civil protection at my local association and providing medical service) as well as filling a leading position in my local Red Cross Youth.

It can get a bit much, but it also kind of suits me to be tied to such a strict schedule. The balance is very hard and even though I know that many others have much more stress than me, I still feel like I’m stumbling into another burn out (the last one ended with me having to quit competitive swimming, which set me off).

I'm retired, but not retired. I have a tiny pension in the country where I have earned my living as a Tesol teacher, which covers my bills, but nothing else. I'm currently waiting to see what the UK will decide my small pension will be. 

So I still have to work a little. I don't mind. I still have a handful of students, mostly in the evening. It's nothing like the brutal timetables there were in the past, just to keep headcabovevwater. Currently I will be on holiday till the first January Monday.

I'm trying to generate interest in my artwork, get more passive income from prints from it. The past two years have been disappointing though, artists get ripped off and scammed here, there, everywhere. When bureaucracy in trying to sell things doesn't mean potential buyers don't pull out. 

So outside day job work, it's a question of dividing time between making posts on the Internet, and creating new works. I don't like hustling though. 

My routine is as follows. 

Get up and got to the gym, back into bed for 30 mins with a cup of tea, wake my children and get them to school followed by me heading off to work. I work alone as a tradesman which I’m very grateful for as I’m alone. After work collect my youngest, back home, dinner and possibly kids clubs, lunches for the next day and then my favourite part BED. 

Then do it all again the next day. It’s extremely tiring but I love the predictable nature of it.