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What to do with all your time?

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  • Linton
    Linton Posts: 18,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Hung up my suit!
    I can recommend being a volunteer driver taking people to hospitals, day centres etc. One really feels one is doing something useful.  The clients are friendly and grateful often with interesting stories to tell backgrounds you probably won’t meet in any other way.There is likely to be a local group with council supported professional admin.

    .
  • cfw1994
    cfw1994 Posts: 2,119 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Hung up my suit! Name Dropper
    Interesting comments about finding a purpose.  
    I think that is very important.
    That said, I never felt I was defined by my work….but I do appreciate many are.   
    For those, well, keep going as long as you like/can…but do put serious thought into ‘life after work’: perhaps try to dovetail something into your day job that will inspire you when it comes the time to step away.

    Volunteering can help with that.  Brritain runs on volunteers!  
    I highly recommend getting involved with something.  

    I have one pal who spends some time each week (flexible) manning a phone for the Red Cross.  Quite a tough thing to do, not something I could manage, but she enjoys helping people on that.  Another joined his local bowls club literally a 5 minute walk away and now does a lot of stuff there (aside from playing!).  A third has always had strong political beliefs, and has just been voted in as a Councillor!

    I help with some Scouting things, and also have been involved in a sports club for over 40 years.  The latter feels like it is coming to the end for me, BUT it has now spawned into a very popular one for younger people, which is great!   I see my role now just as guiding the next ones along (I have all but given up playing).

    Oh, & we did find a nearby sports hall who offer pickleball….went along yesterday for a taster then some games: actually a lot of fun, and very good exercise: we will do that more!

    Plan for tomorrow, enjoy today!
  • Nebulous2
    Nebulous2 Posts: 5,658 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    zagubov said:

    Learning stuff.

    It’s one of the few things that slows down the subjectively accelerating pace of time as you age.

    I was an OU tutor many moons ago while also being a full-time lecturer in a college.  Quit the OU to do a part-time degree alongside my full-time job.

    However, at least back then, OU tutors could enrol on other OU courses either free or subsidised. 

    When I finally retire f want to look into that again. If you’ve got expertise in anything academic there might be  a way of earning, helping others to learn and/or learning something new. Obviously go to the summer schools to meet and bond with fellow-students.

    There used to be A level and GCSE evening classes at many local colleges but that seems to have been cut savagely.

    Other distance learning providers are available -i’m not currently an OU employee or related to one, so I don’t want to push that one particular provider but I’ve always been banging on about it being such an overlooked resource.

    So much learning to do.


    I met a man who had been a teacher - possibly physics. He retired and worked or volunteered as an assistant supporting students at his local university. He attended lectures as part of that, and said ironically he had learned more about his own subject, and would have had more to offer as a teacher, than he had been able to give for years towards the end of his career.  
  • thara1996
    thara1996 Posts: 64 Forumite
    10 Posts Photogenic
    Heya. 

    This is my personal advice in order to start off with. Consider learning a new skill in addition. The Open University is a good starting point. Alternatively try FutureLearn or the U3A as well. Good luck to you and you are in my prayers. Otherwise see if you can learn a useful skill like basic first aid. Examples of nice skills to have include letter writing, communication, and so on. Most colleges also offer part time courses in things like baking. Contact them directly or take a good careful look at the details provided on the site. 

    You may even be able to pick up a new skill at church in question. Volunteer at your nearest food bank. I know that this is a great way to improve skills in handling money and effective communication plus resourcefulness. Seriously. Skills in car driving and maintenance are also recommended at all times. Have a look at the organisations I have mentioned above previously. You can pick up all manner of skills these days for free. 
  • Thumbs_Up
    Thumbs_Up Posts: 965 Forumite
    500 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic

    Whatever your background or interest, museums large and small up and down the country would willingly accept you as a volunteer.

    It’s something I will give serious thought too later in life. Ha, the next time you visit IWM Duxford or RAF Hendon it could be me standing in front of the famous Lancaster bomber giving you a brief rundown about the aircraft.   


  • u3a does learning via Zoom if you are a member of a regional u3a - about £15 pp per year.
    https://www.u3a.org.uk/events
    https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events




  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 27,568 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thanks for the reminder about U3A though, I keep toying with the idea and need to get round to actually joining!

    There are lots of positive comments about U3A in this thread and elsewhere. However when I look at their website(s) I think the 'U' bit is a bit misleading, as although there are learning/educational resources, a lot  of the courses/activities seem to be based around card games, gardening, walking, quizzes, hobbies, badminton/pickleball coach trips etc.

    Also when you see pictures most participants seem to be female and older, so an imbalance of gender and age range.

    Maybe I have got a misleading impression ?

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