[BastetsMuse]

I'm on disability, and I'm just drowning in free time. I'm so bored I think I'm going to scream. I'm at the point where I'm looking for volunteer opportunities - but that scares me because they'd be depending on me.

When you have free time, lots of it, what do you do with yourself? What kinds of solitary activities are there to do? Ideas would be welcome.

I'm on disability benefits too and have lots of free time as well. I like to go to malls and have lunch and shop and people-watch. It gets me out of the house and malls are so clean and pretty. I go to a support group a couple times a week but i don't really like it. It's just something to do. I wish i wouldn't go at all. I'm a competitive Scrabble player and i used to play once a week at a club but since i won the trophy for best player in my division last season i don't seem to want to go. There's no incentive. I've already won the highest honor i can possibly win so WTF. I'm dieting and exercising so that's a new project. I watch General Hospital and stand-up comedy. Sometimes i go out to the airport and watch the planes. Occasionally i'll take a long bus or train ride and enjoy the highway hypnosis. I have a dog to see to several times a day. She's so fun!

I agree, finding things to do while on benefits is a challenge. Volunteering scares me too. I've tried it a bunch of times and only once did it work out and that was in another city. I've tried coloring and knitting but it's not stimulating enough. My doctor says that humans need just the right degree of stimulation and not having enough to do is as stressful as having too much to do. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat some more. I like corresponding and i don't have a penpal at the moment.

[p00dlez]

Well soon (next week) I plan on ripping up the living room flooring and replacing it. Hate this laminate floor, it didn't last and it looks horrible. Then I am going to rip out the walls and replace them with bead board. After that I am going to build a wall shelf floor to ceiling to hold these gazillion dvds that are stuffed practically everywhere. Then trim, paint and I will have one room done. On to the next. We are going to remodel the whole house, it needs it and it should keep me busy for a while.

[Wild Coyote]

There seems to always be lots to do!

Projects, hobbies -- reading, photography, learning a language, playing a musical instrument, exercise, cooking, gardening, time alone, time with friends, etc.

Sometimes when we have more time, we'll find it helpful, even necessary, to get to know ourselves -- What do we enjoy as hobbies? Where do our talents lie? What would we like to learn, or like to like to teach?

I have other adults (in the household) around 4-7 days a week. I never feel like I get enough alone time. That's just me though! We are all a bit different in our needs/interests.



WC

[Ripose]

I watch the independent news on You Tube, it is the only way to learn the truth about what is going on in the world. Mainstream media (TV, radio, newspapers) are nothing more than corporate propaganda machines controlled by the elite and government.

[st0psign]

runescape

[88Butterfly88]

Hi,

Not Bipolar but saw this in the headlines and had something to say. I hope that's okay. Anyway, I really like a website called Swap-bot - Welcome
There you can do everything from swap ATCs (little trading card sized peices of art you could make), to trade postcards, to exchange e-mails, to make penpals, and more. You can also host your own swaps. It's free.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm on disability and I have a lot of hobbies. The problem is staying stable enough to do any of them.

[boogiesmash]

Under my t's recommendation I found meetup. I haven't done many activities but the last one I did was go four wheeling it as so much fun till I crash d into a tree. Actually that was fun too can't wait to do it again. But meetup.com has many groups check it out. I as apprehensive about it at first but came to realization everyone there is on for the same reason, meet new fri new do interesting stuff, not be bored and get out.

[BastetsMuse]

thanks for the ideas

[Coffeee]

When I'm bored from not working I like to write in a daily journal, go for a long walk or read a book. You can even go out like to a coffee shop or the library to read or write in your journal and that promotes social interaction. Also I find being completely ready every day to go out kills time, and allows you to be available for last minute plans. Having events scheduled to look forward to is really helpful.