Bored - What do you do with your free time

bumders

This year I've retired from playing sports due to age and injury. This involved training three nights a week and a match nearly every weekend. I'm 36 and all my friends are married and really miss the schedule and training. I'm single and live alone. I probably get to see them every couple of bank holidays.

I could watch a film in the evening but that's about it and don't like watching the local games when i'm not playing them at the minute. Come from a small town with nothing much to do. Without my 4 hour daily commute each day I think I'd go mad!

Deebles McBeebles

Welcome to Boreds.ie, buddy!

bear1

Wankathon 2019.

Woke Hogan

bumders wrote: »

This year I've retired from playing sports due to age and injury. This involved training three nights a week and a match nearly every weekend. I'm 36 and all my friends are married and really miss the schedule and training. I'm single and live alone. I probably get to see them every couple of bank holidays.

I could watch a film in the evening but that's about it and don't like watching the local games when i'm not playing them at the minute. Come from a small town with nothing much to do. Without my 4 hour daily commute each day I think I'd go mad!

Start running or join the gym

Panthro

I give advice to people on boards.
It's not good advice.
Sometimes it's not even relevant advice.
Sometimes I'm just writing for the sake of it.
Like now.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Walk, read, gardening, nature study, angling, cinema, train kids in sports....


Seriously, there are thousands of things anybody can do to avoid boredom.

My brother faced the same issue and took up guitar. As long as you're not on the register as they say, or have a criminal background, like they said, anything goes. what's the 4 hour commute?? random point on the N7 to work in Dublin ? 2 hrs each way?

Lux23

Would there be many in your town in the same boat?

mad muffin

I plot world domination.

Grayson

I'm in the same boat as the OP. Well, I've never been into sports.

I try to meet up with friends for a post work coffee etc. Besides that if I'm by myself I play console games, read books or just watch netflix.

I went through phases of just studying something new or taking classes (Cooking violin, whatever caught my interest) but I've given them a bit of a rest right now.

limnam

Grayson wrote: »

I went through phases of just studying something new or taking classes (Cooking violin, whatever caught my interest) but I've given them a bit of a rest right now.

How would you go about cooking a violin

Grayson

limnam wrote: »

How would you go about cooking a violin

Slowly. And only ones with catgut strings.


I also forgot to mention online dating. If you're single, you can always take up a night or two a week by going out for dates.

bumders

bumders wrote: »

This year I've retired from playing sports due to age and injury. This involved training three nights a week and a match nearly every weekend............

Would you not get involved in the club, coaching / helping out ?

freshpopcorn

Your ma!

Deebles McBeebles

Grayson wrote: »

Slowly. And only ones with catgut strings.

I won't eat anything less than a Stradivarius.

Melt a bit of rosin into a nice sauce, mmmm mmm!

storker

Grayson wrote: »

I also forgot to mention online dating. If you're single, you can always take up a night or two a week by going out for dates.

And don't forget to bring your violin.

Seriously, though, night classes in...whatever floats your boat. Take up fishing, painting, chess, reading, computer programming, cooking (could be handy for dates) and we are living in a golden age of television where there has never been so much quality output, so you can target your viewing selectively.

Purple Mountain

Augeo wrote: »

Would you not get involved in the club, coaching / helping out ?

Definitely. Underage sports are always really stuck for trainers or helpers.
They are all starting back around now too.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I'm transitioning out of field games myself at the moment. Only 30 but knee has been banjaxed for yrs and probably requires surgery.

I moved into pub games this winter, rejoined my local Darts League and started entering Open Pool competitions. Great craic but a lot of drinking involved, was in a state every Saturday morning from September to March. Probably won't be allowed to play next yr, not really fair on the young lad and partner.

I do a bit of golf also, I love it but it fcks with my head big time. I don't have the temperament for it.

pwurple

Don't waste that energy anyway. Get involved with community initiatives is really productive and a useful non-selfish way to use your spare time.

There are loads, pick something that interests you.

Coaching sounds like a good suggestion.
If you are political, get involved with a party that interests you
Charities are usually looking for helpers for events or other things you can do
Something for residents in your area, tidy towns, street feast, residents association.
Residential centers (elderly, homeless, disabled) often have gardens that you can get involved with (growing veg in their plots etc)
Arts.

kowloon

I fight crime and injustice, but due to health issues it's more of a clerical role. My weapon is my keyboard. My city is the internet.

If you miss your sport what srameen said about coaching kids might be something you'll enjoy.

jim o doom

For me it's.. gaming, reading, YouTube, the cinema, the mobile phone and spending time with the Mrs.

Pick up a new fitness hobby like the gym / a martial art (but a low impact one). I'm 38 myself, bad hip (2 surgeries), bad knee (1 surgery) and a tibial nail in my shin from a motorcycle crash and I still manage to work out at home multiple days & train in martial arts twice a week.

Cycling is fun too, but I personally wouldn't do it on country roads.

facehugger99

People who read are never bored.

Fr_Dougal

Have you tried heroin?

NabyLadistheman

What is your opinion on itinerants & Scumbags?

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

I have a lot of free time and I never, ever tire of reading. Could seriously read all day, every day from the moment I wake until bedtime and never tire of it. There is so much to learn.

The One Doctor

Grayson wrote: »

Slowly. And only ones with catgut strings.


I also forgot to mention online dating. If you're single, you can always take up a night or two a week by going out for dates.

Online dating is a terrible hobby. Take up heavy drinking instead, it'd be better for your mental health.

limnam

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I have a lot of free time and I never, ever tire of reading. Could seriously read all day, every day from the moment I wake until bedtime and never tire of it. There is so much to learn.

You sound like great craic

Your Face

What sports did you play?
Maybe go into coaching, there is always a young person who needs to have sport ruined for them.

bogmanfan

Cycling clubs all over the country, both road and mountain bike, are full of folks who have retired from soccer/GAA/rugby. Buy a (mountain) bike and you'll never be bored again.

OldMrBrennan83

Watch TV. Lots and lots of lovely TV.

Zorya

Buy a cheap graphics tablet. Download Krita (free). You will have lovely fun making lovely pictures.

Censored11

Get a grow tent and get a few indicas growing.
Great hobby/pastime and always lots to learn.
Then take up Archery, buy a playstation and listen to loads of Kendrick.
Enjoy sports retirement...
Peace.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

limnam wrote: »

You sound like great craic

I dunno. It’s not really a goal of mine. I like my friends and they like me and that’ll do me.

0ph0rce0

bear1 wrote:

Wankathon 2019.

I have loads of sponsor cards left if anyone is looking. Great way to raise money for charity

bumders

OP here I have no one to book holidays with or go to concerts even with anymore

Going to Germany for a break soon enough on my own

The Tetrarch

I gamble. That gets rid of the free time and the money.

august12

bumders wrote:

OP here I have no one to book holidays with or go to concerts even with anymore

There is nothing wrong with going to concerts on your own, and travel dept. do solo holiday trips,

Plumbthedepths

bumders wrote:

I could watch a film in the evening but that's about it and don't like watching the local games when i'm not playing them at the minute. Come from a small town with nothing much to do. Without my 4 hour daily commute each day I think I'd go mad!

After hours is probably not the best place to seek advice. Saying that I took up running 5 years ago and I'm 47. Join a running club.

kowloon

The One Doctor wrote: »

Online dating is a terrible hobby. Take up heavy drinking instead, it'd be better for your mental health.

And cheaper.

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

I have loads of sponsor cards left if anyone is looking. Great way to raise money for charity

'Ah fukkit, this stack of cards is stuck together just like the others'

1. Watch retro YouTube videos,

e.g 100 commodore 64 games. Maybe you owned one even OP. Or you owned a playstation 1 etc.

2. Buy an adult colouring book. There are many available even in decent Irish bricks and mortar bookshops

3. Buy some Lego. There are some serious adult Lego fans here on boards

4. Start threads in AH. Throw in a poll.

My € 0.02

ToddyDoody

Get a dog. Call her Ruth.

Andrew00

Spend the evening backin' horses after work

pnpweirdo

Coarse fishing or pitch and putt

PHG

bumders wrote: »

OP here I have no one to book holidays with or go to concerts even with anymore

Going to Germany for a break soon enough on my own

Plenty of companies do group holidays for Singles. Going to Vietnam with a company called Contiki in July (I'm 31). It is 11 days long. Then thought f**k it, I still have 3 days left so going to Bangkok on my own then and staying in a hostel. Was advised from 2 mates who have holidayed on their own to do this. One only holidays on his own!!

Both said Vietnam is amazing and met some good friends doing trips like that from other countries, so now they fly to see them from time to time.

Depending on the sport you, as mentioned above, you could get into training. It's tag rugby season nearly too! Also try meetup. Maybe start a business on the side?

Tikki Wang Wang

bumders wrote: »

OP here I have no one to book holidays with or go to concerts even with anymore

Going to Germany for a break soon enough on my own

Germany is tough work even when you have a young wan in tow to ride

GalwayGrrrrrl

Join a local charity group - you don’t have to shake buckets, lots of them need help with websites, twitter accounts etc.
If you can sing even a little bit choirs are always looking for men- it’s a great way to meet people if you choose one that’s not all OAPs.
Parkrun - free weekly run or walk - either take part or volunteer. It’s a fabulous organisation and lovely people.

If there is a hillwalking club near you it would be a great way to put in a Sunday which can be a very lonely day. And cycling clubs are good too for Summer evenings. Maybe your injury rules out running but a lot of clubs are doing couch to 5k programmes at the moment.

Get some lettuce plants and scallion seeds and a few easy things to plant in pots or growbags now that the growing season is here. It's not too late to put down spuds if you have the space for them.

Someone suggested a dog.....he/she would be company and you'd have to walk him and dogs are a great conversation starter.

How far are you from a good sized town??

GalwayGrrrrrl

Idea - get involved with something near your workplace- I’m imagining you work in a big town/city? It would mean a late drive back or maybe a mid-week stay over but it would widen your options for activities if you live in a very small town.
Or you could do what I did- do a part time masters degree and spend two years drowning in books and stress- it wasn’t boring though!

GalwayGrrrrrl

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

choirs are always looking for men-
Parkrun - free weekly run or walk - either take part or volunteer. It’s a fabulous organisation and lovely people.

Actually most clubs are always looking for men:D
And +1 for Parkrun. I don't do it myself but people seem to love it.

Gimme A Pound

limnam wrote: »

You sound like great craic

On a scale of 1 to 10, how necessary was that?

OP, does your injury stop you from doing *any* physical activity? If not, don't know how being aged 36 would stop you. If anything you should be exercising to keep yourself in good health for when you're actually old. Take up one or more of the myriad of other physical activities. Read, podcasts, TV, music, film, photography, art, writing, do a big clear-out, give stuff to charity, sell stuff, bit of redecorating, catch up with old friends you've been meaning to for a while - even just by online message.

In the winter, a course, cookery.

There is so much to do - you just have to get off your hole!

OldMrBrennan83

Mitchell Damaged Form wrote: »

On a scale of 1 to 10, how necessary was that?

OP, does your injury stop you from doing *any* physical activity? If not, don't know how being aged 36 would stop you. If anything you should be exercising to keep yourself in good health for when you're actually old. Take up one or more of the myriad of other physical activities. Read, podcasts, TV, music, film, photography, art, writing, do a big clear-out, give stuff to charity, sell stuff, bit of redecorating, catch up with old friends you've been meaning to for a while - even just by online message.

In the winter, a course, cookery.

There is so much to do - you just have to get off your hole!

After reading back I'd give it an 8 or 9.