You can do more involved meals if you are interested- I really enjoy cooking so a meal that takes a longer cook time or more prep can be fun. My house needs organizing- going through kids clothes, photos, toys, cleaning out my own things. I used to volunteer at the my kids school during the day too.

Well, I spend more than 30-60 min cleaning, but I don’t have any hired help. Things that aren’t every week, like taking cars to get serviced or washed, other errands that would otherwise be done on the weekends, trip planning, family calendar, deep cleaning a closet, pulling out things to donate, etc.

Basically anything you would have squeezed in during the evening or done on the weekend—- do it now to free up family time on weekends.

I volunteer at school one day a week, sometimes more. Catching up on things related to other volunteer activities.
Taking a walk with a friend.
And yes, I spend some time reading a book. I know some people take classes in things like photography or art or do exercise classes.

Anonymous wrote:Op don’t you have any hobbies? Maybe a class you’d like to take?

I don’t currently have hobbies but I guess I need some! Never had time before. Going to think on that.

Anonymous wrote:I have a hard time believing that a working mom gets a break for 2 weeks and is bored so quickly. Take a nap, read a book, binge a show!

Yes, this was what I did the first week. Now I am bored. I don’t watch much TV since I didn’t really have time before. I do read a lot though and could do more of it.

Anonymous wrote:How is your life so clean and organized you can't find things to do for the day. Share your wisdom with the rest of us.

Well first off, my kids are older (youngest in 2nd grade) so I don’t really have big messes to clean up from them. I have also mastered cooking quick meals in 30-45 mins and cook and clean up in the AM and just need to reheat before we eat.

I think because DH and I used to both work out of the house and were gone from 8-5:30/6 we either outsourced things or just didn’t do a ton of projects around the house very often.

I have an amazing cleaning crew that cleans my house once a week so I don’t really need to clean bathrooms in between. I guess I could do deeper clean stuff like clean out the fridge, taking books off shelves and dusting.

How is your life so clean and organized you can't find things to do for the day. Share your wisdom with the rest of us.

Being a SAHM with kids in school full time is much different than having littles at home with you while staying at home full time.

I have a hard time believing that a working mom gets a break for 2 weeks and is bored so quickly. Take a nap, read a book, binge a show!

Each day pick one room and deep clean it. Move the fridge away from the wall, same with the oven. Scrub the bathrooms. Clean the rugs.

Op don’t you have any hobbies? Maybe a class you’d like to take?

I think you need some major projects around the house or more chores and such.

Volunteer at local food bank or library.

Do you clean? Ever meal prep or buy groceries or other household essentials? Doctor's appointments, pet appointments, house/car appointments? Meet friends? Clean closets and drawers. Go through and donate kids today and clothes.

Can you volunteer at school? Change your at-home workout to a class?

I would also pick deep cleaning projects around your house - closets, garage/shed, etc.

This time of year there is so much outdoor work you could do if you have a yard - veggie garden, flowers.

I was recently laid off and decided I would give staying home with the kids a try. It has only been 2 weeks but I am finding that I am really bored and miss regular adult interaction, so trying to figure out how to structure my days a bit better.

So far, my typical day is as follows with my kids being out the door by 8:30am:

- straighten up the house (30-60 mins depending on what needs to be done - laundry, load dishwasher, organize)
- go for a walk or do a workout video (30-60 mins)
-shower and get dressed (30 mins)
- prep and cook dinner (1 hour)

All of the above gets me to lunch time and then I have a few more hours until pick up. A couple days a week I have errands to run like groceries, returns, dry cleaning, but that takes 1-2 hours max isn’t every day. We have a weekly cleaning crew so they typically do a deeper clean.

What else are people doing regularly to fill the time between 8:30-2:45pm essentially?