To women who are not in a (full time) job right now, childfree and without any big responsabilities, what do you do with your time to make it feel productive, joyful and make it feel like you are free?
August 26, 2025
Nothing too expensive or like travelling the worlds or something similar. Simple every day things that you might not get a chance to do otherwise.
31 comments
Not sure if your active or not but running on trails with other people. (I typically run alone on tracks) I joined a F1 watch party group in my area. For me its interacting with others.
I volunteer for community activities and do funny activities with my nieces and nephews (their parents also like that). Follow up hobbies (acrylic painting), read a lot. The days normally just fly by.
I walk everyday, eat healthy and take care of my body. I also love just writing stories and cooking for my family
Cry about not having a full time job? Lol
Gym, church, occasional socials with community/friends. I am a bookworm and I have a gazillion hobbies that’s how I occupy myself to not get bored or feel unproductive. I take this time as an opportunity for rest and self-care (Do what you can with what you have, you don’t have to spend lots of money) and I also do lots of introspection ( I journal A LOT since I can’t afford therapy right now). This is temporary so I see all this free time as a huge privilege. I am trying to indulge as much as I can before transitioning to the next seasons of my life because I know I will one day look back at this season and see it as the “good old days”.
Before I had the kids: made art (painting, drawing, printmaking), embroidered, crochet, baked.
Now I still do most of those things, just not as frequent and sometimes with an over enthusiastic helper or two who’s not really helping.
I paint and read
I go out to play folk and trad music, three nights a week, I’m on the committee of a women’s shed which fills up two days of the week. I also collect clothing and bedding for homeless people.
I actually have a hard time with this. I feel like I’m just watching my life pass me by.
waking up without an alarm, slow mornings, accomplishing admin and tasks by walking as much as possible, quality time with my cat and my friends, cooking and eating healthy, taking myself on dates, self-enrichment/learning, being patient and open for new, challenging opportunities. this is currently my life after 30 years in all-consuming, high-pressure jobs 😉
reading books that I love, feeling bad about not having a full-time job lol, jogging, and doing household chores. I have a love-hate relationship with my situation right now, but I’m looking at the brighter side, where I get most of my time with myself.
I like to keep my brain busy so I tend to read a lot! Watch documentaries, write papers on what I read/watch. I like learning new things. Also a recent thing I been doing is taking fun classes at my local community college since it’s free 🙂
Eat breakfast. Yoga. Crafting. Sun bathing.
You don’t have to be productive.
Productive and joyful are oxymorons to me
Im a 24/7 caregiver, which some people dont consider a full-time job because I dont get paid. I fortunately have a lot of down time though and spend the majority of it reading and that gives me joy
I play brain games in the morning, take my time making breakfast, work outside, exercise, make lunch, read, work on crafts and creative projects, make dinner. It’s a pretty full day and I’m doing a ton of stuff I love to do.
I work out. Clean parts of my home that havent been done or are considered deep cleaning. When I need one thing at the store, I’ll window-shop the whole place just to see whats new. I read (Libby ftw!)
I read/listen to audiobooks. Take care of my furbabes. Play FoE. Spend time with my grandparents.
On another note I feel productive if I manage 6h of sleep….
I’m not child free, but mine are about to start school and I just found out my job won’t be continuing. So, besides the panic about finding a job, I’m going to:
1) make every doctor appointment I’ve been putting off, even the “yearly” dermatologist scan. Of course, that only works if your insurance is sticking around.
2) hikes/visit every single trail near me. Taking a blanket and a book and going to every single park in a 30 min radius.
3) bake. I love baking, and never have time when I’m working.
4) catch up on all the Netflix shows I’ve been wanting to watch but can’t when my family is around.
Basically, anything that makes you feel like you again.
rediscovering old hobbies – i gave up on a lot of stuff because i had no time or energy or i felt guity bc i could be doing something more “sensible”. so far its reading comics, playing video games and jigsaw puzzles. i can feel my mind becoming lighter.
one thing i got to do recently was go to a library and just sit and read comics/manga to my hearts content. i used to do it as a time-killer and i got to read a bunch of stuff i wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
At the moment I’m spending a lot of time redecorating. When I’m not doing that I exercise, read, play videogames, and cook healthy meals.
Cycle, go to choir practice, walk in nature, go to free museums in London, plant climbers in my garden and gradually watch them grow when having my morning coffee.
And sometimes I get a sudden passion to reorganise one of my cupboards/rooms to be more useful/beautiful.
I take walks, watch movies, listen to music, take photos, make art, play with my dog, have sex whenever I want, cook, take care of my home, research things I’m interested in, go to concerts, spend time with loved ones, and read books. I found the more I distanced myself from capitalist propaganda and the pressure to always seem productive I felt a lot more fulfilled and comfortable with how I spend my time.
I have substantial health issues that impact my ability to work. I work part-time and don’t have money to do anything really. Some things I do that bring me satisfaction or give me meaning are taking care of my leopard gecko and small aquarium and designing those habitats, I spend a lot of time reading, I spend a lot of time talking to friends and family, and I spend a lot of time with my partner.
I stream me playing video games on Twitch. I also swim a couple of times a week.
Sounds like everyone cracked the code: good sleep, cats, nieces & nephews, and hobbies… basically early retirement without being old yet
I stopped needing to feel productive. You don’t have to always be doing something. It’s fine to just sit on the couch and crochet and watch Law and Order.
I like to use that time to foster rescue dogs. I’m home most of the time. They provide all the supplies and food. You supply the time, support, walks, training, etc. Then the dog goes on to a permanent home and you can go back to work full time. It’s very rewarding.
I have the year off so I thought I’d make a bucket list. Top of the list is learn how to play the piano, how to sing a song and learn all I can about prompting 🤖
I participate in a weekly songwriting challenge over at the SongAWeek subreddit that has been really good for my creative output and mental health. It’s great to have a specific, actionable goal every single week that forces me to make time for creativity and experimentation.
I also enjoy taking improv classes, going to improv shows, reading, writing, and playing video games.
I used to foster animals quite a bit before I had kids and had a lot of free time on my hands. At first I considered volunteering at a shelter, but it turns out many of them try to put their animals into foster care so they can be better socialized and adapted to life with an owner. Both of the shelters ive fostered for provide all the food, supplies, and medical care for the animals, so it’s a fun way to stay engaged like a hobby and also feel like youre helping those pets and their future families.
31 comments
Not sure if your active or not but running on trails with other people. (I typically run alone on tracks) I joined a F1 watch party group in my area. For me its interacting with others.
I volunteer for community activities and do funny activities with my nieces and nephews (their parents also like that). Follow up hobbies (acrylic painting), read a lot. The days normally just fly by.
I walk everyday, eat healthy and take care of my body. I also love just writing stories and cooking for my family
Cry about not having a full time job? Lol
Gym, church, occasional socials with community/friends. I am a bookworm and I have a gazillion hobbies that’s how I occupy myself to not get bored or feel unproductive. I take this time as an opportunity for rest and self-care (Do what you can with what you have, you don’t have to spend lots of money) and I also do lots of introspection ( I journal A LOT since I can’t afford therapy right now). This is temporary so I see all this free time as a huge privilege. I am trying to indulge as much as I can before transitioning to the next seasons of my life because I know I will one day look back at this season and see it as the “good old days”.
Before I had the kids: made art (painting, drawing, printmaking), embroidered, crochet, baked.
Now I still do most of those things, just not as frequent and sometimes with an over enthusiastic helper or two who’s not really helping.
I paint and read
I go out to play folk and trad music, three nights a week, I’m on the committee of a women’s shed which fills up two days of the week. I also collect clothing and bedding for homeless people.
I actually have a hard time with this. I feel like I’m just watching my life pass me by.
waking up without an alarm, slow mornings, accomplishing admin and tasks by walking as much as possible, quality time with my cat and my friends, cooking and eating healthy, taking myself on dates, self-enrichment/learning, being patient and open for new, challenging opportunities. this is currently my life after 30 years in all-consuming, high-pressure jobs 😉
reading books that I love, feeling bad about not having a full-time job lol, jogging, and doing household chores. I have a love-hate relationship with my situation right now, but I’m looking at the brighter side, where I get most of my time with myself.
I like to keep my brain busy so I tend to read a lot! Watch documentaries, write papers on what I read/watch. I like learning new things. Also a recent thing I been doing is taking fun classes at my local community college since it’s free 🙂
Eat breakfast. Yoga. Crafting. Sun bathing.
You don’t have to be productive.
Productive and joyful are oxymorons to me
Im a 24/7 caregiver, which some people dont consider a full-time job because I dont get paid. I fortunately have a lot of down time though and spend the majority of it reading and that gives me joy
I play brain games in the morning, take my time making breakfast, work outside, exercise, make lunch, read, work on crafts and creative projects, make dinner. It’s a pretty full day and I’m doing a ton of stuff I love to do.
I work out. Clean parts of my home that havent been done or are considered deep cleaning. When I need one thing at the store, I’ll window-shop the whole place just to see whats new. I read (Libby ftw!)
I read/listen to audiobooks. Take care of my furbabes. Play FoE. Spend time with my grandparents.
On another note I feel productive if I manage 6h of sleep….
I’m not child free, but mine are about to start school and I just found out my job won’t be continuing. So, besides the panic about finding a job, I’m going to:
1) make every doctor appointment I’ve been putting off, even the “yearly” dermatologist scan. Of course, that only works if your insurance is sticking around.
2) hikes/visit every single trail near me. Taking a blanket and a book and going to every single park in a 30 min radius.
3) bake. I love baking, and never have time when I’m working.
4) catch up on all the Netflix shows I’ve been wanting to watch but can’t when my family is around.
Basically, anything that makes you feel like you again.
rediscovering old hobbies – i gave up on a lot of stuff because i had no time or energy or i felt guity bc i could be doing something more “sensible”. so far its reading comics, playing video games and jigsaw puzzles. i can feel my mind becoming lighter.
one thing i got to do recently was go to a library and just sit and read comics/manga to my hearts content. i used to do it as a time-killer and i got to read a bunch of stuff i wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
At the moment I’m spending a lot of time redecorating. When I’m not doing that I exercise, read, play videogames, and cook healthy meals.
Cycle, go to choir practice, walk in nature, go to free museums in London, plant climbers in my garden and gradually watch them grow when having my morning coffee.
And sometimes I get a sudden passion to reorganise one of my cupboards/rooms to be more useful/beautiful.
I take walks, watch movies, listen to music, take photos, make art, play with my dog, have sex whenever I want, cook, take care of my home, research things I’m interested in, go to concerts, spend time with loved ones, and read books. I found the more I distanced myself from capitalist propaganda and the pressure to always seem productive I felt a lot more fulfilled and comfortable with how I spend my time.
I have substantial health issues that impact my ability to work. I work part-time and don’t have money to do anything really. Some things I do that bring me satisfaction or give me meaning are taking care of my leopard gecko and small aquarium and designing those habitats, I spend a lot of time reading, I spend a lot of time talking to friends and family, and I spend a lot of time with my partner.
I stream me playing video games on Twitch. I also swim a couple of times a week.
Sounds like everyone cracked the code: good sleep, cats, nieces & nephews, and hobbies… basically early retirement without being old yet
I stopped needing to feel productive. You don’t have to always be doing something. It’s fine to just sit on the couch and crochet and watch Law and Order.
I like to use that time to foster rescue dogs. I’m home most of the time. They provide all the supplies and food. You supply the time, support, walks, training, etc. Then the dog goes on to a permanent home and you can go back to work full time. It’s very rewarding.
I have the year off so I thought I’d make a bucket list. Top of the list is learn how to play the piano, how to sing a song and learn all I can about prompting 🤖
I participate in a weekly songwriting challenge over at the SongAWeek subreddit that has been really good for my creative output and mental health. It’s great to have a specific, actionable goal every single week that forces me to make time for creativity and experimentation.
I also enjoy taking improv classes, going to improv shows, reading, writing, and playing video games.
I used to foster animals quite a bit before I had kids and had a lot of free time on my hands. At first I considered volunteering at a shelter, but it turns out many of them try to put their animals into foster care so they can be better socialized and adapted to life with an owner. Both of the shelters ive fostered for provide all the food, supplies, and medical care for the animals, so it’s a fun way to stay engaged like a hobby and also feel like youre helping those pets and their future families.