Ever find yourself with a rare bit of spare time and absolutely no idea what to do with it? Or, even worse, a head full of plans and no motivation to start any of them? 😂

I’m quite capable of spending a whole day in my pyjamas with a cuppa and a good Netflix series. And sometimes that’s exactly what I need! But when I fancy making the most of a free evening, a quiet weekend or a few days off, I like having a few ideas ready.

From finally tackling a DIY project to rediscovering old hobbies and discovering something brilliant to watch, here are five things to do in your spare time at home. Some ideas originally came from a post I wrote in 2020, but they’re just as useful when you fancy a change of routine today. And no, you don’t have to spend every free minute being productive!

1. Finish Those DIY Projects

I am always decorating, or moving rooms around, or revamping areas of my home/garden. However, they don’t always get finished! One day I will be super motivated and turn my home upside down. And the next day I will want a ‘lazy’ day.

Some of my ongoing projects at home are:

• Landscaping the garden and building a tiki bar
• Swapping my bedroom and home office/spare room
• Repainting/restyling my kitchen
• Renovate the downstairs toilet
• Decorate my daughters bedroom

I break the big projects into smaller jobs and put them on a list. I can’t function without a list! Even ticking off one little task feels better than staring at the whole project and wondering where on earth to begin.

2. Rediscover Your Hobbies

When life gets in the way, hobbies can easily be pushed aside with excuses about ‘lack of time’. I cannot remember the last time I took my camera out for a walk with the aim to do some shooting.

Sometimes it’s as simple as dusting off my camera and taking it for a walk. It gets me outdoors, gives me something creative to focus on and reminds me why I loved photography in the first place. Who knows — a hobby might even grow into something more.

Other hobbies I like returning to when I have a little spare time include:

• Dog walking/walking in general
• Exercise with home based apps or games consoles
  • Yoga – I have downloaded the Keep Yoga app on my phone. I’ve not tried it yet, but I am starting to feel stiff and restless.
  • HIIT sessions – I have a Joe Wicks 90 Day plan. I subscribed nearly a year ago and not even completed 1 cycle yet! I need to make the most of the money spent and start again,
  • Wii Fit – I used to love this and I definitely need to dust it off and get back on it!
• Cooking – I will leave the baking to my daughter as she is much better at brownies than me!
• Listening to and discovering new music – Spotify is great for this!
• Upcycling – I love to revamp and reuse items around the house that may have outlived their purpose. My current project is building a sideboard/bar for the kitchen out of wooden crates.

3. Take Some Time to Reflect

Having some quiet time can be lovely, but it can also leave too much space for overthinking. I’ve experienced depression for much of my adult life, so I try to notice when my thoughts start racing — about money, work or all the things I think I should be doing. Taking time to reflect, write things down or simply rest can help me work out what I need, although that isn’t a substitute for professional help when I’m struggling.

To help with my mental health, I have a meditation app called Insight Timer. I love this app. I use it almost every day! Mostly for sleeping, and it has worked wonders for that. There is a huge amount of free content on there, I did try a few other apps but found the free stuff was very limited. There is also a very supportive community of people on there. I have joined a few chat groups for support, and it has helped me no end with positivity and emptying my mind of all the noise.

Taking time to reflect made me realise that I wanted more from life than the routine I had at the time. In the sense that I want to be at home, do something I am passionate about, be an inspirational role model for all the young ladies in my family, and to be the happiest version of myself. As I said in my introduction to this blog, I first wanted to start blogging years ago, but always seem to put things off, for another day… I had the epiphany when it dawned on me that I could have another 30 years of working life (if I am lucky to live to a ripe old age), and I cannot see myself being an engineer for that period of time! As much as I like my job, I don’t love it. I didn’t get the same satisfaction from my job as I had 20 years earlier when I first started off as a technician.

So… That leaves a blank canvas for the future! I always encourage my children, and nieces/nephews to be who ever they want to be. Be ambitious. Chase their dreams. Well… It’s about time I took a dose of my own medicine.

What would I love to do?

1. Lifestyle Blogger
2. Landscape Photographer
3. Mobile Food Van for events
4. Interior Design (although this feels like too much hard work!)

Plenty to keep me occupied, 1 & 2 can be done alongside my current job. Build up a reputation and a following to ensure it’s a sustainable career path when I decide to hand in my notice!

No.3 will have to wait until I’m in a financially better place, but I definitely want to pursue this dream (check out my Pinterest to see my ideas).

No.4 is a pipe dream, but I would love to be able to do it as a hobby for friends and family.

4. Find Something Brilliant to Watch

Here are five series I loved watching around the time I first wrote this post in 2020. Streaming catalogues change, so they may not all be on Netflix now — but they’re still worth looking up:

1. Grace & Frankie – Such a feel-good, light-hearted US comedy with a serious undertone. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel happy and you’ll feel sad. The perfect mix!
2. Good Girls – Funny but gritty. Follow the mums as they get into trouble and dig themselves deeper into the underworld than they’d like to be!
3. Schitt’s Creek – A rich family loses everything, except a town the father bought as a joke. It starts off a bit slow and the characters take time to develop. But after 3/4 episodes I was hooked.
4. Dead to Me – A darkly funny mystery following a grieving widow and the unlikely friendship that changes her life. It’s one of those series that keeps you guessing.
5. American Horror Story – Each season tells a different story, so if one isn’t for you, you can try another. Gory, jumpy and full of twists. Coven and Hotel were my favourites!

5. Learn Something New with a Short Course

I love learning new things, whether it’s a practical skill, a creative hobby or something completely outside my usual world. You don’t need to commit to a whole qualification: a short online course, a workshop or even a few tutorials can be a great place to start. Photography and blogging were two things I was keen to develop when I originally wrote this.

I also tried another online photography course that was advertised with a free trial. In hindsight, I should have checked the extras before committing: learning materials and certificates could cost more. My tip? Always check what’s included in a free trial, whether it renews automatically and what you’ll pay for resources or certificates before signing up.

Keep exploring

For more ideas for a quiet evening, read my cosy night-in suggestions or try my budget-friendly film night. If you enjoy a good series, I’ve also reviewed Behind Her Eyes and Emily in Paris. What do you like doing with an unexpected free afternoon? Tell me in the comments! 💜