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What do you stay at home or unemployed people do during the day?

Posted by calais50 • 9/16/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: stay at home, unemployed

Up until I got married last month, I was a 9 to 5 accountant. After getting married, I don't work any more, which is something I'm very excited about, but not used to.

If you are now (or have ever been in the past) a homemaker or unemployed, what did you do during the day? Did you enjoy not working a job, or did it drive you crazy?

So far, I've really enjoyed staying at home. But I've never been busier in my life! I never take naps. Here's what I've been doing during the day. I wake up at 6 am, drop my kids off at school (a 40 minute drive), go running with my sister for an hour, drive home (another 40 minutes), clean house, read or watch tv, and shop for and make dinner. One day a week, I help with our Amazon store. I take my kids to soccer/ballet/karate (depending on the season) practice about 3 times a week and volunteer at their school once a week.

User Comments

9/16/09

wagerwitch

Each person does their own thing.

I waste time - hoping. LOL!

But I write a lot and visit forums - and do all the other housewifely things.

I'm currently packing and cleaning daily - prolly for the next week - getting ready to put my condo up for sale.

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1. 9/16/09
  
  calais50
  
  Sounds like you enjoy it. Good luck on selling your condo!
9/16/09

nothingprofound

I'm retired, and I love it. I've never worked too much, so I've always had a lot of free time. I've always done fun things to preoccupy myself-jogging, Yoga, bodybuilding, gymnastics, karate, reading and writing, playing handball and basketball, watching videos, traveling, dancing. Now that I'm older I spend a lot of time walking, saying hi to people I meet in the street, looking around at things. Frankly, I enjoy everything I do. All the simple daily pleasures.

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9/16/09

Floormodel

I babysit my granddaughter, work on my furniture pt time, and keep the household running. I also volunteer at a local shelter for abused parents and children and help out my elderly neighbors.

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9/16/09

amybyrd21

I am a stay at home mom, farmer, and homeschool teacher. I use to be an Emergency Medical tech and in Secutiry for big manufacturing plants. Yes at some times it drives me absolutley nuts to be here a this house all the time. I hve been here for 3 years now (was 5 before I took a part time job) and I am going nuts. I need adult people to talk to instead of a 13 year old a 5 year old and a bunvh of animals but I make it thru and get it all done.

[reply]
1. 9/16/09
  
  wagerwitch
  
  Amy - you have to give yourself some alone time - you have to...
  
  Find a group that you can attend once or twice a week... Maybe a writing group...
  
  OR - volunteer your EMT skills once a week or twice a week - and GO to the station during that time...
  
  GET OUT OF THE HOUSE at least once or twice a week - AWAY from your family for a few hours a week...
  
  You have to - or you'll go nuts.
2. 9/16/09
  
  amybyrd21
  
  I put my name in for the police cheif of Iron City. I should know something by the fisrt week in October. Then I will have something to occupy my time. and I wont harasse anyone
9/16/09

aspotofblog

You're busy enough. It's when you're at home with nothing to do that you go crazy.

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9/16/09

activeleisure

As someone who was just laid off in June. Entering into a world of limitless free time has truly been a challenge. It's honestly why I started blogging (about my unemployment). Blogging gave me some focus (and therapy) each day. So, aside from job hunting and struggling with the frustration of not being employed, I honestly don't do a good job of structuring and/or filling my time.

We don't have any children so my entire day is mine, but I'll admit (perhaps it's boredom, perhaps a bit of unemployment depression) I have a really hard time motivating to do things!

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9/16/09

SAHMinIL

I'm not only a SAHM but I'm a homeschooler. So my day is spent cleaning house, cooking 3 meals, and teaching the kids!

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9/16/09

MidwestMom

I had a hard time adjusting to full-time motherhood. It was hard to achieve balance. Even though I kept myself busy all the time, I felt 'lazy' because I wasn't earning a paycheck.

What I found was that I had to cultivate friendships with other parents and I had to keep my mind active. So I read and write a lot in addition to the work of raising three children. It keeps me sane. And sane moms are better parents (I tell myself.)

I also make it a point to learn a new skill every year. Sometimes it's something artistic, or a language. And I travel when I can.

I guess my point is that it took more than busywork to make me feel busy. My mind has to be engaged.

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9/16/09

jafabrit

while the kids were in school I either did volunteer training/work (crisis counselor for 7 years), took college classes, and then became a full time artist. I can't say I ever stopped working, just that I didn't earn a paycheck for most of the time, but I certainly earned my keep, plus some.

I disagree with your statement that you don't work anymore though!

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9/16/09

volleypc

Look for work (if any of you know anyone looking for a Civil Engineer let me know.. I have a great resume), read, take photos, learn something new (for me it is color pencils)

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9/16/09

Funkkeejooce

I work 8 months in a year, I have holidays 4 months in a year, I have no children and I am married. During the 4 months I have off, I am always preoccuppied and I feel there's not enough hours in a day. I would probably travel for two weeks, and then I am most of the time at home. I have a big garden to tend to, I have a dog to take for a walk, I have a lot of catching up with friends to do since I work non-stop during my work days, I have my website, I have BBQ parties to host, piles of books to read, etc. I enjoy being at home and there's never a dull moment.

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9/16/09

jonyx

I'm waiting for my full visa before I go hunting again. Still anticipating working from home someday before I'm a corpse.

I am honestly enjoying my sloth ways currently. I mostly just completely relax, although I have spent the previous months studying all things web. Sometime soon, when I can be bothered (before visa time), I'll be doing some more php/javascript learning to beef up my resume and be able to make some more complicated sites.

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9/16/09

videoman

I've had my home office since 1993 so I don't know what it is like to have an 8-5 job or a boss. During the day, I program scripts for Twitter marketers, blog, write, code, check the stock market, post, sell stuff online, exercise, feed the cats, clean, fix things, work online and also work on a route I got a contract for.
I also take my 2 kids to school in the morning. Today, for example, I went for 1:30 minute run to lose belly fat. When I sold real estate, I was rarely home. Couldn't stand it but the money was very good.

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9/16/09

celticmusicfan

I would be glad to stay at home and having not to wrok LOL. anyway when I was between jobs, there was a point when it lasted for a month. so i did what any spouse(dream on) would do . Clean the house, buy groceries, attend social activities with my pals who happen to be not working.

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9/17/09

newblogmogul

Currently unemployed and my everyday schedule is looking for a job.

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