Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Quilting Classes And Other Productive Uses Of Your Free Time

By Jayne Rutledge


When a person retires, loses his or her job, or simply finishes work that was seasonal anyway, this creates a sudden surplus of free time. Regardless of how long-term or short-term the situation is, it is a good idea to find activities to fill some of that time. These could include hiking, quilting classes, creative writing workshops, and more.

At first, having a completely free schedule seems fun and relaxing. However, that fun can quickly turn into boredom and depression. In order to prevent that from happening, it is important to find ways to keep yourself occupied.

While some people have the type of personality where they easily stay active and find things to keep them occupied, others need a push. If you are the second type, it helps to make commitments that will require you to to be there, like taking a class. Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to structure your time.

1. Be open to new things. Taking a class is a perfect example of this. Chances are, there is something that you have always wanted to learn. It might be knitting, or cooking, or carpentry. Perhaps you want to learn how to write fiction. Whatever it is, sign up for class that will help you to acquire your desired skills. You can meet new people, stay occupied, and pick up a useful new hobby.

2. Ask a friend to join you. If you have a friend or family member who is also unoccupied, ask them to come along. While classes are a great way to meet new people and make new friends, it can also be helpful to have someone you know along for moral support. And the bonus is, you will be helping that person to occupy their time, too.

3. Leave the house every day. It's definitely alright to have a lazy day here and there where you just stay in your pajamas. But as a general rule, it is a good idea to get outside at least once each day, even if you do not have a class or another outside commitment. Walk to the corner store, take a jog around the park, do something that gets you out in the fresh air. This is another good way to prevent depression.

4. Clean the house and tackle those long-awaited home improvement projects. If you leave these things undone while you have the time to do them, you will certainly regret it later. Deep-clean your bathroom, paint your bedroom, clear out your attic. This is the perfect opportunity to do those things. You have no way of knowing when you will have this much free time again.

It can be shocking to find yourself suddenly unemployed. However, this can be a wonderful time in your life if you have enough money saved, or if you have unemployment insurance. You can finally fix up your house, take quilting classes, or get in shape. Make good use of the time, because chances are it will fly by!




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