How to keep occupied?: When I retired... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

50,164 members โ€ข 31,662 posts

How to keep occupied?

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
โ€ข48 Replies

When I retired, a colleague very kindly bought me a jigsaw,saying "Here's something to keep you occupied in the event that you get bored." As I'm Social Distancing, the dining room table is going to be underutilised, so now might be to time to make a start on this! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Written by
SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
48 Replies
โ€ข
gilreid1 profile image
gilreid1

No no no shot me now. Be positive carry on normal without interacting. Keep being yourself. Watch Netflix or download anything to keep your brain busy. Jigsaws ? No no no

in reply to gilreid1

"Watch Netflix to keep your brain busy". Mmmm not sure that makes sense?

gilreid1 profile image
gilreid1 in reply to

? The documentary series will keep your brain working alright

gilreid1 profile image
gilreid1 in reply to

Sorry you maybe think Netflix is only films

in reply to gilreid1

No, there are some good documentaries, particularly ones like "cowspiracy" and so on, but I have watched them. There is also a large amount of garbage on there, you do find yourself going round in circles sometimes, but then again I am quite fussy.

marigoldb profile image
marigoldb in reply to gilreid1

Why not a jigsaw. I always have one on the go, find them really relaxing! But then we are all different!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Hide the lid to increase the challenge...

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to MichaelJH

It looks challenging enough with the lid!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

My thought exactly!

Scout2017 profile image
Scout2017 in reply to Sunnie2day

If not you could always turn all the pieces upside down, much more sporting that way... ;-)

ali161 profile image
ali161

that's great, I'm jealous!

Shoshov profile image
Shoshov

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃiv just had a new dining table delivered. my daughters building it just now so i can do my jigsaws when we get stuck in. iโ€™m looking forward to doing them. havenโ€™t done one in years. enjoyโค๏ธ

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Shoshov

Nor have I - should be interesting!

Calliope153 profile image
Calliope153

should I mention you can access free jigsaw puzzles to do on your screen or do you all want the fun of hunting the piece that flings itself off the dining room table and hides?

jigsawplanet.com

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Calliope153

Thanks for the links. Once I start on this jigsaw, if I ever finish it I'll have a look at the online jigsaws.๐Ÿคž

MissisF profile image
MissisF in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

My husband (the hf patient) does a jigsaw on his tablet every day. Itโ€™s very therapeutic. No mess and no lost pieces.And apparently they exercise a different part of the brain to reading. There are quite a few free ones nline ๐Ÿค—

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Calliope153

Ooooh, new link, thank-you! I now return the favour with:

jigsawexplorer.com/

Calliope153 profile image
Calliope153

also

thejigsawpuzzles.com/

gladliz profile image
gladliz in reply to Calliope153

That's a good site, only problem, I like to do the max no of pieces and unless you do them on a large screen device, there is nowhere to spread the pieces out. Good choice of subjects too.

I also have all my grandmother's wooden jigsaw s, they do not have a picture on the box lid, just the subject ,that's a bit of a challenge but the pieces are all hand cut and different.

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810

Finished it yet? ๐Ÿ˜‰

Scotsguy1967 profile image
Scotsguy1967

Funnily enough, I bought a jigsaw yesterday as I prepared for lockdown. Keep safe

Sanpedro2019 profile image
Sanpedro2019

I have done about 7 so far Order them from Gibsons via amazon .My wife also enjoys then we do then together I would recommend them

marigoldb profile image
marigoldb in reply to Sanpedro2019

Yes, I loved doing them with my husband, sadly he died 6 years ago. But I have the memory and often my daughter pops in and has a go with my latest puzzle.

Brandibell profile image
Brandibell

I do one of these every 4 weeks not to brag. They are very relaxing once you start and time flies..I have two jigsaw albums ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚One on my phone and one on my IPad.

Now if I could find the button on how to post them I could go through them one by one. Lol ...๐Ÿค”๐Ÿค”I think I need to get out more. ๐Ÿคช I bet I have lost you all now... Yawn Yawn...

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

They are very therapeutic! The more brightly coloured and cartoon like the better for me and the sense of achievement when finished! They have kept me sane following periods off work and unlike reading a book you are less likely to fall asleep. Enjoy them!

Lonmayloon profile image
Lonmayloon

My grandchildren criticise me for taking hours to complete their puzzles but Iโ€™m having none of it. The lid says 2-3 years! ๐Ÿ˜€

Handel profile image
Handel in reply to Lonmayloon

๐Ÿ˜‚!!! xxx

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Lonmayloon

I have a strict pieces limit - 250 or I'm not having it!

zxcvvb profile image
zxcvvb in reply to Lonmayloon

Thanks Lonmayloon - that made me laugh out loud for the first time today.

marigoldb profile image
marigoldb in reply to Lonmayloon

I like it!!

VelvetSky profile image
VelvetSky

Hi, thereโ€™s always a piece missing!

Guitar practice, Renovating 1 car and 2 motorbikes, going running, DIY jobs, Gardening. There is not enough time in the day! How anyone can be bored when retired is quite beyond me. At least we have the spring to enjoy, imagine how it would be if it was November when all this kicked off!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to

That's exactly what I thought - as you say Spring nearly here, imagine having to do this through the winter!

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

My mum and I always did jigsaws but when my eldest daughter started doing them when she was tiny she used to sneak a piece so she would be able to put the last piece in to finish the picture!

Brandibell profile image
Brandibell in reply to Maisie2014

I save the last piece for my youngest to put in.. ๐Ÿ˜

I love having a jigsaw on the go. If you like something challenging try a Wasgij. They are cartoonist pictures and the actual finished picture is not the one on the lid! It could be - what happens next, what someone in the picture sees or even what happens in the future!

They do give you a couple of clues but basically you're doing it without a picture, just colour and shapes to go on.

I have just completed another, took me weeks, but they are brilliant for keeping the mind active, problem solving, hand eye coordination etc. My grandchildren love to give Granny a hand when I'm stuck too! So pleased I found some in a charity shop before this madness kicked off! Now to see if I can insert some photos! Have fun, keep safe. Xx

Handel profile image
Handel

The baked bean jigsaw we have has caused too many rifts! We've just started on the London Street one. I'll report back!

Good luck xxx

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

When the jigsaw temporarily loses appeal, take a virtual tour of that museum you've always wanted to visit:

artsandculture.google.com/p...

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Sunnie2day

Thank you, that will be useful

DD13 profile image
DD13

I had a Wentworth puzzle for christmas. They are wooden and with tricky cut pieces and funny shapes. Going to have a go at that one.

WeaverShaz profile image
WeaverShaz

I am a weaver and spinner so have plenty to keep me busy and hopefully, lots of new stock for my Etsy shop when this nightmare is over. I also plan on catching up with all the books I keep meaning to read. They are predicting a hot Easter again this year so maybe we will all be able to at least get some sun and fresh air in our gardens and balconies etc.

gilreid1 profile image
gilreid1

Oh dear enjoy your jigsaw I am away to walk the dog. Then a round of golf ๐ŸŒ๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Beautiful sunny day, off for a walk and picnic in the Lakes. Stay safe, have a good day.

TMeditation profile image
TMeditation

Fantastic! I am so jealous, I love jigsaws, you can loose yourself for hours inside one of these. After my open heart surgery I must have done about a dozen, one after the other, I was insatiable ๐Ÿ˜„. Donโ€™t listen to anyone else, forget Netflix and the rest, just lift the lid and you wonโ€™t raise your head until xmas! Enjoy!

gilreid1 profile image
gilreid1 in reply to TMeditation

Now thatโ€™s a life ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

We used to turn the jigsaw upside down too. Itโ€™s great to train kids with eye hand coordination. It worked with the grandkids too. Iโ€™m afraid Iโ€™m a bit predictable with childrenโ€™s gifts. ๐Ÿ˜‚

When I retired I baught a bungalow that requires renavateting so Toolstation and B&Q have been busy so I'm fixed up for months (if not a year) now so I'm alright ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜…

CraftyGirl72 profile image
CraftyGirl72

When I was young I did jigsaws all the time with mum, I was very ill in my 20s and we passed hours doing them.

On Tuesday I went to the cupboard storing about a dozen unopened ones that have been there forever... never could part with them as never done... and started one.

A busy day checking on people (by phone) yesterday meant my session started very late... by 2am I forced myself to "put down that piece" and go to bed! ๐Ÿ˜ณ Enjoy!

You may also like...

Keep the humour going please!

that laughter is a very good medicine. You all have so much to give unselfishly and you may never...

Heartbeat keeps skipping a beat

a while now. My heart beats normally, but then keeps stuttering/ skipping a beat. And then the next...

keeping heart rate at 60 bpm

that makes sense, Iโ€™m changing life long habits. any insight or own experience especially if you...

Keep trying

folks and donโ€™t let your heart condition define you โค๏ธ

Keeping warm during winter

helpful tips regarding how I can keep warm throughout the winter as I'm constantly feeling cold and...