Free Time Not Rejuvenating Enough?

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Since I have no friends, I am by and large relegated to being at home or doing things by myself in my free time, which is fine to an extent, but it's not very fulfilling and not especially fun or enjoyable. When I come back to work after my boring weekends (where I end up doing the same thing just about every time: go to the park, go to the bookstore, go out to eat at some quick-service restaurant where I can go by myself), they haven't provided me enough of a break or change of pace from the drudgery of being stuck in an office for eight hours of my day (plus another hour for lunch). The trouble is I am bored and restless at work and thus less interested in doing my work (although so far I've still gotten it done, albeit sometimes a bit sloppily). I am also sick of the sterile environment, and this makes everything about the place increasingly irritating (even the sounds of people's voices or accents). I begin to find being stuck there an unwanted burden and grow to dislike the people around me (really not for anything against them but more or less because I've become sick of the place, I guess).

Unfortunately, I know in situations like this, my self-control can weaken considerably, which is why I prefer to take preventative measures. (Yes, my job doesn't interest me much, but changing it is another story.)

Does anyone else find that having too much dullness during one's free time makes dealing with the more unpleasant/less enjoyable times harder?

just try making friends.

Would it kill you?

I get what you're saying. And windscar, please, some of us actually have problems with that.
Every time I have a free moment it seems like I'm stuck to the same activities. I had to break the cycle and force myself into random activities. But even now, I feel that yes, the monotony of my free time makes my work etc. even worse.

Man u gotta vary your routine up, find where them locals be hoppin' at and get yourself round them parts. Festivals, events, community organizations. etc. there always be groups in your community catered to your interests/hobbies. Well, maybe not always...but I suppose you aint typin away on some communal 'puter from some single squared mile'd boondocks where half the village be your cousin.

Get there, find like-minded people and go from there. If nothing else, at least u break'n habit.

Or just buy some tight-cheeked leotards at your local costume shop and beat up on some gang bangers at night...that'll get u quite the contrast to your office job

Hey, Omar's got the right idea.

I'm only stating the facts. If you want friends and a change of routine, just try doing something unpredictable.

You have problems and they seem to be getting in the way, but unless you try overcoming those problems, you'll only stay in the same hole.

I'm having this problem now. I actually did the thing I hate doing, made a to do list. I've been feeling trapped by time, like I'll never have enough of it. I get stuck doing the same thing all the time, every day, and I still can't get enough, like a miserable addict. So I've made a list of things I want to get to every day, so I don't get stuck doing the same thing. I'll let you know if it works, and maybe you can try to.

That wold be nice.

I'm actually going through some of the same problems right now...

I really don't know what to do at the moment, but I like Omar's idea.

Maybe you could join a club that does something you are interested in. I belong to writer's critique groups. My AS son does LARPing, Live Action Role Playing. He runs around in the woods whacking people with a foam noodle sword.

I remember when I was in school and we would do things like be Dragonball Z character, Zoids and Stargate. Sometimes it was a bit violent but I was the biggest and oldest, I miss days like that.

You might try something physical like biking, bowling, archery, throwing a knife or boomerang, practice using a bullwhip, martial arts, bodybuilding, etc.

Some more cerebral ideas: chess, checkers, jigsaw puzzles (nature scenes only), mensa puzzles, obscure math problems, ham radio.

Arts and crafts: knitting, crochet, needlepoint, whittling, woodworking, drawing, painting, writing, scrapbooking.

Very interesting idea, I'd never made the connection between a dull social life and dull job, though now you make it seem obvious.

In my single days I lived on my own and, like you and some of the other posters, found myself doing the same few things, and when I did try and vary a bit, found I got frustrated because I couldn't concentrate, or I just didn't know what else to do and eded up going back to my limited set of activities that had just about exhausted their enjoyment.

Now I'm married, my social life is a bit more active, though it's all through my wife, I don't have any friends of my own. My wife loves her job and is quite happy to sit and veg for a good part of her free time. I can't really do what I used to do when single (my interests are pretty esoteric and my wife is rather baffled by them and I'm slighly embarrased by them) so I don't get to do anything I really want to and so get frustrated all over again.

I don't know what advice I can give you, but one thing is for sure: finding a partner or getting married won't necessarily cure you of your dull free time. Being in a relationship has it's advantages, though.

Uhh. yeah I know what it means

But I don't care about some stupid label, here, its all about individual character.

Play video games. XBox 360 has some good ones plus the arcade games. Even computer games are fun. We're here all the time anyway.