Dad’s Day Off? How You Can Spend Your Time, Being a father is one of the best things any man can do, in my opinion. But the welfare of fathers can often be a little forgotten. There can be a lot of press discussing how mothers can feel isolated. The importance of time for themselves and remembering who they were before they became parents. But it is also the same for dads.

Becoming a father is just as overwhelming. Whether you are heading out to work each day or deciding to take paternity leave, even becoming a stay-at-home dad. While it’s important for mums to make “mum friends” it’s just as important for dads to have their own support network too. While some of us may not be big oversharers or talkers, it’s good to know that we have a good support network of friends around us.

How to spend a Dad’s day off

Taking time off to spend with friends or for yourself can really help. With that in mind, here are some suggestions.

An afternoon with the kids

Meeting up with other dads and the kids is a great way to spend an afternoon. You could go to the park and enjoy the great outdoors while still having fun with your children. The bonus part is that your partner gets some alone time. It’s a winning combination.

For many dads, you often might not get the chance to have some one-on-one time with their children. And many mothers might not get the chance to enjoy some peace at home alone. It is important for dads to get that quality time and to also have the chance to socialise with their kids.

Something competitive

Who could say no to the chance of getting together for a dad’s day out and making it competitive? It’s in our nature. Things like go-karting and paintball always go down well. You could also look at the way you can make more time spent with friends such as watching a sporting activity with some fun to make it competitive. Y

ou can put a wager on it or even keep score so there will be an eventual winner. It doesn’t have to be a big day out, but finding some fun that you can do with friends or even on your own, within reason, can help you to find your identity again.

Learn something

You are never too old to learn something, so you could utilise the day off and actually spend time learning a new skill. It may be a language or you might be looking to better your career and gain those important qualifications that you need to succeed.

Help out around the home

I appreciate that a dad’s day off is that, but this essentially is likely to be a day off work. So why not help out at home? It might be doing a bit of washing, vacuuming the house, or even doing some of the DIY that your partner has been on at you about. Not only does it feel satisfying to get jobs done, but it is also a great way to help out.

A day at the races

It’s nice to have a day out booked in the diary. One where you can wear something smart or outside of your norm. A day at the races is a great option. You can enjoy it as a couple, a group of friends or just a dad’s day out. Enjoy a few drinks and place a few cheeky bets on horse racing. It can build up a lot of banter between you and your friends and give you a little escape from daily life.

Sunday afternoon beverages at the local pub

There is something great about heading to the pub on a Sunday. Perhaps watching your team play football or sampling some of the other sports airing. It’s a great chance to catch up in a relaxed environment over a pint or two. At this stage, you may be quite relaxed after a great weekend. This is a nice way to spend some time with your friends and to also get out of the house for a little bit. Weekends are great, but they can also be quite intense.

Playing sports

Getting together with a few of your friends and playing sports like golf, football or racquet sports is a great way to spend time together. Often meeting up with people to do things makes it a more regular activity. Giving you that time to yourself that can rejuvenate you for the week ahead.

Let’s hope this has inspired you to think more about your support network. As a dad, it’s good to have that backup.