What do you do in the evenings?

[december2020]

I'm currently pregnant with my first (so no current routine around kids). I usually have a a long commute to work and back (1.5 hours one way) and it's typical to do overtime as well, leaving me quite time poor. I've always dreamt of having a shorter commute and get some time back for my work/life balance.

The pandemic and working from home has allowed this, I finally find myself with this amazing free time in the mornings and evenings - and now I have no idea what to do with it!
Of course a lot of the things I had in mind when day dreaming of the extra time is not open/is restricted/is not practical with the pandemic.

So I ask you, what do you do with your free time? Before the pandemic and now?

At the minute I'm just watch telly, Mumsnet and message friends.

I just watch tv and spend far too much time on my phone.

I'm happy with that at the minute but I'm 41 and knackered.

I should really be on my spin bike but I'm drinking wine and arsing about on here.

By the time kids have had tea then me and DH. Tidied up, put kids to bed. We normally watch something for an hour then bed. I always think I should do more in the evenings but I'm always exhausted after being on the go from about 5:30am.

Oh god I miss wine so much! So very jealous! The alcohol free stuff is vile!

It's sods law isn't it, finally get the time and now no clue how to use it, while having to be alcohol free and zapped with the pregnancy tiredness 😂

When are you due op?

Usually read, go for a walk, potter in the garden, sometimes play sport. Don't tend to watch much TV. Research things and look at Mumsnet sometimes. I'm usually knackered and in bed by 9.30 though (more reading)

I work out or go for a swim early. In the evening I cook dinner and watch part of a box set with my teenage daughter, with one eye on the clock to collect my son from the gym...
I think when the kids were small I was delighted when they were tucked up in bed and I could sit down with my husband for the evening and relax.

At the minute I’m crying as my DD has left for college.

Tomorrow ill go for a run with my friends. Thursday I’ll go for a walk,

Its all i do, walk and run.

Go to the gym, bake, batch cook, watch Netflix, go out to eat, visit a friend, have an early night

I finish work at 5.30, pick up the kids and its straight into dinner, playing, bathtime, bedtime. They are usually asleep by 8.30 so then I spend about an hour or 1.5hrs to do the washing up, tidy up toys, get a load of washing done, clear away clutter from the day and do a bit on social media or catch up on news/tv for half an hour before going to bed. My commute is shorter but I spend more time with the kids instead so no extra time to myself. Mornings is largely the same, although it used to be a stressful military operation getting everyone out the house by 8am and now I take more time and am more relaxed as we only have to leave for school/nursery at 8.30 and I can still be back wfh for 9am.

Ferry my teen DCs to various sports, my own dance and yoga classes, meet friends for drinks, various committee meetings (all on zoom now), spend time at my allotment or gardening at home (approx April to October for that one).

Absolutely nothing and I know I'm wasting the time. Like you I had a long commute. Need a kick up the arse to make the most of this to
E

Congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope all goes well for you

@Sheknowsaboutme

At the minute I’m crying as my DD has left for college.

Tomorrow ill go for a run with my friends. Thursday I’ll go for a walk,

Its all i do, walk and run.

Hope you are ok I am dreading this day also. In ten years. I know I need to get a grip

I am giving myself a mini facial every day and i have just done my weekly full facial and pedicure.

I find it so relaxing

Before covid: cook nice meals and watch tv.

After Covid: same...

@NancyBotwinBloom in 3 months time, so still a bit of energy left in me! 😂

@babasaclover yes! It's like this constant thing inside my head saying stop wasting the extra time you have!

@hemhem thank you! 💖

Thank you everyone for sharing so far! As odd as it is, it's lovely hearing all the different things everyone gets up to and it's definitely giving me some inspiration. One thing this time has given me is being able to have proper meal times with my husband at normal hours, which I really cherish (rather than not seeing him before he goes on a night shift or that we only start cooking dinner at 8pm).

I definitely feel like I need to find a few hobbies and interests, as currently I'm wasting time on tv shows I'm not interested in.
And also find things like good books and projects that I really enjoy (not just to try "achieve" things but rather to spend time on things that make me happy, which I don't feel like I'm currently doing).

@Sheknowsaboutme I hope you're ok! 💖

Urgh. After putting the DC to bed, I mark digitally and prepare the next day's lessons. Takes ages and is never-ending. If not teaching, I would walk, walk and walk in the evenings, whatever the weather.

Read, watch TV, crochet, journal, colour or craft

@december2020 and @NancyBotwinBloom

Its awful. Bless her. So young. I have a headache from crying but I’ll be ok. I’ll be looking back in months thinking why i was so worried!

Back to work tomorrow do I’ll be busy! I like being busy.

We just barbecued a whole chicken and had cocktails in the dark in the garden. This is a ruse to get the 18 year old to spend time with us. She can sometimes be tempted with just booze or just chicken but in combination they're a sure-fire winner.

Usually, though, it's mostly telly and playing with the cat.

Read my book, work out at home or at a class, go for a walk in the summer eves to stretch my legs, watch tv, watch youtube, have a bath, face mask etc. Hang out the washing with a podcast (generally potter about), cook and eat dinner, do some cleaning to free up the weekend

Read, watch TV, Mumsnet, Facebook.
Couple of evenings I meet a friend and we walk and talk for an hour or so.
Ferry the dc's about, and now let the 17yo drive around for practice once a week while the younger one is at a club.
Dog agility group once a week.
Used to go to a bridge club once a week but that's been closed by covid-19.