What do you do in the evening?

[LongPauseNoAnswer]

DH has started his Masters this week and I’ve found myself sitting in front of Netflix in the evening when he is watching his lectures/studying. I’d like to do something more productive with the time. I need a new hobby I think.

Please inspire me with your hobby/craft/pass time

I tend to read, with Netflix or music on in the background. I have thought about taking up a hobby, but by the end of the day I'm too tired to try and focus on anything that requires effort haha.

With the evenings closing in I have just ordered a couple of cross stitch sets - they are Christmas decoration ones so I'm making something that will actually be used. Last year I made a cross stitch Christmas cushion cover. I find it very therapeutic and a good way of passing the time.
I also picked up an adult colouring book last week and am just waiting for some fine tip colours to arrive before I start that.

In lockdown I found myself just watching tv then reading in bed.....I felt a bit similar in that I am killing time not doing anything useful so now trying to do a bit of online yoga, am using duolingo to learn a language etc. Occasionally I go for a walk. I still sometimes just want to watch tv so I do.

It’s too dark for a walk during the winter I think but you’ve got it right. I don’t just want to pass the time.

I used to play a musical instrument when I was young but I don’t know if I have the patience for it now that I’m old

Since DC are more or less grown and DH works long hours in sth he loves, I have discovered FutureLearn and other online platforms. I mostly take language courses. I also do family research and collect the family papers and fotos.

Drink too much wine...

I've often wondered this about other people though. By the time we've got all the kids to bed it's nearly 8, made dinner and eaten it, watched an episode of something on tv then bed.

When I can be arsed I do beadweaving.

Most of the time I go to bed early with Audible and play online Scrabble. Or I sit up and drink too much wine! Those evenings tend to alternate...

Reading
Animal crossing
Gym (although that's gone to shit again now with Welsh lockdown!)
Ironing
Telly

Knitting, crochet, cross stitch. You can still watch telly at the same time!

@Lazysundayafternoons can you share where you got your cross stitches? I fancy having a go!

I can crochet but I haven’t done it in years.

I don’t want to watch tv or do something that can be done whilst watching tv. I want to feel like I’m actually improving myself

Language lessons are a good idea.

If I am not working, or doing housework (cleaning after dinner, prepping breakfasts and maybe tomorrow's dinner etc):

Baking
Sewing (I have finally managed to get my machine back out this year after a good few years being too busy)
Knitting while watching tv
Cross stitching (sat at kitchen table - might have something on ipad or music or a podcast going).
Card making (except that those materials are all in DH's office space and he works all hours...so I need to be organised ahead of time)

Some nights, I take the opportunity to enjoy the quieter hours and go do the food shopping.

Some nights, I have a lovely long deep luxurious soak in a bath or do a proper hair conditioning mask, face mask, mini HM manicure etc.

Can't drink wine as teen DD usually needs to be collected from school at roughly 9pm (and DH is usually still working) - I usually bring an easy knitting project in the car for while I'm waiting.

And some nights, I literally just curl up and watch tv or a movie. And do absolutely nothing.

Knit socks and crochet little snowflakes. If I get a chance that is. Usually I spend the entire evening returning recalcitrant sleep refusniks to their downy couches...

I also have a full bookcase of books I want to read and haven't got to - a mix of fiction classics (some actual classics, others like a few Terry Pratechetts etc) and more blockbuster types of fiction, and then lots of factual ones - history, politics, and biographies of interesting people, and various ones about sailing, outdoor life and self sufficiency.

I've actually read parts of lots of them, but not all.

There are some very interesting documentaries on Netflix and videos on skills on YouTube that are worth watching too.

Monday's - I do my half of the chores listening to radio 4 or podcasts (so that I don't have to clean on the weekend)
Tuesdays - 3 mile run
Wednesday's - potter in the kitchen, make houmous or salads for next few days
Thursday's - bootcamp/running speedwork
Friday - me and dh go for a walk ending with a wine/G&T
Sat - get bored and do too much Mumsnet
Sun - ditto, might do yoga, or facials/unglamorous self care stuff

Read or watch telly while ironing is all I can usually be bothered doing. By the time all kids are asleep and everything is done I can’t be bothered with anything else. Learning a language might work for you. Or maybe cross stitching/learning to sew.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I like language learning. You can watch Netflix in another language and put the foreign subtitles on instead of English. Then you can feel like you're learning whilst slobbing around.

Duolingo is more fun than it sounds too.

What did you do with your DH before he was studying? Do couples really sit together in the evenings? I am currently lying on the sofa with a glass of wine mumsnetting, DH is upstairs, perhaps working in his study , occasionally we will watch a film or a tv programme we both enjoy. Mostly it's just about killing time before bed.

Pre Covid we would be out and about, I was on a few committees and had book club etc ... DH played golf or went to the gym.

Cook, wash up, run children around to their clubs. Work. Drink wine. Read. I do Duolingo or work while I'm waiting for children at their sports clubs.

I do my masters dissertation if I'm not out boxing.

@Ragwort yeah we spend all our free time together. A lot of our hobbies are together like cycling and hiking that’s why I’m looking for something replace the things we used to do together in the evening

Relax at home in dressing gown next to dog on sofa. TV on, reading FB & MN but also doing crosswords - love them have done maybe 10 or so large ones (I buy the magazines). Had a light dinner & a small glass of wine. I work a couple of eves a week and was out at a friend's Monday so do like a quiet night in on the others especially as job is physical.

I've just sat down and haven't got the mental or physical energy to do anything other than watch inane TV or browse the Internet. I try and read before bed but more often than not I fall asleep before I get anywhere.
I used to play netball twice per week and coach one evening but only doing the coaching now as adult netball is cancelled. All the kids activities are back on so I feel like a taxi service with none of the fun stuff for me.