To think there's a way to make my evenings productive?

[Willow108]

There are loads of interests and activities I would like to spend time on in the evenings (exercise, reading, cooking, creative stuff like knitting, writing). I work full-time and have young children so the time from 8pm until I go to bed is the only time when I can realistically do any of this stuff. And yet once DCs are in bed I tend to flop completely and spend hours sitting around, mindlessly surfing the internet, reading blogs and instagram feeds showing other people's productive and creative lives.
Its an honest question- how can I be more productive in the evening? Can anyone share advice on how they do it?

I'm exactly the same. I've started colouring, it's a small step as I do it in front of the TV. I also watch soaps in foreign languages sometimes. But most of the time it's TV and an early night.

I do the time tabling bit too, but only set myself small chunks and allow myself variety
For example I both knit and crochet, like doing jigsaws and paper crafts but also waste hours on here and other sites - therefore tonight I will do an hour of knitting an hour of surfing and an hour of crochet
Makes it easy sometimes to choose things that fit in with tv programmes the crochet I am doing is quite repetitive so can manage that whilst following a programme whereas the knitting is a really stressy Aran pattern so I tend to do that with some music on instead

^"I have this nagging sense of failure all the time about being so lame about getting any little thing done that I set myself"6

That sounds so harsh, Willow - I recognise it, because I used to be (and still am, to some extent) really harsh to myself too.

With everything else that is going on in your life, do you need to add another 'I should...'? You don't have to be productive 100% of your waking hours - and I think it is important to remember that we need leisure time/wind-down, do nothing time, in order to energise and refuel ourselves for all the other things we have to do.

I do think it is important for you to enjoy your evenings - and if you are not enjoying what you are doing now, then it's great to look around and find something else to do. But please don't do it because you feel that what you are doing now constitutes some sort of 'failure' - because if it enables you go do all the other things you have to do, it is not failure, is it.

I would suggest that handcrafts are a good place to start - I love knitting and crochet, because it is lovely to see something grow, and I enjoy having things I have created myself (and giving someone else something I have made is a true pleasure). I also think that the textures and colours of yarn are so therapeutic - well, I find them to be so.

I'd suggest starting small - I followed a YouTube tutorial that showed me how to do a basic crochet granny square, and from that, I went on to look at more complicated patterns, and gradually increased my skills (not a whole lot, I admit - but enough to make things I enjoy making).

If you wanted to make things with a purpose, Mumsnet has a project called Woolly Hugs (there's a website and a FB page). We make blankets for Yorkhill children's hospital, another children's hospital, for prem babies who pass away, for children with cancer in Africa, and for refugees. You don't have to make a whole blanket - you can make one square, send it off, and it will be added to other squares people send, and made into a blanket by a volunteer hooker. We also make blankets for MNers who lose a child or a spouse (that's how it all started). The website and FB page give more information on the sort of yarn, and size of square etc - and EVERY square is gratefully received and valued equally, so if your first squares are wonky, that's absolutely fine!

If you want to know more, I am happy to tell you (and if I have blethered on for too long, feel free to ignore me).

I do this too and it was my new years resolution to stop doing it. I haven't been very successful thus far. I know what I need to do - I need to step away from the fecking laptop. Seriously, I reckon I could have written a masterpiece in all the time I've wasted on facey and mn.

Are your DC at school yet?

It does help once they're at school if you're the sort who likes a crafty project but needs a kick up the bum to get going. I've made a Victorian costume, VE cakes and Christmas/nativity stuff so far this school year.

Have you got a chromecast? Brilliant for YouTube videos to teach you to knit or crochet and you can cast to your TV!

I find that I'm too tired in the evenings, but can be productive if I get up very early. If you can shift your schedule it can be worth a try. Five to seven am are magic for getting things done.

Also, download freedom - blocks the internet on your computer. Amazing for productivity. You also need a quiet room with no distractions.

Sorry I haven't read the full thread as I have 2 toddlers bouncing on me.....

The only way I can do stuff after the kids are in bed is to prep the activity BEFORE bedtime. Wanna exercise? Put gym kit on before kids bedtime routine starts....get all equipment out, glass of water at the ready etc

Harder to come downstairs and collapse if there's stuff ready and waiting

Also - download freedom. It blocks the internet on your computer - amazing for productivity. You also need a quiet room. You won't work in a room where the telly's on (well, maybe on craft stuff). We have wireless headphones, so I can watch tv while DH reads/writes in the same room, or vice versa. I also find telling people about your projects is a big impetus to get stuff done.

Sorry for double post!

I have this problem too. I feel I am too tired to do anything, but I've noticed if I spent the free time of the evening reading a book, I feel much more relaxed than spending the same time flicking about on mumsnet. I have so many photos I'd like to put into albums, so many things to sort out, yet I flop on the sofa (and once you flop, you can't stop!)

I have a good idea for you, whilst you are on the laptop. Put all your photos on a photo book to have printed and delivered. It takes blooming ages, but soo satisfying to look at the pics instead of having them on your laptop!

Read this book: how to do everything and be happy by peter jones. Since reading it I do more, Im happier. It is a collection of strategies, some might work, others less so. It all depends on who you are really.

I haven't read the full thread yet, so apologies if someone has already suggested this:

I find the Pomodoro Technique to be really useful (or variations on it). Basically, 30 minutes focused work, then 10 minutes "break" (or web-surfing). x3 and you get a longer break. Vary the work:break ratio according to what suits you best.

It's the only way I can manage to motivate myself to do any housework!
See pomodorotechnique.com for more info.

Oh lord instead of doing anything I've started watching episode 1 of Breaking Bad (only 6 series to go I believe). I'm a lost cause aren't I?

If all of us solved this problem MN would cease to exist.

We had a week without internet at home, due to some fault with the line and as we are very rural, was not a priority to get it fixed.

I got SO much done that week. Kept it up for a while too, but I have fallen back into old habits now - sit down after the little L's go to bed and before I know it is 11pm and time for bed. I am going to start imposing a no screen rule on myself starting in Feb (can only concentrate on one resolution at a time and have one for Jan)!

But I always have things to do on a screen, Christmas shopping for months, then birthdays, then holiday research etc... And once you're on its so easy to flick from one thing to mumsnet another

I have the same problem, added to it is procrastinating on getting marking for work done. I'm out of the house for a long day, come home to two hyper young children and by the time they've had play, dinner, been fed and put to bed with reading, I've been on the go 14 hours and my brain is ready for crash mode.

What has worked well for me this weekend is tonight, going straight to the dining table after the DCs have gone to bed. Yesterday, I set my alarm for work time.

Sometimes I'll set my alarm early to fit in a 20 minute run/ workout. I'll go to bed in fresh fitness clothes to commit myself and cut faff. I use a C25k podcast to avoid over running on time.

Oh well procrastination time over. Back to the essays. sigh

I learned to knit as a child. When DP and I started living together and sport took over great big wedges of TV time I decided to take up knitting & make him a jumper as punishment I just picked it up and did a bit whenever I was bored by sport. And it turned out I really really enjoyed it. So I learned to knit socks. And hats. And more jumpers. And you get the picture.

Sometimes I don't knit for days. Sometimes I spend more time online looking for things to knit. Sometimes I will happily knit all day when I should be doing things.

I guess what I'm saying is once you find something you enjoy doing you want to spend time doing it. And it's ok if you don't sometime too!