What do you do in the evening?

[Iwannapuppy]

DS is now at an age where he sleeps quite well and we have our evenings back to ourselves. The problem is I finally have a few hours me time and I don't know what to do with it.
I want to make the most of this time but just end up watching box sets, and I'm so bored of it.
I like being creative, as in making things, however I have no imagination so struggle to think of what to do. So far I've tried adult colouring books but found it frustrating (I can't keep in the lines). I've tried jewellery making, which I did like but I'm not that good at it and it ended up costing a lot of money.
Aibu in asking what people do in the evening when the kids are asleep just for themselves So I can steal your hobbies until I find one that fits?

I don't have kids, but will do soon as I am 6 weeks pregnant.

Usually though I get home cook dinner, do ironing for work the next day, then get on with marking my pupils work.

Catch up on work (I am always chasing my tail)
Go for a run
Go for a swim
Go for bike ride
Family admin
Batch cook
Cub leader
Ironing
Sew nametapes/hems/knee patches/Cub badges
Very occasionally see friends

Reading, mainly, but I go through phases of sewing (customising clothes, making household things) and painting/drawing (for relaxation only so amateurish nature of my creations doesn't bother me).

I also write the odd bit of fanfic if I feel inspired .

Reading
Exercise - could be yoga videos on YouTube, going out for a walk, the gym
Phoning friends

I'm not very creative.. have you tried just drawing, if you don't like sticking within the lines? I know people who knit and sew.

I go running 2/3 times a week. We watch films - we are trying to watch all the oscar best picture winners. I write blog posts, read magazines, bake.

I run a facebook crochet page - hooking to order. It keeps me pretty busy 😍

Take dc to evening activities

No kids.

Walk the dog
Cook dinner
Read
Phone/internet
Watch Netflix
Generally lie on the sofa doing nothing

Knitting or crochet might be good for you.

Well a large proportion of my evening I spend trying to keep my 6 year ds in his bed

Once that accomplished I either cross stitch or read

Do you like doing things with your hands? How about knitting? Or crochet? I am a very slow knitter but I can make knitted soft toys as the individual pieces are quite small. I also like card making. I also play games on my tablet. Or perhaps get out of the house to a fitness class or similar?
Personally, I don't like adult colouring books - why not draw your own pictures, much more creative.

School work quite often. I also try and use the time to read and wind down. I’m quite tightly sprung at the moment after ds was awake in the night (he very rarely is) and then didn’t go to bed as normal tonight. It’ll probably be a few nights of reading and watching QI repeats to get over that!

I would love to get my hooks back out and crochet a blanket or sew something again but we’re in a smaller house than we were before ds was born and I just don’t have the space right now. I long for a bigger house!

Sometimes I just take the time to have a nice long shower and do my hair and slap on a ton of moisturiser. It’s nice to pamper self every now and then as I don’t very often.

Although I'm going to start taking the new dog to training classes once a week and I've been eyeing up a local belly dancing keep fit class.

Sometimes when feeling motivated we'll do weights/exercise bike/twist disc etc in the evening.

Watch the news, have evening meal, read the paper, walk the dog.

Then mix of the following: Watch films, read books, read magazines, chat with family and dd especially as at 17 she now goes to bed later than me anyway, read mumsnet, browse the internet, online shopping, exercise with YouTube videos, bath, listen to music, iron something to wear the following day.

Lone parent with long term health problems here. Listen to radio, hoola hoop while watching the freeview music channels, tidy stuff up, have a little play with DD (4)'s Sylvanian Families, buy far too much crap online and this past month started upping the 'self care' ante; moisturising like a maniac, face masks and really full on skincare routine. Health problems mean i no longer have the concentration for reading grown up books, so i've bought the Mallory Towers, Milly Molly Mandy and The Naughtiest Girl in The School boxsets, having just completed The Snow Queen (Didn't know Frozen was based on this book!).

Snuggle up on sofa with DH.
Visit girlfriend for catch up.
Make my "mummy" calls [5DDs].
Do some knitting.
Teach myself crocheting using u-tube.
Have lovely bubble bath with candles and wine.
Do pedicure and paint nails.
Read and watch TV in bed - especially love this if it's raining heavily and I can hear the rain on the bedroom windows, not sure why, just very cosy and then I start worrying about the homeless......

Normally walk the dog, get the kids to bed and then settle down for some Netflix with the DH. Our life is boring.

Watching with interest as I am in a similar situation. I so want to do something creative but instead spend the evening completely exhausted and trying to be quiet so as not to wake DC1. Then early to bed for a night of feeding DC2.
Could you start a project that you pick up as and when you feel like It? Upcycle something, paint a big canvas, sew something....
Once it's lighter, I will try to go for an evening walk again to escape grumpy baby!

Also, lack of imagination is no excuse!!! Pintrest, you tube, google, etsy.... so much inspiration! I'm starting with practical things that I need for the house- plan to make coasters somehow!

Watch TV and eat chocolate

Snack and YouTube in bed.

Curl up with a really good book and drink a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, or watch something with DP. We just finished Jessica Jones.

I don't do much else cos I'm in bed by 9 lol

Congratulations smilesawyer!
Thank you all for these ideas, you have given me inspiration already.
Because I'm rushed off my feet all day with ds I barely get the chance to have a cuppa while it's hot. So come the evening I find it really difficult to unwind and relax. So things like colouring and cross stitch are a bit too slow and I get frustrated with them.
I like the idea of free hand drawing though, that could feel a bit more liberating.
DH suggested I start a blog where I can just off load. I've never tried crocheting, is it quite fast paced?

Jigsaws
drink wine
watch tv
play games
go to bed
read

GoofyBollox I love the idea of upcycling but I just thought that was the kind of thing you have to do in the day, due to mess and noise. But it's definitely the sort of thing I'd like to try. And you are right I should look at Pinterest, I might have a browse tomorrow.

It's so weird that I can hardly remember who I used to be before ds came along!