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?

Jigsaws
Knitting
Crochet
Genealogy
Reading
Surfing internet including mumsnet
Online gaming

Thanks for the explanation MissTeri. Yours sounds very sweet.

Get lots of practice in for DC No 2

I'm knitting a blanket. 8" squares in various colours to suit the living room decor. Knit one square each night while watching tv. Will sew the squares together. Cast on 46 stitches and knit for 8 inches and cast off. Very the pattern slightly on some squares. It is going to be beautiful.

I read,sew,crochet and paint, using watercolours. I'm not great at drawing, but find I get better results with watercolours as you can be impressionist and accuracy isn't so important. I take photos on walks to get ideas of what to paint, and to understand shadows and composition better.
I also do yoga - a weekly class, and then YouTube video for doing it at home.
Or watch tv/ films and surf the net if feeling less productive.

Home from work.

Mad two hours of dinner, clean up, play, bath, bed for DC'S, they're usually asleep by 7.30pm.

I then usually prep lunch for day after, sometimes cook dinner for the night after, watch TV, mince around on here or have a bath. As soon as the weather is better I'll be out cycling as much as possible.

I'm in bed by 9.00pm most nights (up at 6am).

Lately?Trying to get out of a bad habit and devices and wine on an evening!

The past few days, been switching off phones, laptops, putting them all away in a cupboard from around 6pm onwards.
Nothing but telly and books.
I also like colouring, and baking.

The past few days, been switching off phones, laptops, putting them all away in a cupboard from around 6pm onwards

I hate to tell you this, but it's gone six o clock.

Ah but to be fair 73 it's the next day

The past few days, been switching off phones, laptops, putting them all away in a cupboard from around 6pm onwardsI hate to tell you this, but it's gone six o clock

Yeah,I've been trying to behave on weekdays.No screens, all away.It hits Friday and I've had a glass of wine and boom I'm being crap again

Mostly watch the news, TV

But when I felt like you a few years back I learned the guitar and practised each night

Then now and again I upcycle furniture / other projects about the house

I want to learn calligraphy and have a few recipes to try out but I am quite tired most evenings - maybe when DC are older (bedtime routine and stories after teaching full time has me drained)

No DC. Get home from work around 6pm, cook dinner, speak to various family on the phone whilst cooking. Always eat at the table with DP and talk. Have a bath then watch something on catch up (I've weaned myself off all the soaps so no point watching them as I've no clue what's going on, oh does Holby City count? I'm not giving that up for anyone!) read in bed and lights out for 9. I suffer with fatigue due to a long term health condition so need my sleep in order to be able to work full time. Basically, nothing constructive is done on the evenings on weekdays, they're spent getting over one day so I can do another but that's the way I need it to be.

Work days differ from days off. Work exhausts me, flat out. So all I do is bath or short, cocktail and cook (unless it's oh's turn to cook), chat and box set. Early to bed.

Work mainly!! I have a deal with work that I work school hours only (9.30-2.30) then catch up on my hours in the evening when the children are in bed. It means v little me time but it is amazing to be able to balance children and work like that.
I do try and do some exercise most evening, either a jog or just dance on the wii.
I don’t really like TV so when I’ve finished working either do stuff on my phone or read a book or just cuddle DP

There are some really good ideas here, thank you everyone

Crochet
Study
Read
Fall asleep and wake up at 1am on the sofa

My hubby works until 8 so usually I have a cuppa and read my kindle until he finishes then we watch a few eps of box sets. I also loved getting a bath with an audiobook, absolute bliss.

My dd sleeps from around 6 so I love it 😍, pregnant again so I'm making the most of my evenings to myself until baby number 2 comes!

Painting by numbers is great for creativity but no imagination. Amazon has a few good ones.

I am up at 5 for work so by the time it's the evening I am shattered and good for nothing.

I go for a walk, sometimes play guitar, have a bath and read about 2 pages of my book and fall asleep.

Live next door to a lovely independent cinema so if there's something on I fancy that doesn't finish too late I will go to that. I went to see a French film this week.

Usually in bed for 930.

We watch tv, talk, often do some admin work either for actual work (emails, etc., my dh is self employed and I have a career with very flexible non standard hours so often finish work in the evenings). None of that is very exciting! If I could do anything though, I’d read or exercise.

I love this thread. I've fallen into a similar slump, and was horrified to realise I'm spending about 3 hours a day watching tv. That's almost one day a week. 😩

When I was a single mum, I did loads in the evenings: beauty baths, exercise, painting, writing, baking... for some insane reason I've let all that go.

I think setting a rough timetable would be good for getting a balance. For example:

Monday night - TV/slump
Tuesday night - Sorting, cleaning, tidying, pottering, paperwork, boring but useful stuff
Wednesday night - Gym/exercise
Thursday night - see friends/night class/something social
Friday night - something lovely with DH
Saturday night - friends over for dinner/take kids out bowling/kids sleepovers, etc
Sunday - Beauty treatments, fake tan, hair condition, etc

I've started looking through these ideas and now have a plan.
I'm starting with Pinterest to see if I can find a small project (I did just see a tutorial on how to make a fairy house for the garden!!! Totally random but looks cool).
If that doesn't work out I'm going to try crocheting and if that isn't my 'thing' then I will go back to your ideas and pick one out of a hat to try.
I feel really motivated now, so just wanted to say again a massive thank you for all your help and ideas. I'm so glad that other people have found this useful as well.
If all else fails I'm going to go with the posters that suggested drinking wine and set up wine club for one!