To ask what you do between 8pm and 10pm

[NewPinkSocks]

Ok so I need to be more productive.

I think I should be doing more between this time but I do also want to start going to sleep by 9:30.

The children are normally asleep by 8pm if were lucky.

Then I sit and waste an hour before bed. Maybe pottering around tidying up the dinner plates and vacuuming the living room again if its needed (I also Vacuum at 5pm)
DH empties the bins if needed and puts the diahwasher on before bed.

Would you mind letting me know what you do so I can see whats reasonable to get done in this time? I feel I need to be doing alot more in this time and just need a MN Kick up the bum

Put youngest to bed at 8/8.30 then make a cup of tea and watch TV, read or Mumsnet whilst the older two (12 & 15) do whatever they are doing. 12 yr old needs to go to bed at 9 to stand any chance of getting up for or school then dc1 comes down around 10ish to watch a quick episode of something on Netflix or chat until she goes up to bed at around 10.30ish.

We've normally finished dinner by 6.30 so after that is my time for clearing and tidying and getting shit ready for the next day.

I very rarely do anything productive after 8pm. That's my time to veg on the sofa and read/mumsnet/watch tv. Don't feel guilty about taking the time to relax op. It's part of self-care and it's really important.

Downtime is important. You’d miss it if you didn’t get it.
Keep the two hours of nothing time. But think how much other life admin or additional downtime you could get done if you hoovered once or twice a week instead of 14 times

Have a cup of tea then cook dinner.

My 2 little ones (baby and toddler) are usually asleep by 7:15pm. I then tidy the bathroom after their bath, hang up wet laundry in utility, put on another load, then tidy the kitchen mess from their dinner. I then cook dinner for me and DH. He is usually home around 8:30/9pm. I do most of the washing up whilst cooking. I also make lunch boxes for DH and toddler.

After we eat, DH usually helps with any other dirty dishes inti dishwasher, then one or both of us fold the dry laundry and I tidy up toys. I sit down around 9:30/10pm, then bed around 10:30am.

During this madness, I have to run up and down the stairs at least once or twice, as the baby is ebf. I hardly ever watch tv and use mumsnet whilst feeding baby!

"DOING a lot more" wtf?

No. I chill out in front of netflix and play with my phone, or I lie in bed with my Shiatsu massager and an audiobook. We don't expect anyone else to pull 14 hour days, why do mothers do it to themselves?>

Sit the hell down.

These responses are making me feel like Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey!

Why can't people just relax in the evenings? If this question was asked twenty years ago the replies would have been so different!

I’m living the idea of slobbing out on the sofa being redefined as ‘self care’

@TigerQuoll it is usually a 4 or 5 table rotation and I think 16 boards, although last night there was only 12 so a 3 table rotation and 15 boards so we were done just before 9pm. It's just play though, no breaks etc.

Usually have finished dinner by 8.30 so clear up and watch episodes of box sets then bed for 10.30 normally (we're off tomorrow so watched an extra episode!)

Netflix on my evenings off or I'm at work in the evening

PolkaDoting, it IS self care. It's not a joke, it's not a "Teehee, we're being so NORTY!" thing - self care is important. Time off is important. Relaxation is important.

Tonight DH was at football so I painted my nails and read my book. Use time to relax and practice self care. Be kind to yourself first, then others will see how much you value yourself, and value you too.

Tidy up, bath or watch tv

Potter about online,researching local history/facebook/Mumsnet/fortean times/youtube.

Watch tv IF there's anything worth watching on - mostly there isn't.

Read.

Crochet.

Quick fire quiz with Alexa.

Play Backgammon against the pc

Read stuff on t'internet, I call that research. Paperwork, plan stuff, TV, parenting if someone wants a chat, just life stuff.

Years ago I used to go to the gym before we had kids, then after we had the DCs I used to spend time making up bottles and putting out washing etc., then getting them to sleep, and now they are teenagers I still do that but not the bottles (although now its hot drinks and hot water bottles).

Why not just read or watch TV?

If you’re relaxing in the evening, are you ignoring the mess, eating what? Or maybe it’s just because I’ve got a toddler and a baby and others have older/no kids...

I don’t have any time off. It’s never ending! On the plus side my house is immaculate. I’m a tired mess though zzzzzz

Just pottering on work nights - TV, internet, reading, getting stuff ready for the next day, maybe a bit of marking. By that point I have been productive all day and am quite happy not to do much.

Tidy up, sit on phone, sometimes I run around 9.

Chat with my dcs usually.

Tv, online, my hobby or out w friends. Most housework done on day off or wkends. Just relax!

Then DH will walk in with work boots

Doesn’t he know where the vacuum is kept?

If you know he’s coming in with work boots, 2 year old’s mess can wait - or he takes the work boots off at the door. Nobody needs to be vacuuming twice a day.

Knit.
Read
Watch TV with DS1.
Trade pokemon with DS1.

Just read Mumsnet and watch pimple popper videos on YouTube with the TV on in the background!
I go to my hobby club once a week between 6-10.
Is there any chance you could get up an hour or so earlier? You could then still have your quiet time in the evening but also have time to do your studying.

Usually collapse on the sofa but tonight I organised a cupboard that was long overdue.