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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask what you do between 8pm and 10pm

149 replies

NewPinkSocks · 03/01/2019 22:56

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

OP posts:

HauntedPencil · 04/01/2019 00:28

This is my down time, not an awful lot!

TheSheepofWallSt · 04/01/2019 00:30

Usually slog through the work I didn't manage to do in work hours (I'm not unproductive - just demanding job!) - if I'm not too worried about work, then housework.

I'm a single parent to a toddler, trying to maintain a career...I look back at my careless youth of finishing work at 7pm, then 8pm-10pm gym sessions, long runs, late dinners, impromptu pub visits and lying in the back garden drinking wine and I think...

I was absolutely fucking INSANE not to be banking sleep against these years!

sweeneytoddsrazor · 04/01/2019 00:30

Vacuuming at 5pm and 8pm. Washing up whilst cooking then loading the dishwasher? Jeez I must be a total slattern. Sorry but if I know its going to need a vac at 8 it isnt getting one at 5. Same with washing up it would be going in the dishwasher then waiting for the rest to go in before getting turned on.

alltoomuchrightnow · 04/01/2019 00:36

That's the time I'm at work, however if it's a day off I'd be most likely.. doing chores, or catching up on emails, Facebook, Mumsnet etc. Or out with DP (usually pub quiz or seeing friends) Also we have dinner between this time when I'm not working. which is better than our usual which is around 11pm when I get home and means I stay up far too late. Today I was off and we ate at 7pm which was incredibly early for us but was a nice change

Rafita · 04/01/2019 00:38

You vacuum twice a day?? I don't even vacuum twice .a week!

I'm too busy watching tv series, surfing the internet, or reading books, mostly.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 04/01/2019 00:39

I leave the house at 7:10 and get back around 7:00, so that downtime in the evening feels crucial to my wellbeing!

I take a short walk, get changed, eat dinner (DH cooks). Once we clear up the dinner table and put the dishwasher on, we try hard to get an hour just sitting in front of the tv, together, with the cat. It is glorious. We watch mostly series on Netflix or the likes, so can get brainless for an hour. In the winter DH often brings me a lovely cup of hot cocoa (the real kind, no sugar added) which I sip quietly whilst wiggling my toes, but not enough to disturb the cat.

Start to prep for bed by 9:30 is the goal - get clothes ready for morning, pack my bag, MN a little, read a few pages then lights out by 10:15. No DC at home now so it is only the two of us to worry about.

I do have to do some knitting of baby hats this month so shall just listen to the radio instead of watching tv. Can't do both as well as I sometimes think I can :)

alltoomuchrightnow · 04/01/2019 00:41

In summer I am always out walking around that time , making the most of the light.. live rurally and can easily be out walking till 1030 or so before it gets dark.. but in a new job now so later hours will change my old evening habits (unless I change job before summer)

thisisalliwant · 04/01/2019 00:46

I get home from work at 11pm 4 days a week. The other 3, getting DC to bed with OH. He gets up at 5/6 for work so he usually falls asleep same time as DC. I do washing, dishes and bags ready for next day, then watch something on Netflix. Because I work late my body clock is geared for late nights, so even on non work days, I’m awake gone midnight which I hate.

AcrossthePond55 · 04/01/2019 00:50

My DC are grown, so no 'bedtime' duties here. By 8 I've tidied the kitchen and set up the coffee for the next morning.

8-10 I'm watching telly, reading, MNing, or headed down some bizarre internet rabbit hole (last night it was mysterious unsolved disappearances, the night before it was cryptozoology). Sometimes, I even go to bed just to luxuriate in the fact that I'm tucked up all snug with nothing to do.

AirandMungBeans · 04/01/2019 01:00

My DC are in bed by 7.30, though DS1 can still be up and down for a good hour or so after that despite being tired (adhd). Once he's finally asleep I practice piano for an hour or two, then crash with DH in front of the tv for half hour before bed.

mummatom · 04/01/2019 01:06

I have a 6 month old who refuses to sleep in her cot so I'm usually used as a pillow while watching Something on tv with DH. Nothing really eventful! If she does ever decide to sleep it'll just be cleaning I guess

Sashkin · 04/01/2019 01:17

DS bedtime usually starts around 19:00, and finishes by 20:00. Then I do the washing up, some laundry, tidying and sweeping the kitchen floor (toddler is a messy eater so that needs doing after every meal unfortunately). Packing bags for the next day.

I will sit in bed and try to do a bit of work or work-related reading plus Mumsnet between 21:00-22:30, then go to bed.

LagunaBubbles · 04/01/2019 01:43

just keep thinking how much time Im wasting these 2 hours could be more productive

Why would your time have to be "more productive"? You are allowed to relax you know.

TigerQuoll · 04/01/2019 02:09

Until last year it would be studying for uni (basically all evening from coming home from work to bedtime). Now I get to work on programming projects, do gardening, go for bike rides or walks (it's light until around 8.30-9pm around here right now), or work on art projects. Or babysit nieces. Or play bridge. Taking advantage of it until kids later this year (hopefully). Then I probably won't have the energy to do anything useful or fun!

TigerQuoll · 04/01/2019 02:10

I don't watch TV usually as I lose concentration due to being partially deaf and struggling to concentrate on dialogue when there's no subtitles, usually end up whipping out my laptop partway through an episode.

NoFaking · 04/01/2019 02:30

Usually red wine and ignore the wife myself - can't wait to get to work tomorrow so I can be with fwends

chardonm · 04/01/2019 03:32

Have not read the whole thread but I just can't fathom hoovering TWICE a day!!

Ifangyow · 04/01/2019 04:56

During the week if I'm not at work, I sit with my feet up and either read or mess about online while listening to music.
On a weekend if I'm not at work I sit with my feet up and chat with my DH with music.
Reading that back to myself, I seem to spend a lot of time with my feet up listening to music. 😀

Palaver1 · 04/01/2019 07:12

NoFaking?

Kemer2018 · 04/01/2019 09:22

Surf the net, surf the sofa.
In summer, I'll be in the garden.

BikeRunSki · 04/01/2019 09:34

Go for a run/swim
Cook for the next day
Catch up on work
Read
Watch tv

eco1636 · 04/01/2019 09:37

I relax or go to bed. Dh normally home about 9pm so I can't go.out to yoga which I would like to do.

kateandme · 04/01/2019 09:39

Why the need to do more.ike!just be.do as and we u want and if chilling is that go for it

Pachyderm1 · 04/01/2019 09:51

Surely you don’t need to vacuum at 5pm and again at 8 / 10pm?!

I read / watch TV / have a bath / paint my nails / draw a bit / boardgame / bake

tomhazard · 04/01/2019 09:53

Either marking and planning (teacher), work for my part time MA or if it's the weekend Netflix and wine with DH

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