To just be SO BORED in the evenings?

[Athenaena]

As title.

DH and I have just ended up going to bed every night at 9/9.30 the last couple of weeks (even on the bloody weekend!) we struggle to find things to watch on TV that we both enjoy. We’ll find a series and then binge watch because it’s something that we both actually like. Then we’re back to square one.

Honestly, I’m just so bored in the evenings now. I’m fed up of winter, at least if it was summer we could be sat out in the garden with the chimnea of an evening, or go for a nice evening walk somewhere, or if in normal times, out to dinner/ cinema/ have friends over.

I’m just so fed up of sitting in every.single.evening. It’s like Groundhog Day. We’re both fed up and by the time 9pm comes round we don’t have anything else to say to one another as neither of us are really doing anything/ seeing anyone atm, therefore going to bed just seems like the best option.

Anyone else starting to feel similar?

I’m like this at the moment. Over the last year I have found a handful of things I’ve enjoyed watching on Netflix so have been excited to put DS to bed and sit down and binge a little but now I have nothing, so once I put DS to bed I’m just like ‘er well I guess I’ll go to bed’

There’s a world of difference between doing nothing out of choice and having nothing to do, because all reasonable options have been exhausted. For many the latter is a reality. There’s no where to go (apart from the daily walk and the weekly shopping) and there’s no one to see (apart from the other inmates in the home). Zoom calls and yoga don’t always cut it, and feeling bored and adrift from the world isn’t a great preparation for sleep. I think this lockdown is a struggle and it can be hard to feel motivated, the novelty of lockdown has worn off and many are feeling bored, lonely and mentally drained.

It's not really boredom though, is it? It's more demotivation. We need to mix with others to feel energised and just motivated in looking after ourselves.
You're doing well if you can just get the dishes done tbh. My house is a complete cesspit, and yet I have more time on my hands than ever before. So bored, slightly down, not doing the basics for that reason
Yours
Mrs Samepantsallweek

I find life boring full stop.

It's a difficult time of year to get motivated, especially if you've no garden or place to get outdoors.

But if you don't have any hobbies besides watching tv, it's something to consider that maybe that would be an idea.

@MrMucker - You're doing well if you can just get the dishes done tbh.

My kitchen is currently full of todays breakfast, lunch and dinner shit along with a few things from last nights dinner. I’ve prob spent more time thinking about sorting it than what it would take to actually do it lol.

Totally get where you’re coming from, I’ve felt like this a couple of times too.
I’m lucky as I’m still working but when I get in at 7 there’s little motivation and energy to do much other than eat and get ready for bed. I miss my friends but I have had a pretty much solitary life the last ten years so not much has changed. When your friends are all in couples and families, you don’t fit into their weekends and evenings. No spare cash for Netflix or anything else so the myriad piles of unread books are finally being read.
Life as an NHS worker is exhausting atm. Even though my role is really unimportant it’s draining answering so many questions about so many unknowns every day and trying to be reassuring to those in desperate need of encouragement.
The whole being bored thing is a drag and reminds me of summer holidays when I was a kid... bo-ring!

I'm not bored, as we always have project telly after the toddler goes to bed (currently doing Ashes to Ashes as we never saw it originally, Schitt's Creek and The Expanse) but I do so miss the cinema. DH and I go twice a week alone in normal times. Me, a film, a coffee and a bag of sweets. Bliss.

I'm lucky that my hobbies are sewing, crafting and making things which I can do at home. I also play board games and card games online and chat to friends online.
But even I am loosing motivation for doing things I normally love doing. I am longing to be out and about, seeing friends and going to lovely places and eating out.

I don't mind the Evenings,It is the Weekends that can feel relentless and so boring!
In the week I usually get home from work,make tea,do a workout,get kids to bed then I go to bed early to read,Whilst my OH does jobs in the house or games.
At the Weekend we will watch a TV series and drink to much-We have got into making cocktails since we can't go out for them
To be honest this creeps into the week nights also, just because it is something to do.

@MrMucker

It's not really boredom though, is it? It's more demotivation. We need to mix with others to feel energised and just motivated in looking after ourselves. You're doing well if you can just get the dishes done tbh. My house is a complete cesspit, and yet I have more time on my hands than ever before. So bored, slightly down, not doing the basics for that reason Yours Mrs Samepantsallweek

So so true. I didn't realise how much my friends and our time together recharged my batteries.

Try gin x

You guys need to try gaming, plenty of co op games out there.

I'm not sure that boredom can be considered either reasonable or unreasonable. It simply is. I suppose, if you were in a place of infinite possibilities and were still bored, that might be unreasonable. However, most of us are not.

Thankfully, I love to read, which is a lifesaver, since I have literally not left my house more than an average of twice a month in the last 14 years. I have several streaming services, which, while they do sometimes overlap, gives me 1000s of shows and 1000s of movies to watch (and I've explored new genres). And I'm very active in several online groups. But it took me awhile to adjust to my new reality when my health went. I feel for you. At least, your restrictions will, someday, end. LOL, well, mine will, too, but I'll be ending along with them! Think I'll keep on "just dealing with it" for now!

I’m actually loving our evenings at the moment! We both wfh and finish at about 6ish. Then he plays piano for a bit or goes for a run and I exercise/do yoga. We make and eat dinner, play some gin or backgammon, watch one episode of whatever show we’re on (occasionally two, if we skip the game). Then we go to bed and either have ‘adult time’ or read for a bit. There was a (thankfully rather short) period when people kept trying to get us to socialise by Zoom every night, but that’s mostly passed.

It’s a nice routine that we’ve evolved and I enjoy it. I realise that it will be dramatically different when we have kids. And, also, we’re getting through rather a lot of wine every week, so should probably look at that. But, no, not bored.

Im working long hours so love a quiet night in front of the fire and watch tv/ read. If i had more time i would love to learn piano, learn to crochet ( always envious of the lovely things people make) theres loads of things to do to fill in the time.

@WhereamI88

You're going to get a lot of sanctimonious posts from people telling you that either 1) they don't have that problem because of how hard their life is, or 2) they have a very specific hobby which does not involve in person contact and that they are happy to do every single day. You're not allowed to be bored on mumsnet, this thread has been done before....Fact is life is really fucking boring right now. And I read and proofread documents all day, no way am I reading a book.

"You're going to get a lot of sanctimonious posts from people telling you that either 1) they don't have that problem because of how hard their life is, "

How utterly mean-spirited and nasty of you. People are absolutely allowed to be bored. Being snippy about those whose lives *are full isn't going to do you any favours, is it? Their lives will probably still be full when everyone else is back at the pub/cinema/doing whatever they did pre-covid to amuse/occupy themselves.

"Fact is life is really fucking boring right now. And I read and proofread documents all day, no way am I reading a book."

Correction. *Your life is apparently really fucking boring right now. What's factual for you is not going to be factual for someone else/everyone else. So you don't enjoy reading for pleasure. What a shame. I proofread and so on, and reading for pleasure and further education is one of my favourite ways to relax.

I got a nintendo switch for my birthday and that has cured any boredom for the moment!

Also, long baths with a good book and a glass of wine.

Life really is single dimension at the moment.

I feel very understimulated. I do find a glass or 2 of wine helps me experience a different dimension and livens up the evening.

I have considered smoking weed just to find a different level of consciousness and find some actual brain stimulation

@Buggritbuggrit

I’m actually loving our evenings at the moment! We both wfh and finish at about 6ish. Then he plays piano for a bit or goes for a run and I exercise/do yoga. We make and eat dinner, play some gin or backgammon, watch one episode of whatever show we’re on (occasionally two, if we skip the game). Then we go to bed and either have ‘adult time’ or read for a bit. There was a (thankfully rather short) period when people kept trying to get us to socialise by Zoom every night, but that’s mostly passed.

It’s a nice routine that we’ve evolved and I enjoy it. I realise that it will be dramatically different when we have kids. And, also, we’re getting through rather a lot of wine every week, so should probably look at that. But, no, not bored.

What is 'adult time'? Doing tax returns?, organising life insurance? Pension plans? And why do it in bed? Surely a good table would suffice.

Arrowheart: Surely a good table would suffice.

Ooh, good reminder. We haven't tried the table for ages

I've started watching Midsomer Murders on catch up. Deliberate, actively chosen 10 year old Midsomer Murders watching. What has my life become??!

My suggestion is to watch things that wouldn't normally appeal to you. DH and I watched 1000 Years of Russian History last night, which is not our normal cup of tea but was really interesting

Can’t relate sorry. Never get bored there is always a book to read if nothing else. And there is so much content on TV

Podcasts, start a new exercise, learn a new skill (you can take thousands of free courses online).

I spent three months doing an hour or two of Marie Kondo every evening and now I just keep on top of things.

It's easy to feel bored when you're not "into" something. Give a few different things a go and see if something floats your boat.

I know it sounds strange but I'm never bored! On an evening (apart from cleaning and tidying), I:

Watch Netflix / Now TV

Play Animal Crossing

Meal plan and arrange Click and Collect (one night a week)

Work on a jigsaw

Face mask / sort my feet out (😂) / dye eyebrows / hair mask (one night a week)

Every day I do a different exercise but my favourite is strength training and I love yoga

If anything I want more time to do my hobbies!