I'm so bored I could cry.. AIBU

[OkPedro]

Currently at home bored out of my mind. I seem to have lost the ability to think of things to do.

Got home with the DC after work at 4.. Helped with Homework, cooked dinner and now they're both locked away in their rooms.
I'm a single parent so it's just me for the evening and after they've gone to bed. I used to love reading but now can't concentrate for longer than 10 minutes. There's nothing I want to watch on TV..
I'm listening to music in the living room with my cat!

What do others do in the evenings? All suggestions welcome

Pinterest is a good time waster

I paint, draw and craft.

I've recently taken it up again and I love it. I have about 5 projects on the go at the minute, and when I'm not drafting I'm looking for ideas.

I scroll through Mumsnet, looking for something vaguely interesting to read. lol.

Crafts. It keeps my mind and hands occupied.
Maybe pick up a cross stitch kit and give that a go. Chuck on an audiobook or podcast in the background.

Mumsnet
Pintrest
Vinted
Wordle
Netflix

And when I’m desperate….
Tinder 😬

I’ve been single for a long time, used to hate the evenings alone but now it’s not so bad. I have done a few online courses to keep me busy as well as the above.

If you have a library card, download Borrow Box - it's a rental audiobook service via your library. You can download audiobooks for 10 days. You could listen while in the bath, doing chores, while painting nails or playing patience etc.

Write? Go on skillshare and learn something new? Volunteer for a listening helpline? Offer your time for charity? Batch cook?

Snap
Currently juggling work, DC and an imminent move overseas.

Don't get much downtime but when I do I have NO idea what to do. I have started and abandoned lots of netflix series. Rarely get into books. Cant even get into MN much. So frustrating and boring.

If you find out, let me know. I hate weekday evenings, we do nothing and I feel like I’m wasting my life.

I find I'm more likely to actually relax if I pre plan for it. Much like meal prepping

So this week dh is away, so I've jotted down a chore, a movie, a relaxing pastime to do each evening ahead of him going.

Tonight was:-
Clean the microwave (environmental health level of Bad)
Watch "The Break Up" with a glass of wine and chocolate
Bath and face mask while listening to the rest of my audio book.

It sounds prescriptive to have to pre plan, but does help.

Podcast or tv on while you do a minor household project that you know will be weirdly satisfying (sort out a messy cupboard or something)

Look up family history online and fall properly down the rabbit hole/evidence trail of long-dead relatives

Craft project

Cook or bake something you’ve always fancied that nobody else is bothered about

Self pedicure to an unnecessary standard of perfection (again with podcast)

Podcasts?
There are so many out there and lots of online lists of best podcasts by subject.

Radio 4 has a huge number of back episodes of in our time available should I ever find a moment.

Not cleaning, that way madness lies.

I used to love occasionally doing a jigsaw while watching TV (before having a toddler!).

Sewing or knitting.

Something like learning a language or doing a free learn course ?

Boredom is awful, I am always a big reader but I find that when I am a bit down or frustrated with life I can’t be bothered to read. Maybe that might be part of it?

Oh yes volunteering

I think that’s a good one actually. Spend an evening looking up local volunteer stuff and assessing how realistic it is that you could get involved.

Food bank for instance, or “friends of” local park/beach/urban waterway/old cemetery, or befriending network for the vulnerable

I read (sometimes get too caught up in Mumsnet) but if it's a good book I can get really wrapped up. My DH is in a band so it made me get some hobbies. I started learning to play the drums so I had something I could 'do'

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I find I'm more likely to actually relax if I pre plan for it. Much like meal prepping

So this week dh is away, so I've jotted down a chore, a movie, a relaxing pastime to do each evening ahead of him going.

Tonight was:-
Clean the microwave (environmental health level of Bad)
Watch "The Break Up" with a glass of wine and chocolate
Bath and face mask while listening to the rest of my audio book.

It sounds prescriptive to have to pre plan, but does help.

I love this

Pinterest (for ideas for crafting)
Sewing, not clothes or mending
Embroidery, silk ribbon (Lorna Bateman and Di Van Niekerk) use YouTube to get video demonstrations of stitches if you don’t know them.
Corinne Lapierre felt kits, really nice.
Sugar craft decorations for cakes, like to make lots of flowers (they keep for ages) to decorate cakes and cupcakes. YouTube fantastic video demonstrations.
My library has a newspaper and magazine app and I can read them on my iPad. Love it because mags are about £5 and I can read several in one evening for nothing. Also audio books and plays as well as reading ebooks.
There are online WI’s now too.

DH and DCs are away for the next few weeks and in the evenings I have done life admin, exercise videos, weeded out the kids clothes and shoes that are too small, had some long baths, listened to the "was I in a cult" podcast while doing washing and decluttering, and practiced a musical instrument. Also Mumsnet and Instagram, video called a far-away friend, and arranged to meet another friend on Thursday.

And tried to get an early night every night!!

Btw is anyone else getting the GROW YOUR OWN HERBS ad on this thread? There you go op, grow some herbs

Knit, crochet, junk journal, jigsaw, read, fling cat toys around, play mystery games on tablet, shovel ginger nuts, get the sudden ridiculous urge to tidy up, watch Netflix.

Duolingo - Learn a language for when you are ready to do a Shirley Valentine

Cross stitch
Sort lego
Play Pokemon Go - I have gotten very fortunate, that I have a lovely group of players I have met and in the evenings, we have a natter, which you can dip in and out of, jump right in to or completely leave for a while. Its not all about pokemon, its just general shit

I am also single but the evenings are my favourite part of the day and something l look forward to. l only usually have my 16 yr old here as eldest always out and about, l do have alot of interests, but also enjoy just relaxing and l look upon the evenings as my time, after 9 years of parenting entirely alone its a real treat.

Could you start learning an instrument? Good suggestions above, I work in a book shop and we sell some cool beginners painting kits, I've also just started knitting and bought puzzle books (I should be writing as am an author but too tired, also am not single which, sorry, I know you dont want to hear). Best of luck op

Not exactly earth shattering but I read, knit, crochet, do jigsaws, family history, internet surf, do adult Lego