bathtub-row Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I’ve spent so much time over the past several years entertaining myself with writing and various other things that I was completely oblivious to the passing of time. But, now, I find myself getting really bored in the evenings. The past 3 evenings, I’ve actually sat on my sofa watching TV. I mean, watching it in the sense that it has my full attention, whereas TV is typically just background noise for me. The problem is, I don’t feel like writing or reading. I live in a very wooded community and could go walking in the evenings but that’s about the only thing I can think of. Help! What do people do with their free time these days? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Veronica73 Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I don’t know, but I look forward to hearing what other people do. I’m usually so tired by the time I get home from work I just eat, take care of the animals, maybe watch some Netflix or read, and then go to bed. And repeat it all again the next day. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FMW Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I watch tv while I'm eating, but otherwise I listen to music and putter around (cleaning, laundry, etc.) or read. Occasionally I'll go out and hear live music or go see a play, but most of the time I stay in at night if I have to work the next day. I save my "active" nights for Friday and Saturday when I don't have to get up early the next day. But I'm 54! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I like to get out of the house nearly every day if only just to go eat lunch. Today I was on here all day because I only had a little work this morning and have had some time off and my car was in the shop. I'm going to be grounded for a couple of weeks at least to get in a part to get the car fixed. I can't ride a bike or walk hardly at all and the weather is so pretty I just want to get out in it. Go do things like the zoo or museums or go to the library and get some books or better yet, magazines or recipe books. That actually sounds like something I need to do soon. Watch tv and look for recipes, make a photo binder full of recipes or type them into a Word file. Take this time to get online at your grocery store and get online coupons or something you never take time to do. Make bread. If you're going to be idle for awhile, plan a dinner party or barbecue for a few friends. Take a day trip to a wildlife park or casino. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Take a long hot bubble bath 3 Link to post Share on other sites
OpenBook Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I write! I read I catch up on email & phone calls I shop! (never underestimate the pick-me-up value of Retail Therapy!!) I post on LoveShack! I treasure my "down time." It's how I refuel. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Help! What do people do with their free time these days? I post here 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Take a long hot bubble bath I miss that so much, but I can't even get in and out of the tub for many years now. My legs were too long to get under water too, which kind of ruins it. I'd love to have a big jacuzzi tub big enough to get down into with bubbles. So relaxing. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Veronica73 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 (edited) Taking a bath is a great idea. I tend to only do that on weekends. I have a waterproof e-reader now, so that could make it even better. I kind of think I need to change my schedule, so I can do stuff I’m actually interested in like painting, drawing, and exercising, first thing in the morning before work. So, get up super-early and do stuff for myself that I care about, and then go to work, and go to bed early. Because I’m usually too tired after work to do much. Edited March 21, 2019 by Veronica73 3 Link to post Share on other sites
RecentChange Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I..... Read Listen to music I am into cooking, so if I find myself with a little extra time I shop for, and cook elaborate recipes. I sew, might pull out the sewing machine and start on some projects (spring is here, and I think I need some new fun skirts!) I have pets - I throw ball for the dogs, cuddle with the kitties, or I might clean and condition my horse’s tack. And of course these are the things I do even though I always have an unfinished list of chores to attend to! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Romantic_Antics Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I read, write (primarily poetry, although I journal occasionally), go to the gym 6 days a week after work and on weekends, watch movies, surf YouTube/watch True Crime Daily, watch sports, play video games (this is becoming a rarity ever since I turned 40 - it just doesn't have the same appeal that it used to), and have recently started posting here again. I also take a walk around the neighborhood every evening now that the weather is cooperating. Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I'm with RC - I sew. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author bathtub-row Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 Thanks, everyone! Well, I’ve been in a writing coma for about the past 10 years. Three novels, a screenplay, and several poems later, I’m ready to take a little break. I did an internet search and found something that interested me - collecting leaves and flowers. I’m thinking of doing a little album and noting when and where they were found. I think it gives another dimension to taking walks. I totally love bubble baths but I currently live in an apt and hate the bathtub. My previous home had a garden tub and I’ve really missed it. However, I’ll be moving in a few months and I’ll have a glorious tub once again. I’m also going to take up painting. I’m looking into which medium interests me. I like hearing what everyone else does. It’s fun. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I like hearing what everyone else does. It’s fun. I've been re-furbishing my home. I really enjoy home improvements. I tore out the master closet and re-designed it to make it more usable. I'm in the final stages of floating (re-plastering) the master bedroom, sanded the ceiling today and touched up a few imperfections. I need to pick up a 5 gallon bucket of drywall primer and get the walls and ceiling into primer. I'll decide on the final color, later in the process. I'm leaning towards a very light ice blue color. Next week I expect to start tearing out the master bath. I have a plan in my head as to what I want to do with it. We'll see how it goes... Speaking of art, my girlfriend does her art at her apartment. In the past, she has painted both oils and watercolors. It seems she is now into chalks and charcoals. She has promised me a finished piece for the master bedroom wall, when I complete the room. By the time the evening is here, I'm pretty tired and wiped out. I'll eat a little dinner, post a little on Loveshack, catch up on any e-mails that came in during the day and read a book until I get sleepy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jay1983 Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Computers. After a few weeks reading and watching videos, I'm ready to put together my first PC. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
LauraXX Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I usually go out or have friends over on weekend evenings. Between Mon-Fri I come back home from work around 5. I spend about an hour just relaxing with a cup of coffee. Then I head off to the gym. Depending on what I do there I'm usually back home between 8 and 9. I cook myself dinner (I love cooking and trying out new recipes), drink a glass of wine, read, take a bath, watch Netflix etc. I try to be in bed around 11 but I usually want to do ALL of these things and it tends to get later That's the evenings when I don't have my kid with me. When I have her (about 2 days/week) I just spend time with her, we play a board game, watch a movie together etc. Oh, and I'm on Tinder so there's the occasional date (about once a week). On these evenings I don't even bother with going to the gym and just get ready for the date as soon as I come back home from work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
SophieG Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I’m usually with my boyfriend 4-5 nights a week so the 2-3 nights I’m alone, I usually try to prepare lunches for the week. I enjoy a glass of wine with Netflix. I go to the gym on those evening. Then I do puzzles. That is my go to activity. For me, it’s relaxing and I just get so into it that I don’t see the time go buy. I get home at 4pm and go to bed around 9h30... so that’s pretty much it. Sometimes I’ll go shopping or get a coffee/tea with friends, but I’m usually by myself on the nights I’m not with my bf. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author bathtub-row Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 Happy Lemming - I’ve been into the pastel blues for a few years now, or what I refer to as “Santa Fe Blue”. Your home projects sound like a lot of fun. I like that kind of stuff, too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I spend a lot of my evenings ferrying kids around to different activities. Now that the evenings are warm (around here, anyways) and we have more daylight, I also putter around in my garden (got the tomatoes planted the weekend before last). Our animals typically need some kind of attention as well. Always a chore that needs to be done. The time I spend in front of the TV, usually pretty brief, is a welcome chance just to jell out a bit. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Wallysbears Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I'd pay for more free time! My evenings consist of making dinner, giving my son a bath, chaos of cleaning up dinner/toys, bedtime routine, taking care of animals and then crashing on the couch next to my husband HOPEFULLY with a glass of wine and an hour of "down" time. I'm jealous of extra time to need to fill! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Nilfiry Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 You need to mix it up so you will not get bored over time. Keep your activities varied, and take a vacation to go somewhere else. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
snowcones Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I’ve spent so much time over the past several years entertaining myself with writing and various other things that I was completely oblivious to the passing of time. But, now, I find myself getting really bored in the evenings. The past 3 evenings, I’ve actually sat on my sofa watching TV. I mean, watching it in the sense that it has my full attention, whereas TV is typically just background noise for me. The problem is, I don’t feel like writing or reading. I live in a very wooded community and could go walking in the evenings but that’s about the only thing I can think of. Help! What do people do with their free time these days? OMG I've been feeling this way the last 2 days! I totally relate to you. I am usually challenging myself in some way or working towards a goal, that once I achieve it, then I'm at a lost for what to do with myself. It feels somewhat unhealthy, like I have to be on an adrenaline rush or something. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author bathtub-row Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 You need to mix it up so you will not get bored over time. Keep your activities varied, and take a vacation to go somewhere else. I’m leaving for DC very soon with some of my family - it was my Xmas gift to them and myself. Will be there at the peak of cherry blossom season, so I’m told. I’m starting to get excited about it but have been in a funk most of the week. Very unlike me. I’m not sure what’s going on. Maybe spring fever. Link to post Share on other sites
SophieG Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I’m leaving for DC very soon with some of my family - it was my Xmas gift to them and myself. Will be there at the peak of cherry blossom season, so I’m told. I’m starting to get excited about it but have been in a funk most of the week. Very unlike me. I’m not sure what’s going on. Maybe spring fever. That could be it! I've been in a sh*tty mood all week and I'm exhausted to the point of taking a nap from 4pm to 6pm, then going back to bed at 8h30-9pm. I have no idea what my problem is. Can't wait for this phase to be done ahah! Hope you're funk will disappear soon enough. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
mark clemson Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Exercise, cook dinner for kids 2-3 nights a week when DW comes home late, browse the ever fascinating interwebs (including LS), play in backyard with kids. I like Nilfiry's post about mixing it up - should probably take that to heart now that the time's changed. Some TV too, from the elaborate character-driven drama of Big Bang Theory to the light-hearted banter and witty repartee of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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