If you’re somebody who suffers from dull evenings alone, then you’re not alone. Many people find themselves in this predicament at some point during their lives. Perhaps they’re between careers, or they’re traveling, or they are simply bogged down with day-to-day chores. The good news is that you can make your evenings much less boring by approaching them deliberately. Here’s what to do after work: 

Get moving with a home workout

Try not to be still after you finish work. Most people just sit in front of the television, but you don’t want this. Ideally you want to be doing something productive with your evenings and avoid wasting time. For example, you could engage in body weight exercises, stretching or even yoga classes online. You could even go to a real-life Bikram yoga studio which is heated up and helps you sweat more, a bit like a sauna. 

Go to after-hours events

If you can go to after hours events and parties that will also make your evening significantly more interesting. These are opportunities to other people, perhaps in your particular area or industry, or it could just be for pure fun – it’s really up to you. When you go out after hours, it’s not necessarily a waste of time because you are exercising your social muscles while enjoying any entertainment on offer. 

Start experimenting in the kitchen

If you have even more time on your hands, then you might want to explore experimenting in the kitchen. Getting in there and cooking a new recipe or a comforting meal can be a great way to spend the evening. Often, it really feels like self-care, especially if most of the time you’re eating food out of packets or ordering fast food from delivery services. 

Even better, you can try cooking yourself something healthy in the evenings. This will help you control your weight and give you more energy during the week. You’ll feel sharper and more rested, and you won’t need to crash as much at the weekend. 

Pick up something creative

If you can pick up a creative hobby, that’s also a great way to spend your evenings. This way you don’t feel like you’re wasting time and you can get a lot of enjoyment out of what you’re doing. For example, you might want to start journaling or drawing. You could also play the guitar or knit, it’s really up to you. Even if you just spend 15 minutes doing it, it can provide you with a lot of fulfillment. Hands-on activities are meditative and take you out of stress mode and into a different brain state. 

Get social

Finally, you could look for social touchpoints in your evenings, so you’re not just stewing in bed by yourself. For example, you could call up a friend or play online games. You could also plan hangouts with them. It’s really up to you. The opportunities in our digital world are almost endless. 

So, which of these ideas will you try to make your evenings more interesting?