After You Clock Out: Creating a Strong Evening Routine and Maximizing Time For You
There was a trend on TikTok where people posted their 5am-9am routine before work or their 5pm-9pm routine after work. It was interesting to see what people did with their free time during the week, whether it was productive or spent on the couch. For the average adult, working 8 hours a day leaves them with the morning before work or the evening to dedicate time to themselves. Alternatively, you may work 12-hour shifts with fluctuating days, still requiring a significant time commitment. So what are we doing with our free hours? What does an evening after work look like to you? How we spend our evenings can transform our lives for the better or keep us complacent if we choose to waste these hours. Granted, after a long, productive day, why would you want to be more productive? Because now it’s personal. It’s your time. We spend all day playing our roles and dedicating our time to earning a living. Yes, some days are draining, requiring you to go straight to the couch, but with most days, you can learn how to maximize your time and get the most out of your evenings.
Let’s Start With The Phone
What do you do when you’re “relaxing”? Maybe scroll on social media for an hour, or two, or three. Or do you prefer to watch TV instead? Either way, we now use technology to unwind and use them as an outlet. While there is nothing wrong with relaxation, using our phones or TV to reward ourselves after a long day, how long we spend on these devices matter. Consider the amount of time you spend on your phone that can go elsewhere, or to something more productive.
For the average person, free time is limited, requiring you to be strategic with how you use it, so if all your free time is going to scrolling on your phone, then it’s hard to pour into your art, finish that book, meet new people, go back to school, or cook a home-cooked meal. As you read through this blog, continue to self-assess and look for ways to spend less time scrolling and more time pouring into yourself.
Work on Your Hobbies to Maintain Your Identity
Our hobbies make us who we are, unleashing the creative and exploratory force that's naturally a part of every person. Studies show that having hobbies enhance mental health, boost self-esteem, and build healthy relationships. Do you enjoy baking, playing an instrument, drawing, dancing, hiking, or reading? Maybe you like to sew or work in your garden. Anything that provides a healthy outlet from primary responsibilities and something you genuinely enjoy. This is a key part of maintaining your identity and not losing what makes you unique. So use your free time to nurture it.
Have you ever spoken to someone who lost their sense of identity? There’s always that one coworker or colleague who used to play a sport, or used to play an instrument, they used to do this or that, but let it go because “life got in the way”. If you are this person, ask yourself. How can I get back to doing what I used to love? Or what's something new that I can try?
Use your evenings to pour at least 30 minutes to an hour into your hobby or a new one. If you have a busy schedule, be sure to pencil it in your planner or set a timer to remind yourself, until it becomes a key part of your routine.
Become a Smarter You with Learning and Upskilling
When’s the last time you studied? When was the last time you experienced an aha moment by connecting the dots to something that seemed so complex before? Learning is an essential part of the human experience that can open up many doors. Unlike past generations, we now have so much information at our fingertips, all we have to do is take out our phone. There are numerous online programs, courses, certifications, and even degrees that support learning new skills or building on existing ones. So what’s stopping you? Even with a full-time job and responsibilities it can be done.
When I first started my courses, I asked my professor if they recommended working while in the program. She said it's all about time management and that my program, as well as many others, is built for working adults. She worked a full-time job while completing both her Master's and Doctorate. I also attend school with working professionals, spouses, parents, and others, so it's doable even if you have additional responsibilities.
How to Use Your Evenings to Attend School:
Set aside 30 minutes to plan your HW during the weekend
Spend 30 minutes to an hour working on coursework daily
Plan your meals every weekend for the upcoming week
Dedicate one evening a week to deep focus
Use a planner or digital calendar to keep up with the schedule
Pair coursework with something you like, such as a show or music
Use moments of quiet to study and read supportive material
Create a Personal Workout Routine
For those of you who can't go to the gym in the morning, an evening workout can be a great way to incorporate fitness into your life. With a cheap gym membership, your apartment gym, or even creating your own personal fitness room, you can begin to build your workout routine. As you plan, determine which workouts are best for you, understand your fitness and body goals, and purchase clothes and materials that will support your exercise journey. Although you can find a lot of information with a Google search, some situations may require professional guidance from a personal trainer or a medical doctor, so keep that in mind.
When I worked remotely, I spent most of my day sitting at my computer and not taking advantage of my apartment's gym. I was in a slump and an unhealthy cycle of work, happy hour, scrolling on my phone, and repeat. Yes, sometimes work and personal distractions deter us from putting in the effort to work out, but once we stop making excuses, we can start showing up for ourselves and make real progress. By pushing myself to do a 10-minute workout a day, I eventually increased it to 20 minutes, then 30 minutes, and now I'm doing multiple workouts a day. I realized the key to getting out of my personal slump was starting small.
Prioritize Relationships That Make The Most Of Your Time
By joining new groups, clubs, or even attending school, you can meet new people. This enables you to form healthy relationships and connections based on shared interests. Developing a secondary support system keeps you accountable and provides a space for you to share common challenges and work through them together.
Periodically, assess your connections, both old and new. After work, are your social groups encouraging you to be productive or counterproductive? Do you have friends who only invite you to happy hour, or do they also invite you to social networking events, fun classes, book clubs, or game nights? For many, the saying “you are who we hang around” rings true, and I agree. We all have preferences when it comes to who we wish to hang out with; however, it's essential to consider what the people in your circle are doing. Not to judge them, but to determine if it's a healthy connection for you, and if it inspires you to grow, or vice versa. Remembering time is everything, who we hang around can either help us waste time, or make the most out of it. So be sure to pick wisely.
Making Time For A Home-Cooked Meal
When you get out of work, you may be tempted to pull into a drive-thru. I get it, it’s easier than getting the ingredients for a meal and cooking food yourself. Whereas, within a few minutes, you can have a combo handed to you. Even faster if you order DoorDash, this has become the norm for many households, replacing the need to cook. However, cooking is still essential and it doesn't have to be complicated. With preparation, planning, and a little discipline, you can have a healthy meal every weeknight.
Healthy doesn't mean bland or time-consuming, what is important is eating well-balanced meals that give you the nutrients you need to thrive. If you are on a tight schedule, shoot for quick 15 to 30-minute meals during the week, using the groceries you purchased over the weekend. In cases where you absolutely don’t have time, consider buying prepared foods from your local grocery store or look into healthy meal delivery services, if it's within budget.
Maximizing Your Time
It’s essential to value your own time, recognizing that it’s precious, and how you use it will significantly impact your quality of life. Make time for your aspirations, goals, connections,improving yourself and hobbies by using your evenings to nurture these aspects of your life.
