Here are 6 Things You Can Do In The Evenings Instead of Watching Netflix

At the end of most days, I'm left feeling totally and utterly drained from working, cooking, running errands, cleaning, and everything else that comes with being a mother. When the boys are finally in bed, all I want to do is to settle down on the sofa with a cup of tea, some biscuits, and watch some mind numbing TV until I fall asleep.

Let's be honest - Netflix truly is amazing and you can never run out of things to watch. There's literally something for every one, and every mood- whether I'm feeling like an interesting documentary, a classic movie, or some good ol' reality trash TV, Netflix has it all.

But sometimes, when I spend my evenings doing the same thing over and over again, I'll get to the end of the week feeling really low, unsatisfied, and like I still need some 'me-time'. In the same way that we need quality time catching up with our friends, other halves, and children without screens or technology, it's also really important to spend time with yourself and change up what you do to wind down in the evenings.

Don't get me wrong - There's absolutely nothing wrong with watching Netflix in the evenings after a long day- but too much of anything can be detrimental to your productivity, energy levels, and your wellbeing.

The key is to have some variety and a set of pastimes that you rotate between, so that you don't mindlessly distract yourself by doing the same thing every evening. Once you start experimenting, you'll be able to feel more intuitive about what will positively impact your mental and physical health, depending on the mood that you're in, or the day that you had. Sometimes, watching Netflix will actually be the right thing to wind down after a long day, and that's totally fine!

Here are a few alternatives to watching TV that you can add in to your evening routine, so that at the end of each day, you can go to bed with a happy heart, peaceful mind, and wake up the next morning feeling like you're ready to take on a brand new day.

1. Listen to an Audiobook or Podcast

There's something special about just listening, without watching. You still get the entertainment, the humour, and the knowledge that you would from watching something on TV, but this just changes things up. It'll give your eyes a break, let you focus on what's around you, and you can even do something else at the same time!

My favourite podcasts at the moment are Diary of a CEO, A Millennial Mind, and Law of Attraction Changed My Life.

2. Get Creative

You don't have to be artistically talented to do something creative- I really think that everyone has some aspect of creativity within them, and there's something for absolutely everyone. There are SO many things you can do and that's the beauty of it!

If there's something specific you've been wanting to try or learn, just look up a YouTube tutorial and take it from there. As you get better and more comfortable with it, you can purchase the right materials or equipment, and make it into a full blown hobby if you like!

Here are a few ideas:

• Calligraphy or Brush Lettering
• Colouring
• Painting By Numbers
• Knitting
• Drawing

3. Video Call a Long Distance Friend or Family Member

Do you have a family member or a best friend who lives abroad? If their time zone matches up to the time when you're relaxing in the evening, this would be a great time to catch up properly without the kids screaming in the background. I often find that no amount of texts or voice notes can replace a live, video conversation with a loved one - next time you have a free evening, try this one, you'll instantly feel so much more reconnected than you would have intermittently texting via WhatsApp the entire evening.

5. Spend time on your skincare

Most days, my skincare routine consists of washing my face, maybe putting on some moisturiser, and that's it. That's because I do it at the very end of the day when I'm ready to go to sleep, and at that point there's no way that I'm spending 10 minutes doing a full blown 7 step skincare routine!

When I know I need to give my skin some love, I have to actually set aside time for this- but it's totally worth it. I wake up the next day feeling so much more refreshed and hydrated, and of course, it has many long term anti-ageing benefits too.

P.S. Spending time on skincare doesn't have to mean investing in multiple products or using anything fancy. It can be as simple as giving yourself a 5 minute face massage, or taking an extra 10 minutes to apply a face mask.

6. Do a Workout

I know, I know- this probably seems like a crazy idea when the other alternative is to relax in front of the sofa mindlessly binge watching your favourite series, but stay with me on this- working out has SO many amazing benefits.

Moving the body will:

• Increase your endorphin levels
• Positively impact your physical AND mental health
• Strengthen your muscles and joints
• Improve your flexibility
• Make you stronger

And the list goes on!

The best thing is that working out comes in tons of different shapes and forms, so you can choose something that suits you and your preferences. Examples are walking, running, swimming, yoga, skipping, weight training, and lots more. Try out a few things and choose something that you look forward to doing in the evenings, and something that helps you wind down, so that you can do it even after a long day.

I hope you liked reading these! What do you enjoy doing in the evenings to wind down? Let me know in the comments- I'd love to try something new!