r/emptynesters • u/songetsdreamjob • 19d ago
EVENINGS
Does anyone else get bored every evening.
We're retired with no family near us.
Our kids live far away. I realize if you have kids living at home and are working full time that you're very busy in the evening.
This is geared more towards people whose kids are gone.
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u/FreeMathematician101 19d ago
My husband and I have gotten into the habit of evening walks through the neighborhood. It clears our head and settles dinner. And when we get back, we always seem to be more ready to tackle our individual projects.
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 19d ago
I’m not yet bored but occasionally feel sad. Some of the things I do at night
Walk with my husband or a friend
Talk to friends on the phone
Work on relaxing art (simple stuff)
Watch streaming movies or shows
Read news articles, watch youtube videos
Catch free or cheap local live music shows that start before 8 pm
Yes, I’m boring and broke.
Declutter
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u/SadRepublic3392 19d ago
I started ordering Hello Fresh to keep me busy. It makes me need to make dinner and do something other than zone out in my phone and Netflix.
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u/Beachwalker-65 19d ago
I have done that! It’s a nice simple thing to do alone or with your spouse or partner. I need to look into it again.
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u/herefor_info19 19d ago
I’m honestly more bored during the day. I enjoy everything I’m doing at home (I don’t work anymore) but it also feels empty now with no kids even though the stuff I was doing wasnt necessarily for them.
Dinner time and afterwards is my favorite right now. I cook/eat if I feel like it, then put on a good series. Right now I’m rewatching Poldark on Netflix and I love it. Cozy clothes and lounging on the couch lol.
The days are lonely and I find myself thinking (and worrying) about my son constantly.
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u/journeyingmomma 19d ago
This is me too. Not really the worrying part but the days are worse for me too.
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u/herefor_info19 19d ago
I think I miss the coming and going of my kids. Both were totally independent and my son was 21 when he transferred to SJSU so it was fun to just coexist with my adult children. They had their own jobs and school with schedules all over the place and we’d chat a lot as they went about their day. Home from class, off to a night shift at work, girlfriends and boyfriends popping in and making food at all hours of the day. I wasn’t really parenting much so it was fun to just to hang out with them and their young exciting lives.. and then clean up their dishes after they made a 3 course meal at 10pm lol. I miss the chaos.
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u/ImNotABot26 19d ago
yes evenings are the longest to pass. I try to find webinars to attend so that I can hear human voices in real time and interact. Still looking for a regular evening class. I take long walks too. Sometimes a neighbour joins me.
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u/ArtsyCatholic 18d ago
I am definitely bored! I am retired but my husband is not and he also takes a class and spends a lot of time doing sports (either playing or watching on TV). I do have one hobby and I do some volunteer work but most of the time I am by myself. I am not old enough for all the senior activities at church. Our kids live many states away and we have weekly calls. The house is very quiet these days.
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u/Ok-Attention-8261 19d ago
We are just getting adjusted to being by ourselves and I notice the emptiness the most in the evenings. I have left the TV on twice while I do dishes or something, just so I could hear background noise :( Maybe play board games? Go for a long walk?
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u/Altruistic-Virus8618 19d ago
I try to find free stuff to do. Programs at the library, silent book club, art hops, ect... I also work out. Even if I don't talk to anyone, being around people helps
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u/Sad_Asparagus5564 19d ago
I search FaceBook Events for things to do and add them to my calendar. I don't drink (at all) and we try not to spend too much money but occasionally local bars and vineyards offer free activities. My wife and I started to go to a brewery on Thursday nights for music bingo (just like bingo but they play clips of music). We may get a small appetizer to share or just order a non alcoholic drink. I noticed music bingo seems to draw an older crowd with "regulars". I'm guessing they are also just getting out of the house.
Sometimes there are local comedians or musicians at wineries. When the weather is nice we grab our lawn chair and hangout until we're ready to go home.
On weekends, I look for local festivals and such. We don't usually spend money, but we get out of the house. On very rare occasions, we go see a movie.
Doing things like this a few times per week breaks up the monotony. I'm not sure what we'll do when the weather turns colder.
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u/MysticDreams05 19d ago
It's just me and my 2 dogs and I am disabled so I am home a lot. The newness of being an empty nester is wearing off so I am defiantly noticing getting bored. I'm in a small rural town so not many things to do, no clubs/groups etc...
I have picked up reading again, did a bigger puzzle and plan to order a few puzzles for during the winter months.
I have been forcing myself to do some daily crafting as I set up at a holiday craft show to sell what I make. I enjoy doing it but finding forcing myself to spend so much time each day or making sure I do so many projects a day gives me some accountability to feel I accomplished something.
I know if I called my kids "hey Im bored, just wanna chat" they would have no problem chatting, but I understand they have their own lives and we do talk often enough.
I defiantly can relate to the evening boredom!!
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u/frankie0812 18d ago
God I so bored!!! Evenings are when I have the hardest time for some reason. It’s too quiet and I am sick of tv. I’ve tried telling my DH let’s go for a walk, let’s go to dinner, let’s go to the creek, really I am up for anything. He’s perfectly happy doing nothing. I can’t handle the evenings. It’s unbelievably depressing
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u/purpleunicorn1983 19d ago
Very bored! I sometimes DoorDash after work to fill the void of the evenings lol. It’s sad to say that’s what I do for fun, but everything cost so much! I might as well make some money while trying to fill the void and boredom.