6 Things I Did To Stop Wasting My Evenings After Work

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. We all experience this feeling when we return home exhausted, lacking motivation, and strained. The desire for a quick snack or watching a Netflix series seems irresistible, and before we know it, we spend the whole night glued to our screens, only to wake up the next day and do the whole thing all over again. I’ve been there, but over the years, I have found six activities that have changed how I use my evenings, allowing me to focus on what’s most important to me and create the life I want. So, let’s dive in.

First, get moving. When we come home tired and demotivated, the last thing we want to do is get our bodies moving—whether it's going for a walk, doing a yoga session, or heading to the gym. However, it’s often exactly what we need at this moment. Physical activities trigger the release of endorphins, our body's natural mood lifters. Our heart rate and blood flow increase, making us feel more energetic. That’s why, on days when I feel drained and tired, going to the gym or doing a quick home workout really changes the game for me. Afterward, I feel refreshed and have the energy to do whatever I want to do.

Next, make a clear work cut-off. I used to check my work emails and messages long after I had stopped working. The problem with this is that I never really shut off completely. It also creates the expectation for everyone at work that you are available 24/7. The worst part is when you receive a message that triggers thoughts about work tasks that you can’t solve at the moment, causing distraction even during leisure time. By making a clear cut-off from work, we can focus on activities that bring us energy, such as spending time with friends and getting a good night's rest. Work problems can always be dealt with the next day.

Feeding my curiosity has also been a game-changer. Taking the time to read a book, listen to a podcast, or take a course helps me gain new ideas and improve my skills, which brings me so much excitement. Although it might be hard to start, especially when the lure of Netflix feels more appealing, I’m always glad I did it. It fills me with energy and makes me happy, and I often learn something new that I can use to improve my life. Sometimes all it takes is just committing to five minutes because once you start, it’s much easier to keep going. This can also be combined with a walk outside or listening to a podcast or audiobook on the go—something I love doing.

Being creative is another evening activity that I find incredibly fulfilling. We make the biggest leaps and gain the most insights when we put our minds in an open, creative space—when we land in a flow state where time flies and we become one with the task at hand. Using creativity, we can find novel solutions to everyday problems. I love using my evenings to get creative, whether it’s writing a post, doing some video or photo editing, brainstorming new ideas, or thinking about my future. The side benefit of this is that we often learn new skills that can be applied in our day-to-day work—skills that might not have developed if we hadn’t pursued our creative projects in our free time.

Connecting with others is equally important. No treasure is as valuable if we can’t share it with someone. When we think about the happiest moments in our lives, they are often with others. Good relationships are one of the biggest contributors to our overall happiness and fulfillment. The excitement of sharing an experience with someone we love is incomparable. Building and maintaining relationships, however, requires time and effort; it’s not something that can be accomplished quickly. This is why it’s easy to keep working or stay home—it’s more comfortable, and we see results immediately, unlike relationships, which are built over months and years. Taking time in the evenings to connect with loved ones—whether by having quality time, going out for dinner, taking a walk, or simply having a conversation on the phone—can help us build a future together with those we care about. Even sending a message to someone you’re thinking of can do wonders.

Finally, setting the stage for the next day is crucial. The intention with which we start each day is the biggest contributor to creating the life we really want and achieving our goals. If we worked a little bit on our dreams every day, our progress would skyrocket over time. However, we often get distracted, forget our goals, and miss setting clear intentions for each day. Without reminding ourselves of what we want to achieve, we risk spending our days on activities that don’t bring us closer to our goals. That’s why it’s important to use the evenings, even just for 10 minutes, to think about the next day, set an intention for what you want to achieve, and quickly reflect on the current day. What have you learned? Where can you improve? Planning my day the night before has helped me immensely. It allows me to start the next day with clarity and purpose, avoiding hours of indecision.

If you’re interested in a mindset shift that has changed the way I look at life and the world, you can check out a video I made about it. Remember to keep growing, keep striving, and I’ll see you in the next one. Peace!