7 Simple Ways To Stop Wasting Your Evenings After Work

Last Updated April 27, 2025 by Davina Kelly

Feeling like your evenings slip away without accomplishing much? You’re not alone. If you want to learn how to stop wasting your evenings after work and take back your time, keep reading.

With a little planning and intention, you can turn your evenings into a time for progress, relaxation and personal growth. 

After many years of trial and error, I found 7 strategies that helped me reclaim my evenings and make the most of my free time.

In this post, I’ll share simple but effective strategies to help you stop wasting your evenings and make the most of your time, whether you want to work on a side hustle, focus on self-care, or just feel more in control of your schedule. 

By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear plan to take back your evenings, boost your productivity and create a routine that works for you. 

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7 Ways To Stop Wasting Your Evenings After Work:

1. Plan Your Evenings Based on Your Goals

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was assuming my evenings would magically become productive without a plan.

But without structure, it’s easy to default to do nothing.

That’s why planning my evenings based on my goals was a game-changer. 

Think about what you want to accomplish outside of work. Maybe you want to:

• Work on a side hustle
• Exercise and stay active
• Study for an exam

Whatever your goal is, schedule time for it.

If it’s important to you, it deserves a spot on your calendar.

Treat it like an appointment and commit to it just as you would a meeting. 

I started by blocking out time on my calendar for specific activities each evening.

For example, I’d dedicate an hour to writing on Monday, on Tuesdays, I’d work out and on Wednesdays, I’d have a self-care night.

Having a plan in place meant I no longer wasted time deciding what to do each evening because I already knew.   

2. Replace Doom Scrolling with a Hobby

Doom scrolling is one of the biggest time-wasters and it’s super easy to fall into, especially after a long exhausting work day. 

You sit down to relax for a few minutes, open social media and before you know it, hours have passed. 

To combat this, I replaced scrolling on my phone with drawing and colouring.

This hobby was actually fulfilling and was a great way to disconnect and get lost in the activity.

If you don’t have a hobby to start here are a few options:

• Reading
• Painting
• Gaming

You can read this list of inexpensive hobbies for more ideas. 

If you find it challenging to have the willpower here are some things that worked for me. 

Use an App Blocker: 

Install an app that blocks access to social media and other distractions based on a schedule.

You can set it up to block your most used apps after work for 1 – 2 hours, which can make a huge difference. 

Make Social Media Less Accessible: 

You can delete apps from your home screen and move them into folders which makes them harder to access. 

Try a Digital Detox:

You can try a digital detox, this is a great way to reduce screen time. You could replace it with working out. 

By intentionally replacing screen time with more fulfilling activities, you can break the bad habit of mindless scrolling and make evenings feel more meaningful. 

3. Develop a Routine to Disconnect

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is mentally switching from “work mode” to “life mode.”

Even if you work in an office, it can still be difficult to truly disengage from work when you get home. 

I struggled with this for years, but eventually, I created a routine to help me transition out of work mode.

Here are some ideas:

Physically Leave Your Workspace

Shut down your computer, turn off the lights in the office and step out of the room.

The physical action will signal to your brain that work is over. 

Have a Post-Workout Ritual

Whether it’s changing clothes, stretching or making a cup of tea, having a small ritual helps signal that the workday is officially done. 

Wind Down with a Routine

It could be cooking, showering, watching a series, doing yoga or reading on the sofa with your favourite tea.

These are great actions to help you relax your mind. 

By consciously marking the end of your workday, it’s much easier to shift into personal time and avoid letting work blend into your evenings. 

4. Change Your Environment

The environment you enter after work can significantly influence how you spend your evening.

If your routine involves coming home and immediately collapsing on the sofa, it can be challenging to transition into productive activities later. 

To counteract this, change your first destination after work.

Instead of going straight home, consider heading to the gym, a café or any place conducive to the activities you want to engage in. 

For example, packing your gym clothes and going directly to a workout session after work can prevent the temptation to be lazy that often sets in once you’re home. 

This approach leverages the concept of environmental cues, where your surroundings trigger specific behaviours.

By altering your post-work environment, you can establish new routines that promote productivity and engagement in meaningful activities. 

5. Choose One Day To Do Your Admin 

One of the best ways to stop wasting your evenings after work is to do all your admin tasks on the weekend or on one day during the week. 

I used to waste my weekday evenings scrambling to do tasks like meal prepping and weekly planning.

This made my evenings feel rushed and stressful instead of relaxing. 

Now, I do most of my admin tasks on the weekends, which has freed up so much time during the week. 

Now, on a Sunday I’ll spend 1 – 2 hours doing the following:

• Plan out my meals and prep food in advance
• Review my schedule
• Plan my week

This small shift made my weekday evenings feel more open and enjoyable. 

6. Make Time for Personal Time

It’s easy to fall into a routine where all the fun and social activities are saved for the weekend.

But breaking up the week with small moments of joy actually makes it feel more balanced. 

Now, I make it a point to schedule personal time during the week, whether it’s

• Catching up with a friend for dinner
• Watching a movie mid-week
• Taking a fun class
• Doing an activity I enjoy

It may sound counterintuitive, but adding fun activities to your weekdays could actually help you feel more productive since you’re no longer just counting down to the weekend. 

7. Factor In Your Energy

Your physical and mental well-being form the foundation upon which productivity is built.

Neglecting health can lead to decreased energy, motivation and overall performance.

Prioritising self-care is essential.

This includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, hydration and mental health practices. 

For example, aiming for 7 – 9 hours of quality sleep can significantly impact your energy levels and brain function.

Engaging in regular physical activity not only boosts physical health but also enhances mood and mental clarity.

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, can help manage stress and improve focus. 

Final Thoughts

By investing in your well-being, you’ll find it easier to engage in productive activities after work, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. 

Implementing these strategies can help you stop wasting your evenings and use your time for opportunities for growth, enjoyment and meaningful progress.

Pick one or two of these tips and implement them into your routine.

Over time, you’ll build habits that help make the most of your free time without feeling overwhelmed.

What’s one thing you’re going to to do to stop wasting your evenings after work? Let me know in the comments. 

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