We all know that most jobs are intense and draining and that we don't usually feel super energetic after eight hours or more at work. It can be very tempting to just make dinner and - as soon as all the domestic chores are done - relax in front of the TV until it's time to go to bed. At the same time I think most of us would agree that such an evening is hardly memorable. In fact, when you look back at a long row of such evenings it can feel a bit like wasted time, at least to me.

So how many of you feel like it's worth it to drag your weary bones out to actually do something on a regular weekday night? To socialize and meet friends and try something new that you don't usually do? You know, live your life?

And if you think it's worth the effort to do these things on weekday in theory, how about in practice? In an average week, how many times do you actually activate yourself and do something that breaks the lazy routine?

Thurs is the new Fri for me.....I can put up with a bit of a drowsiness for one day.

Of course, Fri, i'm tired as fuck.

So, is it really paying off???

Thurs is the new Fri.

i get up at 2:30 in the morning for work. After work I am too tired to do much besides stare at a computer screen and gain weight

I really tried to do the go to the gym after work, but I'm always too tired and there is always too much to do. And it's not very often that I go out with friends on a weeknight.

But now that I am not working and waiting for the move to happen I have all the time in the world. Gym in the morning after I put my son on the bus and I can go out on weeknights because I have someone to watch my little man....too bad no one else wants to go out.

Number23 said:

On a week night after work? Emmerdale, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Big Brother, internet in bed. Fairly sure I'll let out a hideous existential scream on my death bed. I know I'm wasting my life and talent. There's beauty and humour in the awareness of lost time, though. What else would I be doing? I must be quite content not to feel the need to prove myself to the world. Either that or as lobotomised and mentally castrated as THE ILLUMINATI WANT ME. Or maybe I should just find another soap opera to replace internet in bed.

Internet in bed is one of the major time-stealers, I'm sure. Heck, internet anywhere is a modern day succubus! And I hate how it replaces real social interaction.

As for the beauty and humour in knowing you're losing time, I must say I don't quite see it. Ok, maybe the humour but definitely not the beauty. I really hate the feeling of just wasting precious time but ironically it gets easier to handle the more time I waste. It's like I get lulled into a bubble of inertia, whereas if I occasionally do interesting stuff it shows me what I'm missing out on and makes me want more.

The hideous existential scream you're talking about is one of my greatest fears and getting even a slight taste of that fear should be enough to give anyone a good kick in the butt. But usually that doesn't seem to be happening to most people, which is both odd and sad.

Revolution said:

Thurs is the new Fri for me.....I can put up with a bit of a drowsiness for one day.

Of course, Fri, i'm tired as fuck.

So, is it really paying off???

Thurs is the new Fri.

That's interesting. At least you're trying. Maybe if you do something active but still not so physically draining on Thursdays, the experience will give you a boost of energy to ride on into the weekend? Not going to bed too late can help as well. You can go straight from work and do fun and rewarding stuff and be home in time for a late dinner and early bed. That's what I used to do sometimes the last time I worked full-time.

paintsprayer said:

i get up at 2:30 in the morning for work. After work I am too tired to do much besides stare at a computer screen and gain weight

But if you get up at 2.30, surely you must go to bed much earlier than most too? On the other hand I can see how even that might not help. Early mornings are real energy killers.

What's your job?

For a while there I was doing yoga regularly at least once a week on weeknights. That counts for me. I'm getting back to that this week.

My bf comes over and I make dinner for him (almost) every Tuesday. Occasionally we flop down on the couch for tv or a movie, but we're usually doing something like making a picnic, going for a walk, even just talking all night instead of throwing on the tv.

Other than that, I probably go out and about 2, sometimes 3 times a month on a weeknight. It's a fairly rare occurence, but not unheard of. When I was younger I went out 4-5 nights a week every week.

JustErin said:

I really tried to do the go to the gym after work, but I'm always too tired and there is always too much to do. And it's not very often that I go out with friends on a weeknight.

But now that I am not working and waiting for the move to happen I have all the time in the world. Gym in the morning after I put my son on the bus and I can go out on weeknights because I have someone to watch my little man....too bad no one else wants to go out.

See, that's what really really bugs me. Even if I can get my ass in gear, it doesn't matter if nobody else is ever up for anything. Sure, I could do things myself but there are real limits to how much fun you can have on your own. And as you can't force anybody to snap out of their routine you end up as a ball of high energy frustration!

I bet that when our generation is old and slow they'll all regret all the rewarding things they never did, but telling them "I told you so" won't bring us satisfaction because we'll have had to suffer because of their stupidity almost just as much.

CarrieMpls said:

My bf comes over and I make dinner for him (almost) every Tuesday. Occasionally we flop down on the couch for tv or a movie, but we're usually doing something like making a picnic, going for a walk, even just talking all night instead of throwing on the tv.

Well you're in a new relationship so it makes sense that you're off the radar for a while as far as your friends are concerned. And it's nice that you're doing reasonably active things with your man. Just watch out for the slow slip into routines that just get more and more lazy over time. I've seen it happen to so many couples...

Do you only see each other on Tuesdays by the way?

Just remember that you're not old yet! Minneapolis is right there, ready to be violated by you!

retina said:

Well you're in a new relationship so it makes sense that you're off the radar for a while as far as your friends are concerned. And it's nice that you're doing reasonably active things with your man. Just watch out for the slow slip into routines that just get more and more lazy over time. I've seen it happen to so many couples...

Do you only see each other on Tuesdays by the way?

He's pretty active, so that helps. We went canoeing today, for example. Something it wouldn't normally occur to me to do. It was tiring, but fun.

Tuesday is usually the only weekday night we see each other. He plays pool on 2 different leagues, so he had that on Wednesdays & Thursdays throughout the summer. We usually hang out all weekend, or most of it anyway, so Monday nights I tend to want to be alone. His pool schedule has changed now that it's fall so we may fit in more weekday time. I don't know. I think we spend a fair amount of time apart for a new couple, but it works well for both of us. It has so far, at least. He has actually asked me a few times if I wanted to play pool with him on one of his leagues, if that was something I'd likie to try. I think it's sweet he asked, but I told him that's his "thing" and I think it's good we have stuff we don't do together. I'm not inviting him to my yoga classes, for example.

Just remember that you're not old yet! Minneapolis is right there, ready to be violated by you!

Yeah, yeah. I really should do more. I know.

all my days involve the same amount of unpaid work, actually the weekends even more so

I don't feel like doing anything EVER, but I still do stuff if the opportunity arises

I'll go out any night of the week. Then again, I don't have a full-time job...but even when I did, I liked to go out on weekdays.

I am absolutely wiped out!

I try to get to the gym or park to walk, but....

Like I said in the other thread, I'm a morning person, up by 5.

When I get home, I start dinner for myself and grade papers or work on my own school work. (after my "guilty pleasure" DVR programs )

I'm in bed by 9.

Number23 said:

On a week night after work? Emmerdale, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Big Brother, internet in bed. Fairly sure I'll let out a hideous existential scream on my death bed. I know I'm wasting my life and talent. There's beauty and humour in the awareness of lost time, though. What else would I be doing? I must be quite content not to feel the need to prove myself to the world. Either that or as lobotomised and mentally castrated as THE ILLUMINATI WANT ME. Or maybe I should just find another soap opera to replace internet in bed.

BigBrother is dead now, did you cry buckets Friday night? bloody Davina stole Brians thunder at the end ffs, the ol' hag.

Efan said:

I'll go out any night of the week. Then again, I don't have a full-time job...but even when I did, I liked to go out on weekdays.

We should hang out then.

I have 2 jobs so I work 2 evenings a week. If we doing anything it usually revolves around a sporting event that my daughter is playing. We used to have a date night fairly regularly but not lately. I guess we have to get back to that.

JustErin said:

Efan said:

I'll go out any night of the week. Then again, I don't have a full-time job...but even when I did, I liked to go out on weekdays.

We should hang out then.

Oh, yeah! We'd have fun.

After work it's two hours at the gym four nights a week.

uPtoWnNY said:

After work it's two hours at the gym four nights a week.

wtf?

Well, I've been rehearsing a play for the last six weeks, so I've basically been away from home from 7:30 in the morning until 10:30 at night Monday through Thursday. (I've also had rehearsal on Sunday evening.) Saturday's been my only day off from everything.

Now that we're running, I have evenings off Sunday through Wednesday, but have shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. That'll last into October.

When I'm not doing a play, I'm usually resting up for the next one - so I don't feel bad about relaxing. Of course, I'm usually sewing or doing something during the evening regardless.

i play football (soccer) every night, weather permitting. ms whistle is glad that winter is coming soon so i will stay in with her instead.

i have no friends and never go 'out', ever.

retina said:

paintsprayer said:

i get up at 2:30 in the morning for work. After work I am too tired to do much besides stare at a computer screen and gain weight

But if you get up at 2.30, surely you must go to bed much earlier than most too? On the other hand I can see how even that might not help. Early mornings are real energy killers.

What's your job?

I am a night person, I struggle to get to sleep before midnight. Sleeping pills help some, but leave me hungover.

I run a chemical wash/zinc phosphate coating system with related RO water system, and waste water treatment for Fisher snowplows

i read this as ' how attractive are you on a weekday after work'

sweet said:

i read this as ' how attractive are you on a weekday after work'

I bet you're still hot.

JustErin said:

sweet said:

i read this as ' how attractive are you on a weekday after work'

I bet you're still hot.

she totally is!!!

I am pretty much wiped out. I tried to start running every night again, I need to try harder.

uPtoWnNY said:

After work it's two hours at the gym four nights a week.

I used to do that. I need to get back to that.

whistle said:

i play football (soccer) every night, weather permitting. ms whistle is glad that winter is coming soon so i will stay in with her instead.

i have no friends and never go 'out', ever.

What about the people you meet every day to play football? Don't they qualify as friends?