What Do You Do at Night before Bed?

Cunning Linguist on 25/07/2023 - 11:24

What do you do at night before bed?

Looking for a relaxing hobby to fill in the nights and thought I'd throw it out here for some more ideas. Looking for something that…

• Isn't too noisy - kid will be sleeping
• Cost sustainable - Lego is amazing but I'll go broke building something new that is fun/challenging every week
• Non/computer or screen related - between work and recent post grad studies I have spent way too much time in front of a screen already.
• Non-academic - considered learning a language but I really can't handle anything studious or requiring a lot of reading for a while
• Relaxing / low energy - nothing that is going to get me so amped up before bed I can't sleep.
• Bonus if I can enjoy a dram or two while partaking

The sort of things I'm considering trying…
• Model building
• Figurine painting
• Building a ship in a bottle
• Knitting (wife knits)
• Painting
• Carving

For some context I've just finished high level post grad studies, so for a few years been working the standard ~40 hour week + 25-30 hours of study. Usual routine after putting the kid to bed was to hit the books and assignments. While a month of lazy streaming and gaming has been fun, I feel like it's going rot my brain inside out if that's all I do every night.

Entertainment

Comments

  • Drpepper666 on 25/07/2023 - 14:06
    +4

    Use medicinal and buss

  • Gnostikos on 25/07/2023 - 14:07
    -2

    Obvious answer: your mum.

    Serious answer: meditate to calm the mind before sleep.

  • ashdays on 25/07/2023 - 14:13

    Strip Poker!

  • dtc on 25/07/2023 - 14:50

    Go to bed and read a book until you are sleepy. Turn light off (or kindle off) and go to sleep. Easy, quiet, cheap. You dont even need to move into bed once you are relaxed.

    There are zillions of books worth reading. If you like a genre (fantasy, sci fi, mysteries) then get a kindle unlimited account and go wild. Or just the library. Reading can be escapist, no need to think you must read the latest Booker prize winner or whatever.

  • iforgotmysocks on 25/07/2023 - 15:16
    +16

    Sit in the shower and contemplate the meaninglessness of my existence.

    • Sleeqb7 on 26/07/2023 - 10:18

      My hot water unit is too small for this to be a meaningful amount of time :(

      • Leeroy Jenkins on 27/07/2023 - 14:06

        Then use cold water.

        • pr0o on 27/07/2023 - 16:54

          he won't have a meaninful life after that sickness anyway

          • Leeroy Jenkins on 28/07/2023 - 10:30

            @pr0o: Been taking cold showers every day, and it's really not bad atm. I've measured the cold water temp, and what comes out of the shower head always hovers around 10-11 degrees. It's not freezing water.

            He'd feel much better after a cold shower compared to a warm one.

            The contemplate part of "contemplate the meaninglessness of my existence" may not be easy to do cuz he'd be too focused on enjoying (no joking) the coldness for his mind to wander, but he may enjoy the cold better than contemplating things.

            • pr0o on 28/07/2023 - 20:19

              @Leeroy Jenkins: I tried but i could not stand in that cold water - srsly :(

              • Leeroy Jenkins on 28/07/2023 - 22:57
                +1

                @pr0o: Yeah, I understand. If you're not used to taking cold showers, it can be really hard, and not everyone wants to experience discomfort before bed, but with discomfort comes a calmer mind, and that's the exact thing I want right before bed. You'd think I'm more alert and it's harder for me to fall asleep after a cold shower, but the time it takes for me to fall asleep is about 5-10 mins atm compared to under 5 before starting cold showers 6 months ago. Not a huge time difference and I feel better going into sleep this way.

                Another added benefit is you'd hardly get sick any more.

                If you ever wanna try it again, the key is to not fight the cold water. Try to relax under the cold water and it becomes a lot easier. The key to relaxing is to try to force your full exhales. It only takes about 5 seconds of forced exhales to get used to the initial shock. Keep relaxing until you feel your muscles are no longer contracting due to the cold, then you can just stand there for however long you want. Another tip for getting into it more easily is to try it right after you wake up in the morning. It's significantly easier to do it in the morning than in the evening. The cold is uncomfortable, but it is also therapeutic.

  • KaTst3R on 25/07/2023 - 15:18
    +2

    Talk to the moon.

  • Some Human on 25/07/2023 - 15:50
    +2

    Jigsaw puzzles are pretty cool. You can frame them and put them on the wall.

    • nsta8487 on 25/07/2023 - 19:09
      +1

      Agree with this. Depending on kids ages it might not be sustainable to have a jigsaw out on a table for a week, but in my house we can get through a 1,000 piece in a weekend if we're stuck indoors. You can pick them up from Vinnies/Salvos for $5 or less and I usually just return them when we're done unless it's a high quality puzzle with no missing pieces (in my experience about 1 in 5 second-hand puzzles will have a piece missing).

      • Some Human on 25/07/2023 - 20:29

        You can get a mat that rolls it up for storage. I’ve never used one myself, but it’s an idea.

      • spedohero on 26/07/2023 - 08:43

        Return to vinnies/salvos for $5 after you done having fun with it?

        • TrustNoBody on 27/07/2023 - 21:18

          haha …i think (hope) they mean they just donate them back to salvos when finished ..

    • SolitaryMan on 26/07/2023 - 14:59

      +1 for the jigsaw puzzle idea. -1 for the suggestion to use them as art.

  • ECE on 25/07/2023 - 15:52
    +2

    Seggs

    • SolitaryMan on 26/07/2023 - 15:00
      +1

      You must’ve missed his username and requirement:

      Isn't too noisy - kid will be sleeping

  • ShannonN on 25/07/2023 - 15:54
    +1

    go here to see many DIY things to make, projects etc some involve circuits and soldering some woodwork etc

  • try2bhelpful on 25/07/2023 - 15:55

    Cryptic crossword puzzles.

  • FocusRider on 25/07/2023 - 15:55
    +8

    Pornhub

    • mapax on 25/07/2023 - 16:10
      +8

      Degeneracy has caused you to go blind.

      Non/computer or screen related - between work and recent post grad studies I have spent way too much time in front of a screen already.

    • bloom on 25/07/2023 - 21:26

      Yeah but this guy wants less screen time
      Might have to go old school and get a dirty mag from milk bar 👍

  • quietsarcasm on 25/07/2023 - 16:15
    +2

    Rather than painting what about simply drawing with pencil and paper. Improve your observation skills by drawing something in the room you can see or exercise your imagination by drawing something you can't.

    Plenty of good books to help you develop drawing skills but they aren't necessary.

  • Ocker on 25/07/2023 - 16:35

    "
    "What Do You Do at Night before Bed" - go for a leak

    • Mugsy on 26/07/2023 - 08:02

      Practical

      • kaleidoscope on 26/07/2023 - 11:13

        Unless yours is a slow leak that lasts for hours i dont think thats what op is looking for

  • TightLikeThisx on 25/07/2023 - 17:04
    +4

    I would consider learning to draw and listening to calming music. There is an excellent book called “Drawing on the right side of the brain” that has a bunch of exercises in it that will improve your drawing/visual perception skills. Easy setup/pack down compared to painting and you can build upon these skills by progress into painting later.

    Second I would try lockpicking. It’s a hobby that will save you some money if you ever get locked out of the house. You can start with a padlock setting the pins differently and trying to open it. If you get good at it you can try competing in competitions later.

  • MrThing on 25/07/2023 - 17:51
    +3

    Fleshlight

    • kaleidoscope on 26/07/2023 - 11:14
      +1

      Is that a suggestion for OP or just what you do >.<

    • Southoz on 27/07/2023 - 08:17

      Is that like a selfie stick for men?

    • cookie2 on 25/07/2023 - 20:57
      +6

      Gotta be honest, doesn't sound relaxing before bed. Sounds tiring just reading it all.

    • SolitaryMan on 26/07/2023 - 15:01
      +1

      Tell us you’re a virgin without telling us you’re a virgin.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 25/07/2023 - 18:51

    I do a bit of activities with the Mrs, sleeps like a baby after

    • Muzeeb on 25/07/2023 - 21:45
      +2

      Yeah. All that talk of home loan interest rates that people are paying would get pretty exhausting 😉

  • Logical on 25/07/2023 - 19:03

    Watch a 3D resin printer bob up and down

  • RolandWaites on 25/07/2023 - 19:26

    Reading. Your list says you don't want to do a lot of reading but for a lot of people who aren't regular readers, the issue is the choice of books. Identify a topic you're particularly interested in (history, sport etc) and give a well-rated novel a go. Put the phone in a different room. Make sure you have adequate lighting. Give yourself 30 minutes a couple times in a week and see if the following days or week you have any desire to continue reading that book.

    • Cunning Linguist on 26/07/2023 - 01:31
      +1

      Mentioned above I've just finished my masters so I've have been deep in academic papers and textbooks for the better part of 3 years. Right now it's just not something I would find any joy in, but I'll get back into reading in a few months no doubt.

      • RolandWaites on 26/07/2023 - 23:22

        Academic papers and textbooks aren't novels though! I appreciate the exhaustion, but reading a good novel is vastly different to reading a textbook.

  • Homr on 25/07/2023 - 20:50

    bed wrestling with my partner until we both get tired and then we sleep

    • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2023 - 21:13
      +2

      …. until we both get tired

      You're doing it wrong

    • SolitaryMan on 26/07/2023 - 15:02

      Or you could both just have sex.

      • Homr on 26/07/2023 - 15:03

        Wrestling's more fun

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 25/07/2023 - 21:33

    meditation is an option with earphones

    me personally im usually watching tv/youtube/Netflix

  • iridiumstem on 25/07/2023 - 23:18

    If you need a hobby, modding mechanical keyboard switches can be time-consuming and mind-numbing (in a mindfulness kinda way, somehow).

    Otherwise, I used to like maintaining my fountain pens for the next day, cleaning them out as needed and changing inks.

    Both can be done relatively cheap (and can become expensive)

  • wimpykid on 25/07/2023 - 23:43
    +1

    Star gaze .. will relax your mind and you can also trying spotting various other stars/planets

  • jaffar on 26/07/2023 - 00:42
    +2

    Intrigued because I currently wind down with screen time which is rubbish. Chat GPT spat out: sketching or drawing, hand lettering or calligraphy, knitting or crocheting, puzzle solving, meditation or mindfulness, yoga/gentle stretching, reading fiction, listening to an audiobook/podcast, discover and brew tea, journalling, origami, gardening, cooking/baking, stargazing.

  • MeesusEff on 26/07/2023 - 00:47

    Paint by numbers. I'm the least creative person so when I just had 1 kid who would have a good first 4 hours of sleep, I would just be painting while putting on a show on the tab. It really gets you in a zone. I took progress pics along the way and felt so accomplished when I was done 😂, mine came with a frame and we've hung it up. I got mine from Aliexpress

  • Mugsy on 26/07/2023 - 08:04

    A few rifts in Diablo 3 helps relax the troubled mind.

    • Dreamcast on 26/07/2023 - 15:23

      Ahh mate, Diablo 4 is out.

  • DiLs on 26/07/2023 - 08:09
    -1

    sex

  • spedohero on 26/07/2023 - 08:45

    Come in ozbargain and ask what to do.

  • SlickMick on 26/07/2023 - 08:48
    +1

    I find a snooze on the lounge is the most relaxing thing in life.
    Each night I have dinner in front of the tv, then a cup of decaf. I like to use the empty coffee mug as a pillow/ heat pack and fall asleep almost instantly. I wake an hour or 2 later, my wife has turned the tv off, and the idea is to then stumble to bed and continue where you left off. (Unfortunately, I figure I can then get 3 hours work done and wreck everything.)

    I think the main requirement is FTA tv with lots of ads and/ or series reruns.

    If you don't see the appeal, you have immature tastes. I used to question my granddad's napping, but now I get it.

  • Bearhay on 26/07/2023 - 08:54

    If you're serious about winding down and relaxi

  • Bearhay on 26/07/2023 - 09:01

    Meditation as has already been suggested is a wonderful way to wind down, relax and ensure a good sleep.
    Why not do it together with your wife if your child is asleep? Even better, all three of you?

  • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2023 - 09:20

    One thing I DON'T recommend before going to bed is building a ROKR model.
    I was gifted the Marble Night City and found it addictive, often building into the wee hours of the morning past my bedtime. 😵‍💫
    https://youtu.be/qg5WmxB9NTM

  • douevenozbargain on 26/07/2023 - 09:36
    +1

    Fap

  • belongsinforums on 26/07/2023 - 09:49

    adult video critic

  • pformag on 26/07/2023 - 10:01

    renovate?

  • v8bargain on 26/07/2023 - 10:46
    +1

    Meditate before bed has been the best activity ever in my experience. I aim for at least an hour whenever possible, but 5-15mins works too. It is so under rated imo.

  • capslock janitor on 26/07/2023 - 11:17

    THIS WAS FUNNY READING THE TITLE
    THEN READING OP NAME UNDERNEATH

  • kaleidoscope on 26/07/2023 - 11:18
    +1

    Looking for a relaxing hobby to fill in the nights

    • Plan your next day
    • Have a chat with your wife while she's knitting
    • Meditate
    • Go to sleep by 10 and get enough sleep
    • Organise your office room/ kitchen/ etc.
    • Organise your digital life (media/ photos/ docos, etc)
  • unhuman on 26/07/2023 - 11:39

    Diablo iv before bed sorta puts me on a good mood

    • nimnomnimy on 26/07/2023 - 12:46

      been doing too much of this recently.
      are you doing seasons?

      i hate the grind for gear but once you are setup, nightmare dungeons, world boss and legions are good fun

      • unhuman on 27/07/2023 - 15:44

        Diablo grind shits me but it’s fun still. Yes I’m doing seasons.

    • Dreamcast on 26/07/2023 - 15:25

      Ugh, I need to stop. Eating into my sleeping time.

  • agooddeal on 26/07/2023 - 12:13
    +2

    Origami. All you need is some paper sheets readily available at home, and Origami books from your local library. I feel super calm and relaxed after half an hour building a paper object, which naturally leads to good sleep. If you haven't done it before, start with easy models before trying the more difficult ones. It is extremely satisfying.

  • skywards on 26/07/2023 - 12:18

    What if you had someone to hang out with for a bit before bed?

  • nimnomnimy on 26/07/2023 - 12:44

    I am very similar to you. Sudoku is a good one, get a couple spiral books made by Hinkler (sold at Kmart / often come up at aldi around $4)

  • Gekov on 26/07/2023 - 12:59
    -1

    A good old long & slow jerk-off should see you ready for sleep.

  • dickiee on 26/07/2023 - 13:12

    So many healthy bedtime habits! 9 month old who is teething and wife working nights makes things difficult. But recently been using the google home to learn the correct lyrics of relaxing songs to help her get back to sleep. acoustic guitar has been good before. Not playing anything in particular, just aimlessly plucking around.

  • luffyex2010 on 26/07/2023 - 14:10
    +1

    I look at Sydney news (rise in crime) to see the latest drive and gun down people, teenager speeding car chase, robbing, knifing incidents and the good old burn them all to claim insurance tactics. Not being sadistic but just to get an update hopefully not happening in the area I live in.

    If not its a 1/7 chance of reading/playing/watching
    PS plus extra new games
    Xbox game pass
    Crunchy roll premium
    Amazon prime
    Random you tube videos
    Watching again justice league unlimited/young justice
    manga

    Wifu… Current addicted with kdrama with young and good looking guys 😅 I am fine with it as I was previously addicted to kdrama too lol.

  • starburstyellow on 26/07/2023 - 14:20

    I'm personally learning how to solve a Rubik's cube. Got this one yesterday after a recommendation on ozb .

    https://www.kmart.com.au/product/3x3-nexcube-43170852/

  • oliman on 26/07/2023 - 16:27

    flip flip flip flip…..

  • Minimum chips on 26/07/2023 - 16:48

    I started making little guys out of pipe cleaners, then wire, then small metal parts and hardware held together by wire. It's quiet, they turn out really cool and I can listen to podcasts at the same time.

  • debb on 26/07/2023 - 18:02
    +2

    Crochet.

    Fits most of your criteria, no noise whatsoever, cost sustainable (Kmart crochet hook set $7.50, Spotlight for yarn, often on special plus deals on OzB, and lots of free patterns and tutes online), some screen time if you go online to watch tutorials and read patterns, non-academic, super relaxing, and definitely can enjoy a dram or two while crocheting.

    As well, quite meditative and calming, can listen to music or audiobooks, team activity with your wife and opportunity to share a yarn or two, pun intended :)

  • serpserpserp on 26/07/2023 - 18:26
    +3

    I imagine what JV looks like…

    • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2023 - 18:31

      …. this evening or tomorrow?

      • serpserpserp on 26/07/2023 - 18:31

        Every night.

        • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2023 - 18:32
          +2

          Careful what you wish for

  • ylukman on 26/07/2023 - 19:16

    Hydroponic

  • Camelface on 26/07/2023 - 20:51
    +2

    Why do you have to do something? Try do nothing : 1.Organise a nice comfortable cushion on the floor
    2 keep an alarm for like 30 minutes
    3.Sit cross-legged or any other posture that's comfortable. Keeping the back straight helps not falling sleep
    4. Close your eyes
    5. Pay attention to the sensations in your body or breath or even the throughs that comes through. Just observe; but no need to do anything with them.
    6. After about 20-30 minutes, check how relaxing it was.

    It may take a couple of sessions to get used to this, but I think it will help your studies, and to have a good night sleep.

    • Daabido on 29/07/2023 - 18:23

      Meditation is not for everyone. For a small percentage of the population it can be quite mentally damaging. If your kids' school ever insists on meditation as a universal cure all after lunch or whatever, think whether they will participate. For most people, it's not a problem.

      • Camelface on 29/07/2023 - 21:25

        First time heard about this. May be the word meditation is stereotype and that's why I didn't use the word meditation. Anyone should be able to stay in the presence for at least several minutes a day, and we all do that anyway. How can that be damaging?

  • Windows7forever on 26/07/2023 - 21:29

    You sound like an old married couple

  • Pudina Chutney on 26/07/2023 - 21:41

    Meditate.

  • tomleonhart on 27/07/2023 - 08:51

    My GF.

    • inherentchoice on 27/07/2023 - 09:19

      Are you offering your GF for Cunning Linguist to do her?

  • healinginnocent on 27/07/2023 - 11:37

    Matchsticks and Craftsticks to create 3D models… cheap and fun… all you need is sticks, hot glue gun and your imagination

  • jusforfun on 27/07/2023 - 11:55

    If you are into crafts, you can try Paper quilling? I find it very relaxing and therapeutic.. starter kit is very cheap and its easy to get hooked. It's amazing how simple, plain paper can be turned into something beautiful!
    https://www.skillshare.com/en/blog/quilling-discover-the-art…
    Thanks.

  • OzBarAnon on 27/07/2023 - 14:18
    +1

    I just stress about everything, but I would not recommend doing this.

  • jaybo on 27/07/2023 - 14:24
    +1

    perhaps something like the metal origami kits?

    https://www.hearnshobbies.com/collections/metal-kits

    i bought a couple in japan a few years back and they were fun, they're quite small and intricate so require some degree of patience and finesse, they're small enough that you can fit a dozen on a little shelf and they don't take up a tonne of space after you're done assembling them.

    probably plenty of cheap knockoffs on ebay/aliexpress, too

    kinda halfway between a puzzle and a model :)

  • muzzamo on 27/07/2023 - 14:53

    Some contrarian advice - go to bed early and wake up early. Your free time can be interchanged for free time the following morning.

    Get up at 5AM, put a head torch on and hit your local trails for a trail run. Or join a HIIT gym and do a 530AM class. Repeat daily.

    • Top G on 27/07/2023 - 15:45

      Hi Mr Goggins 👋

  • tessel on 27/07/2023 - 15:22

    Drink a glass of milk and watch Willjum.

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