Here are 10 things to do in the evening to improve yourself (and your life)

Feeling like you’re in a rut? Don’t know what to do when you get home from a hard day’s work?

Maybe you’ve told yourself that you need to be more productive with your free time, but too often you spend the evening flopped on the couch binge-watching Netflix.

You’re not alone, but if you want to get ahead of everyone else then you need to start using your time more effectively.

I should know. I used to come home absolutely stuffed after working in a warehouse every day.

And you know what I did every single night?

Eat dinner. Watch TV for at least a few hours. Then call it a night.

It wasn’t progressing my life at all.

But one fateful day I decided to start an online business.

I forced myself to work on it for at least 2 hours every single night (even when I didn’t feel like it).

And now?

Now I work online, and I’ve created multiple websites with hundreds of thousands of readers.

If I hadn’t worked for 2 hours every night on my online business when I got home I’d still be working a dead-end job at a warehouse.

The point I’m trying to make is that if you use your free time productively you can make improvements in yourself and your life.

Time really is our most valuable asset.

So today I’m going to give you some ideas of things to do in the evening that will benefit your life and your future.

I’m sure that these ideas will be more rewarding than sitting on the couch binge-watching Netflix all night.

1) Master a new skill

This is an obvious idea to put first, but mastering new skills is always going to benefit your life.

And it’s never too late to learn something new.

Want to learn a language? Spend an hour or 2 every night practicing.

Want to pick up a creative hobby? The evening is the perfect time to do it.

Figure out what you want to learn, find a course online (hint: Try Coursera or Udemy) and then work it into your schedule in the evening.

While it takes time to learn new skills, if you stick at it you’ll be proud of yourself in the long haul.

It could also open up many opportunities for you in the future.

2) Start a side hustle or business

This is what I did, and as I mentioned above, it’s completely changed my life.

No longer do I work at a warehouse. Instead, I work wherever I want, whenever I want, and in whatever country I feel like.

And it’s a little less soul-destroying than plugging away in a warehouse.

So, what kind of side hustles can you try?

Given that there is a pandemic going on and all, you might want to try your hand at making money online.

You could make money as a freelancer (writer, graphic designer etc), or you could start a website and try your hand at selling your favorite products.

There are literally thousands of ways to make money online. You just need to pick one and stick at it.

3) Use a telescope to look up at the stars

Looking up at the stars brings a remarkable sense of awe and using a telescope can deepen this sense.

The good news?

You only need some basic equipment, a little bit of knowledge and a few hours under a dark sky.

Our night sky is full of incredible objects and before long you will be finding and looking at planets, nebulae, galaxies, and many more objects.

4) Trace your ancestry

This is an extremely rewarding hobby to get involved in: Uncovering the heritage of your family.

Learning more about your family history can yield insights about heritage, where you’re from, and who you’re related to.

It’s also a great way to reconnect with loved ones with interesting information to share with them.

5) Evening exercise

It’s no secret that exercise is a beneficial hobby to get stuck into. Even an evening stroll can have significant health benefits.

Whether it’s going to the gym and doing weights or running, if you stick at it, you’ll definitely feel better about yourself in the long run.

Exercise is particularly good for people who work on their laptops or in an office all day.

6) Learn how to cook

Cooking is something we do every day, but not many of us take time to actually get better at it.

But taking the to improve your cooking skills is a skill that will benefit you (and your family) for the rest of your life.

I recently took the Gordon Ramsay Masterclass, which really helped me improve my cooking. You check out my review of it here.

7) Get stuck into MasterClass

When it comes to online education, there isn’t a bigger name than MasterClass.

It’s basically the Netflix of online education.

They’ve got the world’s most famous instructors teaching their exact craft.

For example:

• Malcolm Gladwell teaches writing
• Chris Hadfield teaches space exploration
• Christina Aguilera teaches singing
• Gordon Ramsay teaches cooking
• Deadmau5 teaches electronic dance music.

And so much more.

If you have a look at some of the videos, or even the trailers, you’ll understand why I say it’s the Netflix of education.

The production quality is just so good!

You can easily binge-watch all of them in a day.

The best bit?

It’s much more educational than binge-watching Netflix.

After all, you’re actually learning valuable life skills while you’re watching.

Sounds great, right?

Now I’m sure you’re wondering: how much does it cost?

Each class is $90. But MasterClass also offers an “All-Access Pass” that gives you unlimited access to all of their classes for $180 per year.

Good news:

They’ve also got a money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund within 30 days if you change your mind.

Over the last few years, I’ve taken almost all of the available MasterClass classes.

I’m going through them all again now that I’m in self-isolation.

I’ve also put together this comprehensive review of MasterClass so you can decide if they’re for you.

Check out my MasterClass review here.

And if you want to go directly to MasterClass now, click here.

8) Get involved in a charitable cause

What better way to give back than spending your evenings figuring out your next charitable move?

Are there any social or political causes that interest you?

If you’re struggling to think of something, think of the last time that you got really angry with something going on in the world or in your community.

Do you hate that people don’t take global warming seriously? Then look into organizations you can help with that.

Or even better, start your blog on that topic and work on getting eyeballs to your website.

Or if you love animals for example, you might consider volunteering at the local animal shelter near you.

9) Learn how to meditate

There’s a reason meditation has become so popular in recent years.

Not only can it help you calm down and reduce stress, but it also gets you more focused and clear with how you want to live your life.

You can find a few guided meditations online, or you can even download an app.

A meditation course that I’ve tried before is Mindvalley’s The M Word. This is a great course for any beginner who’s new to learning meditation.

10) Stretch your musical talent

Whether you used to play a musical instrument as a kid or never picked up an instrument in your life, regularly learning and playing a musical instrument is one of the best ways to strengthen your brain.

Some studies have suggested that musicians have better cognitive functions.

When we play musical instruments, the brain is stimulated in the corpus callosum, which is the part which links both hemispheres of the brain and creates new connections.

No matter how old you may be, you can still experience mental improvements from strumming a few keys.