How to Make the Most of Your Hours Outside of Work

Ever find yourself on the couch after a long day, scrolling through your phone or laptop, or mindlessly watching something on the TV again? If you’re like me, you’ve probably got a ton of things you’d love to do with the few precious hours outside of work—exercise, hang out with friends, read, or even work on personal projects.

Part of the problem is simple math - there are a fixed number of hours in the day. If you follow the usual health advice and aim for 8 hours of sleep (as you should), and you’re working 8+ hours a day, plus commuting, getting ready, eating, and doing basic life admin, you’re realistically left with maybe one or two hours a day of “free time”—if that. And if you're in a demanding role (I’ve worked jobs with 12-hour days), that window shrinks even more.

I’ve found that making the most of these limited hours doesn’t require overhauling your entire life, but it does require a bit of planning. After experimenting with a few things, I’ve discovered some small changes that have really made a difference in how I spend my time after work. These aren't necessarily groundbreaking tips, and they don’t involve turning yourself into a productivity robot, but they’ve worked for me, and they might work for you too.

I know that many of us have tiring, demanding jobs—trust me, I’ve had 12-hour workdays myself. But even with those long hours, I’ve found that intentionally managing the time I do have can really help me reclaim those fleeting hours. Here’s how I’ve been experimenting with making more of my time outside of work—whether it’s 15 minutes or 5 hours.

1. Plan Your Time in Advance

If I had a dollar for every time I said “I’ll decide what I feel like doing this evening once I finish work” and then ended up browsing the internet until bedtime… I could probably retire early.

Now, I spend 15 minutes on Sundays planning my week. That includes putting things I want to do outside of work directly into my calendar—exercise, dinners with friends, even downtime. For me, mornings are ideal for things that need brainpower, like reading or writing. Evenings are for more social or relaxing activities, or catching up on life admin.

It doesn’t always go to plan, but the act of deciding in advance means I’m far more likely to follow through.

2. Manage Your Energy at Work

This one’s been a slower lesson for me: how I manage my time at work impacts how much energy I have after work.

Of course, this depends on the kind of job you do. Not everyone has full control over their schedule. But wherever possible, I try to find small ways to reset—short breaks, stretching, or actually taking lunch away from my desk. Even five minutes outside can shift your energy.

I’ve also built a simple shutdown routine, where I review my to-do list at the end of the day and plan for tomorrow. This helps me mentally switch off when I leave work, so I’m not carrying stress into my evening.

Managing energy, not just time, has made a huge difference in how I feel once I get home.

3. Use Your Mornings Wisely

I’m naturally more of a morning person, but even if you’re not, mornings can be an underrated secret weapon.

Instead of staying up late scrolling aimlessly, I go to bed a little earlier and wake up with a full hour to myself before the day kicks off. I use it for things that need focus—like reading non-fiction, planning, or writing. I’ve found that hour is often just as productive as several hours in the evening after a draining day.

Even if it’s just 20 minutes, it feels like bonus time. A small shift, big impact.

4. Don’t Go Home, Go Straight to the Activity

After work, I know myself too well. If I go home first, I’ll lose momentum.

So if I’ve planned a workout, errands, or even focused work at a café, I go straight there from the office. I pack what I need the night before—laptop, gym clothes, headphones—which removes the friction and makes it harder to bail.

It’s a small psychological trick, but skipping the “stopover at home” reduces the effort to commit to my plans and increases the chance I’ll actually do the thing.

5. Use Strategies to Energise and Reset

Sometimes I’m tired, but not done. I want to do something useful with my evening, but the transition from work to post-work feels like a brick wall.

That’s when I have a few go-to resets. A quick shower, a 15-minute walk, a non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) audio, or some basic stretches all help me switch gears. I even have an evening tea ritual—something small that gives me a little mental reset.

Once I start working on something, I’ll often set a timer. It’s less overwhelming that way, and a timed session makes it easier to commit without feeling like I’m “on” all evening.

6. Look After Yourself

I won’t be the first person to tell you that the basics—eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep—make a big difference. You already know this. But for me, making these things non-negotiable has had a knock-on effect on everything else.

That said, I’m not anti-couch. Sometimes collapsing with a Netflix show is exactly what you need—and that’s totally fine. The goal isn’t to do something “productive” every night. It’s to be intentional about it. Just maybe not every night.

When I take better care of myself, I have more energy, more motivation, and (crucially) more patience when things don’t go to plan.

In Summary

Making the most of your hours outside of work isn’t about fitting in a million tasks or turning into a productivity machine. It’s about being intentional with the time you do have. Plan ahead, manage your energy, and take care of yourself. You don’t have to be perfect, and sometimes, you’ll fall into the couch-potato trap. But by experimenting with these small changes, I’ve found that even the smallest shifts make a big difference in reclaiming my time after work.

So, the next time you’re tempted to collapse on the couch, take a moment to ask yourself: “Is this how I want to spend my evening?” And if the answer is yes, then that’s perfectly fine. But if it’s no, now you’ve got some tools to do something about it.