54 Ideas for a TV Free Evening
The start of a new year always makes me a little reflective. Not in a dramatic “new me” way, but in a quiet, honest one.
I’ve been thinking about my evenings.
About how easy it is for them to disappear into a screen. About how often the end of the day becomes recovery mode instead of life mode. About how many small, ordinary nights quietly add up to a whole season of my life.
I’m 51. I’m not trying to be young again, but I do want to stay awake. Curious. Engaged. I want a full life, not a quiet shrinking one. I want my evenings to be something more than recovery from the day. I want them to be part of the life I’m building.
I don’t have this all figured out. I still love a good show and a night on the couch. I’m not anti-TV. I’m just pro-intention. And I’ve realized that if I don’t choose differently on purpose, the default will always be the easiest thing. And easy doesn’t always mean life-giving.
What I really want is a little less passive and a little more present.
More nights where my husband and I actually talk. Move. Laugh. Learn. Dream. Create. Pray. Stretch. Go for a walk. Sit outside. Work on something together. Do something small that reminds us we’re still building a life, not just winding one down.
So I’ve been thinking about small shifts. Gentle changes. Not a rigid plan. Not a long list of rules. Just ideas for how we can spend more evenings without the TV on — or at least not on all night — and enjoy each other’s company while staying a little more active.
We’ll still watch TV. Just maybe a little less. And honestly, that already feels like a win in my book.
I don’t want my second half of life to be loud or busy or over-scheduled. I want it to be rich. Connected. Creative. Faith-filled. I want it to be made up of ordinary nights that feel meaningful when I look back on them.
So this year, I’m choosing to be more intentional with my evenings.
To move my body a little more.
To engage my mind a little more.
To nurture my marriage a little more.
To grow my faith a little more.
To stay awake to my own life.
Not perfectly. Not every night. Just more often than not.
I created a printable list of the ideas I’ve been gathering for TV-free (or TV-lighter) evenings that feel active, connected, and life-giving. If you’d like a copy, just fill out the form and I will send it your way. I’d love to hear other ideas you have for the list!
54 Ideas for a TV Free Evening
- Take an evening walk around the neighborhood, no goal other than moving and talking
- Sit outside with a drink and watch the sky instead of a screen
- Stretch, do light strength work, or yoga while listening to music
- Dance in the living room to your favorite music
- Read books aloud to each other
- Work on a puzzle
- Journal, sketch, or create something with your hands
- Write letters or cards to friends and family
- Organize old photos and tell the stories that go with them
- Listen to audiobooks or podcasts that spark conversation
- Learn something new together
- Try a new hobby like pickleball, swimming, or cycling
- Host friends for simple evenings with snacks and conversation
- Volunteer together once in a while
- Pray together at night
- Play a board game
- Read a single scripture and talk about what it stirs
- Keep a shared notebook of ideas, prayers, and dreams
- Plan small trips or day adventures to look forward to
- Talk about what you want life to look like in five or ten years
- Create memory books or legacy journals while the stories are still fresh
- Take sunset or stargazing walks and name what you notice
- Keep a “question jar” and pull one out at night to spark conversation
- Cook one new, simple recipe together each week
- Make an evening tea or mocktail ritual
- Play a card game
- Do a nightly gratitude check-in (one thing each)
- Work on a shared playlist for different moods or seasons
- Tackle one small home project together at a time
- Practice a musical instrument or sing together
- Learn basic meditation or breathwork
- Try watercolor, collage, or hand lettering nights
- Read poetry or devotionals aloud
- Take turns teaching each other something you know
- Do a “memory night” and tell old family stories
- Write future letters to yourselves
- Create a running list of “things we still want to do” (bucket list!)
- Plan themed nights (Italian night, 70s music night, board game night)
- Walk different neighborhoods or nature trails nearby
- Visit local lectures, readings, or community events
- Join a faith study, book club, or discussion group
- Host dessert nights instead of full dinners
- Do a weekly life reset (plan, reflect, pray)
- Keep a shared prayer list and revisit answered prayers
- Make small handmade gifts together
- Learn a language with an app for
- minutes a night
- Do light gardening or yard work together in warmer months
- Take night photos or keep a visual journal
- Volunteer for seasonal or short-term opportunities
- Learn about a new country or culture each month
- Keep a “what we learned today” habit
- Build a family recipe book with notes and stories
- Take an online course together
- Create a legacy project intentionally over months
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