Here’s What I’m Doing This Evening (And Every Other Evening)

What are you doing this evening?

One of the first things I do in the morning is to check the writing prompt in Jetpack so that I can squeeze my creative juices and write a blog post. And the prompt today has got me doing just that. I want to narrate about my routine evenings in the most routine way.

The Evening Rush

Right when the clock turns 17.20, I get all jittery, because I have to board the 17.40 suburban train which starts from the railway station half a kilometre away from my workplace. So, I have to leave exactly at 17.25 to catch a shared-auto-rickshaw, reach the subway, walk, reach the station, walk again, and then board the train. By the time I board, it’d be 17.38.

On a few evenings, even this doesn’t happen. I leave the office only at 17.28 and then I become a whirling tornado to board the train exactly at 17.40 and then pant like a dog for a couple of minutes. I have even written a poem about boarding this 17.40 train which I’d be submitting to magazines.

Reading, Music, Some Introspection

So, this evening will be no different. Either I’d be leaving my office at 17.25 or 17.28. Then I’d board the train and relax for a few minutes. And then I’d take the book I’m currently reading and read it for fifteen to twenty minutes. Right now, I’m reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I’d read it till the train crosses four stations. Then I’d plug in my earphones and listen to any one of my Spotify playlists according to my mood.

I might browse interesting topics or I’d be reading poetry while the music is running. Sometimes, I might even track my submissions and submit my poems to more literary magazines. Or I’d just listen to music and let my mind wander. It depends on whatever mental state I’m in.

Yoga, Dinner, Chores & Poetry

After reaching home, I’d first greet my daughter and have a good chat with her about her day at school. Then I’d have the tea prepared by my mom and take my daughter to my flat. If she has homework, I’d let her do the homework by herself (she can manage quite well), while I do yoga for fifteen minutes and refresh myself. Then I’d prepare dinner (usually it’d be dosa and chutney).

While I’m preparing dinner, I’d stack the washed vessels back in their places, put my lunch boxes for washing, and keep any other things in their right places. I’d feed my daughter and read her stories from a few books or just play with her. After I eat, if I have some time to spare, I’d write poetry or write in my planner-cum-journal about my current feelings or do something regarding writing.

Digital Minimalism & Night Rituals

I have stopped scrolling my social media feeds mindlessly during the evening. Since I’m embracing digital minimalism, I have curbed my social media use. I have uninstalled the Facebook app and I log in through the browser only if really needed. I even stay logged out of my Instagram account for days and only use the poetry account for posting my poems. The only social media I use is Twitter (which is now X) where I love to read & repost poems and share my running thoughts.

When the time nears 22.15, I’d wind up using any electronic gadgets. My night rituals would begin. I began these rituals due to a distressing period of insomnia in August (it lasted just 4 days, but it kind of depressed me). These rituals include guided meditation or chakra meditation, massaging the soles of my feet with coconut oil and then wearing socks, applying sleep roll-on essential oil under my nostrils, on the temples, and back of my neck, and doing some reading (either Explore the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge or Aram by Jeyamohan) before hitting the bed.

Though I had been sleeping well without these rituals, I incorporated them to prevent any further episodes of insomnia. Now, I’m more relaxed than before and I do get a good night’s sleep which is required for my interest in lucid dreaming. While I’m doing my rituals, my husband makes my daughter sleep. The only times I’d forgo these rituals are when I’m chatting with my close friends on WhatsApp or I have just returned home from a function.

This is what a typical evening looks like in my life. Though it’s nothing to write home about, the little practices that I inculcated for myself make me look forward to enjoying even the normal evenings.