What to do while watching TV

Knitting, crochet, crosswords, Codewords and iPad games.

Ooh, I've picked up lots of ideas here. I used to do night walks like Gillybob, only without the beach, and I've been thinking of doing that again except it's a bit dark round here. DH and I are always on our laptops in the evening although we do put them down for Coronation Street. Goodness knows why as CS is not what it was. I should add that we do not spend EVERY evening in front of TV with our laptops as we also play badminton twice a week and do other things. The evenings do seem long now and it is nice to get ideas for different things to do.

Quizqueen - is there a website to get started on the online surveys that you would recommend, please?

Clematisa - when you say you walk a mile in front of the TV are you using a walking machine or just walking on the spot on your carpet?

I wanted to iron something the other day, but couldn't find the iron ...must have one somewhere....

Great idea to make all your own xmas cards, but you don't have to be an artist to do that. Working out a design which please you might take a whole evening. You could cut snowflakes or take images off the computer.
Or, perhaps you could take up family history.

I have a jigsaw puzzle on a table with one eye on the tv now and again. Games on my kindle, puzzles from the newspaper, really depends how much concentration needed for the tv programme.

Another online game player... bridge. Yes I also never watch live tv so can always rewind if I feel I have missed a bit. Things can be recorded but then deleted weeks later if not viewed... sorts out the junk stuff. Precious little 'good' stuff these days so glad of iplayers and netflix if really desparate. And I subscribe to lot of interests on Youtube so always something there to view.

I don't watch all that much TV because I'm often out at meetings, music rehersals etc in the evenings and the TV never goes on in the daytime. Consequently, I record programmes I really want to watch (not rubbish!) and watch them when I'm in so they need my full attention. I don't understand how you can read/do puzzles etc which require brain work and follow a tv programme at the same time! I do sometimes knit or iron while watching though, as that doesn't take much concentration and I can understand doing colouring or jigsaws.
Like others have said, DH and I frequently wake up finding we've missed half the programme we were looking forward to, and have to rewind the recording!

I must admit I play Plants v Zombies. And knit squares which I am sewing into a cardigan.

I knit whatever else can a woman do.
I also play freecell on my tablet but it depends on whether or not you need to be watching the tv as well as listening to it.

Jalima1108 Is a fellow yarn hoarder.

I find knitting helps my arthritic hands and wrists, so it's what I do to ease the pain when they are sore from gardening! I like to read and knit at the same time and dread the day that I can't knit any more.

Rag rugging......it uses up that stash of fabrics sitting in the spare room and can be done with one eye on the telly.

I practise my Spanish on Duolingo at different times, but I'm loving some of those suggestions here, as I hardly watch anything on TV just do catch-up. I mainly use the TV for chromecasting my fit youtube videos to...
I'm trying to walk 10,000 steps a day so I clear a space and then I walk 1 mile in front of the TV - one morning and one afternoon or evening. Set my timer for 15 minutes each time and I'm on my way!

Do your wrists let you play patience, either with playing cards or on the computer?

I've been trying to remember some exercises that might help your wrists, but can't come up with any. Glad to hear you have go rid of the crutches, are you having physiotherapy for whatever made the crutches necessary? If so ask your physiotherapist what to do about your wrists.

I don't iron
but somehow it all gets done beautifully!

Please tell me I'm not the only Gransnetter who stopped ironing when I resigned. Think carefully .... only VERY few items actually need ironing these days! First of all I don't iron anything that can't be seen. Only posh shirts and OH trousers get ironed. There are too many books out there to read and not enough time to read them. Ironing!!?... really haven't you heard of feminism.!!

I sit with my husband who always watches TV in the evening. I plug my noise canucelling headphones into my iPad and work on my Futurelearn courses that I sign up for. I spend about an hour and a bit each night completing the on line projects. Last night I finally finished the last sub section of a course I have been taking for four weeks called Food as Medicine - it really taught me a great deal and I am starting to shop and cook differently. Would recommend taking these free on line courses to anyone - the subjects you can study are so wide ranging.

I knit while watching tv in the evenings. I also look at the emails and facebook on my phone during the adverts. We are all multi taskers these days.

Shysal

Never watch ads either -record all programmes on commercial TV & FF through them.
I play games on my tablet while watching TV unless it is a VERY good programme that needs full attention.
At this time of year I sometimes knit or crochet if DGC need things for their shoebox appeal but not really keen on knitting although it does keep the cats amused!

Alisa43 I'm become quiet addicted to Hidden Object games on my computer and less than one eye on the telly .

Which website do you download the games from?

Can't think of any programme which would get my undivided attention .

I must admit my laptop is on almost constantly while the tv is on as well in the background so I email friends/family, research answers to crosswords, read news updates, research about things I am interested in and take loads of surveys ( and get paid for doing so). I read a lot and do sudokos and I do a lot of batch cooking especially soups and juices and I talk to my cat and occasionally look after my daughter's dog so would have to take her out.
I do go out regularly whatever the weather to pub quizzes, the cinema and theatre and I used to be involved in local politics but have retired from that now. I do the school pick once a week for my granddaughter and stay for tea.

I must admit I am never bored or lonely. I would recommend signing up with some online survey companies. It's interesting to give opinions and you sometimes get products to test at home. Usually they send amazon vouchers as payment so I use those to pay for presents.

Thank you for all the ideas and the good wishes re the arthritis.

I am impressed with Gilly Bob and the walks. My silent suburb would not be so pleasant for walking in the dark evenings! Also, I am knackered in the evenings!

I surf the net,GN,Facebook, e mails, watch some streamed programmes from the UK (love them) research for the book I am writing,read my English womans magazine as soon as it arrives, TV in this country is rubbish anyway.

I record everything I want to watch then I can just skip over the ads or boring bits - saves loads of time!

I've just sorted myself out with a pair of bifocals for evening use...top half for television; lower section for my tablet. Sorted!
For free puzzle games, try Funkyland.
I play Words with Friends, having to adjust my game for grandchildren and experts.
Draw Something has also come back online, and this is fun. I am currently playing random opponents in Connecticut and Finland, and enjoy the comments we can add.