Are you up late at night and BORED? If you've had enough of watching TikTok videos, try one of these ideas to make the best use of your time:
- Drive to Dutch Bros Coffee for a sweet treat. Most local coffee shops are closed by 9pm, but Dutch Bros is open until 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on weekends. While coffee probably isn't the best sleep aid, the creamy goodness will pair well with other late-night activities.
- Go for a late night slice of pie (or something else). Did you know House of Pies on Lake Woodlands Dr. is open until midnight on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends? Order to-go if you don't want to dine in. (Disclaimer: House of Pies is NOT one of my favorite places to eat in The Woodlands, but for a late night meal when few other places are open, it's not a terrible option.)
- Do some journaling. If you're not used to writing down your thoughts in a journal, you might be surprised at how relaxing and therapeutic this practice can be. Some moms have a gratitude journal, a planner journal, or a diary-like journal for recounting the day's happenings.
- Go grocery shopping. Late in the evening is one time you won't have to worry about long lines. You won't get to shop the fresh meat/seafood dept, and the workers will likely be out on the floor restocking, but if you have a simple grocery list (and preferably a riding buddy for safety), HEB Central Market is open until 11pm.
- Do a puzzle. If you're up, it could be your brain's way of asking to be challenged. Pull out a jigsaw puzzle or find some logic riddles online.
- Bake something. But only if you're sure you won't fall asleep before you finish it and turn off the oven. A fresh batch of muffins for the morning will please everyone!
- Listen to a podcast. Or a Skillshare class. Or a YouTube tutorial. May as well learn something while you’re up anyway.
- Do some yoga poses. Stretching will relax your muscles and your mind. You might find yourself sleepy before long!
- Take a hot bath or shower. Use your favorite bath-time luxuries, and enjoy a peaceful soak.
- Prepare for tomorrow. Get a jump-start on the next morning! Lay out yours or the kids’ outfits for the following day. Prep brown-bag lunches. Chop up the veggies for tomorrow’s dinner. Sign permission slips.
- Give yourself a facial. Insomnia nights are good opportunities to do something you’d rarely take the time to do otherwise. So pamper yourself with a mud mask, brow & lip waxing, and other treatments.
- Read a book. Or a magazine. Reading is a low-key activity that can help you wind down when you’re not entirely ready to fall asleep.
- Order groceries. Choose your favorite store or service for grocery ordering, create your meal menus for the week, and then add everything you need to your shopping cart. Your groceries can be ready for pick-up as early as the very next morning.
- Watch a movie. You’re not likely to have to share the TV this late at night, so now’s your time to catch up on your favorite series. Enjoy!
- Text a family member or friend who is up late. Is your BFF a night owl? Send her a text message and spend a few minutes getting caught up. Late night texting is an opportunity to go back-and-forth without distractions.
- Tidy the house. Of course, you won't run the vacuum if other family members are asleep, but late night is a great time to clean up your home because no one else is awake to make a mess!
- Strewn books. Do you have a reluctant reader at home? Did you know that scattering books in strategic places is a “thing”? You might find that your child will be interested in picking up a book if it’s on the table while he waits on his pancakes to finish cooking or in the car rather than tucked away on a bookshelf. So find some interesting reads and lay them out around the house for others to happen upon the next day.
- Paint your nails. This takes just a few minutes followed by a good 15 minutes of sitting still while they dry. If you don’t like having to sit still in the daytime for your nails to dry, doing this activity at nighttime when a hundred other things aren’t vying for your attention could be just the thing!
- Declutter the junk drawer. All those old receipts, bobby pins, cards, loose change, etc. need to be sorted through and cleared out from time to time. Why not now?
- Lay out croissants. Do you know about those delightful croissants from Trader Joe's? You have to pull them out of the freezer to thaw and rise for 9 hours before baking. If you're like me, don't wait until morning time to think about these lovely pastries. Pull them out of the freezer and thaw them on a baking sheet now, so in the morning they'll be ready to pop in the oven!
- Visit Dave & Buster's. If you're up for a late night arcade thrill, consider a drive to Dave & Buster's in Metropark Square. They're open until midnight most nights and 1:00am on Friday and Saturdays.
- Have breakfast. Whataburger is one of the few food joints open 24-7, and their breakfast menu begins at 11pm. So keep your PJs on, and make a run for a pancakes platter or a taquito with cheese!
