7 Things Wives Secretly Do When Their Husbands Aren’t Around

There is something special about having the house to yourself. The television remote is yours, nobody is asking what is for dinner, and you can spend an entire afternoon doing exactly what you feel like doing.

For some married women, these little pockets of freedom come with familiar pleasures, from enjoying a favorite show to eating dessert straight from the container.

They are not necessarily secrets from their husbands. Sometimes, they are simply personal routines that make having the house to themselves a little more enjoyable.

Watch Shows Their Husbands Would Never Choose

Every couple has those television disagreements. One person wants an action movie, the other prefers a romantic drama, and somebody eventually agrees to watch something they are not particularly interested in. When husbands are away, some wives get to skip the negotiations and choose whatever is waiting on their watchlist.

A survey of 2,000 married homeowners older than 35, reported by StudyFinds, found that two-thirds of respondents watched movies or television shows their spouses disliked.

Meanwhile, DatingAdvice’s survey of 1,004 Americans in committed relationships found that 42% binge-watched television when their partners were away. For some women, that means enjoying an entire season without anyone asking to change the channel.

Enjoy Their Favorite Snacks Without Sharing

There is something amusing about having a favorite treat all to yourself. Maybe it is a particular ice cream flavor, a takeout order, or a snack that nobody else in the household particularly enjoys. When the house is quiet, there is no need to divide portions or explain why that particular food made it onto the shopping list.

One woman featured in BuzzFeed’s collection of accounts from 41 married women described enjoying ice cream straight from the pint without sharing.

DatingAdvice also found that more than one-third of surveyed respondents ate foods their partners disliked when those partners were away. Sometimes, the appeal is simply enjoying your favorite thing without having to offer anyone a bite.

Spend Time on Personal Hobbies

Marriage brings plenty of shared activities, but personal interests still deserve their own space. When a husband is away, some women use the opportunity to return to hobbies they enjoy without interruptions.

It might mean finally finishing a book, spending an afternoon crafting, working on a creative project, or getting lost in something they have been meaning to try.

According to DatingAdvice’s relationship survey, 82% of respondents used their newfound alone time to practice hobbies. That finding covered Americans in committed relationships, rather than wives alone.

Still, it highlights how much people value having time for their individual interests. Sometimes, an afternoon spent doing something simply because you enjoy it is exactly what you need.

Relax Without Worrying About Their Appearance

Not every day needs a carefully chosen outfit, styled hair, or a makeup routine. When the house is theirs for a few hours, some women enjoy getting comfortable and leaving the getting-ready routine for another day.

That could mean wearing an oversized shirt, tying their hair back, or spending the afternoon in pajamas.

One contributor in BuzzFeed’s collection of married women’s experiences described skipping makeup and not worrying about coordinating outfits when enjoying time alone.

It is a small, everyday preference, but one many readers may recognize. There is no particular occasion to prepare for and no reason to dress up just to sit on the couch. Sometimes, comfort is the entire plan.

Enjoy the Quiet Without an Agenda

Not every moment of free time needs to become a productive afternoon. Some women simply enjoy having a peaceful home where they can sit down without interruptions or competing demands.

It could be a quiet cup of coffee on the porch, a few minutes looking out the window, or an afternoon spent moving slowly from one room to another.

BuzzFeed’s collection includes a woman’s account of enjoying a quiet cup of coffee on her back porch, while another contributor describes giving herself permission to read, watch something, or simply do nothing.

There is no television schedule to follow, no hobby to complete, and no household project that has to take priority. Sometimes, having nothing planned is the most enjoyable part of having the house to yourself.

Clean or Organize on Their Own Schedule

For some women, an empty house offers the perfect opportunity to tackle household tasks without interruptions. They might clean the kitchen, organize a cupboard, fold laundry, or finally deal with that corner that has been collecting odds and ends. The difference is that they can choose when to start, what to tackle, and when they have had enough.

DatingAdvice reported that 43% of its surveyed respondents deep-cleaned when their partners were away. BuzzFeed also featured a woman who enjoyed cleaning while listening to an audiobook.

That combination makes an ordinary chore feel like personal time. With a preferred soundtrack or a good story playing in the background, even a cleaning afternoon can become something enjoyable.

Talk to Themselves or Their Pets

A quiet house does not always mean complete silence. Some people naturally think aloud, narrate what they are doing, or have little conversations with their pets throughout the day.

A woman might tell her dog that it is time for a walk, explain her plans while getting dressed, or casually comment on a television program.

The StudyFinds report on a OnePoll survey commissioned by Ring found that 34% of surveyed married homeowners had conversations with themselves or their pets when their spouses were absent.

The finding combines both behaviors rather than measuring them separately. It is a familiar little habit that can make an otherwise quiet afternoon feel less quiet.