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Original poster

Doing bugger all

33 replies

MrsJBaptiste · 09/03/2019 13:51

Does anyone else feel guilty when they have a day doing very little? All I've done today is stick on some washing, empty the dishwasher and do the ironing. I did have my hair done this morning but that hardly counts as a job!

We have loads if big things to do in the house too but it will take so long to get started that I don't want the hassle just yet!

OP posts:
BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 09/03/2019 14:14

I don't feel guilty as long as I'm getting the basics done! Some days you just need a break.

We have some big household jobs that need doing too but I find it hard to get motivated when it's so cold and dreary.

Sparklingbrook · 09/03/2019 14:20

I feel this a lot. I blame my parents as they were not ones and still aren't for doing nothing.
TV on a Saturday morning was only allowed if it was raining etc...

As a result I love being able to do very little now and not feel guilty.

I have been out for food shopping, put 2 loads of washing on and I am getting my hair done later. That's about it today.

tinydancer88 · 09/03/2019 14:27

I LOVE a lazy day.

All I'm intending to do today that's in any way productive is potter about doing some laundry and maybe pushing the hoover round. Otherwise I'm just reading and Netflix bingeing. After a busy week that's heaven.

Ginger1982 · 09/03/2019 14:28

I'm a SAHM so always have DS but today he's having a daddy morning and I've been out clothes shopping and now watching tv in peace!!

Easterbunnyiscomingsoon · 09/03/2019 14:29

Managing 6 dc at home, meals and washing on a Saturday is plenty imo!

Shufflebumnessie · 09/03/2019 14:36

Yes, especially during the colder weather as we're far less likely to go out for the day so I feel like I should be really proactive and get lots done in the house. At the moment DH & I are both feeling rubbish. He's very stressed through work and I'm still recovering from a severe chest infection. Plus I have an infected cyst on my shoulder which is so painful (the antibiotics haven't kicked in yet so every movement is painful). DS is constantly exhausted from school so he's happy stay at home and play. DD is going through an incredibly demanding/clingy stage plus she's just getting over a sickness bug and teething!!

I feel so guilty as the house is an absolute tip but all I've done is put a couple of washes on, emptied the dishwasher, put some clothes away and made lunch. I walk into a room, see how much needs doing and just close the door again.
We have so much that needs doing in the house DIY wise. Bought it 3 years ago with it needing a lot of TLC and it's very slow progress. I'm hoping that as the weather gets nicer I might feel more motivated and less guilty!
Sorry, that was a lot longer and ranty than anticipated. It's the guilt talking Grin

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 09/03/2019 14:45

I have a stupidly heavy period today and feel grim so I got up just before lunch, have put a bit of washing on, taken the kids to the corner shop for some sweets and I'm sat on the sofa playing sims on my iPad which is where I'll stay until I plate up the Chinese takeaway were having for tea later. DH and the kids are gamers so I'm leaving them to it on the Xbox today, lazy day all round!

DMCChristmasCakes · 09/03/2019 14:56

I'm typing this in a coffee shop, waiting for DiddyDragon to finish a birthday party.

I went for a run this morning, had a bath, tidied the kitchen & then spent some time playing games on my tablet.

I don't feel guilty in the slightest. My mother and grandmother would be scandalized.

Slowknitter · 09/03/2019 15:04

Don't feel guilty! Being busy is overrated. Busyness is not an end in itself, nor is it a virtue. I normally hate 'inspiring' meme things, but I quite liked this one I saw the other day:

"Everyone should spend half an hour sitting quietly in nature every day. If you're too busy, you should spend an hour sitting in nature."

HelloGabriel · 09/03/2019 15:18

I hear you, OP.

I bought a National Trust membership in Jan and we haven't used it once (to be fair, the weather here has been consistently shit).

I feel like I should be baking, crafting etc but I'm sitting with my feet up watching some Fred Astaire movie while DD is out playing and DH has gone out.

Why do I feel guilty? Because it'll be Monday again before I know it, last weekend was crap and I was soo looking forward to this one being 'productive' Confused

missmartini · 09/03/2019 15:22

If it makes you feel any better...I'm still in my jammies...me and DP are watching old come dine with me's!

2DC are overnight at their dads this weekend. We decided we're having a nothing day! We've ordered stuff to make sangria from amazon prime, lunch from what's left in the cupboards and dinner will be a take away of some sort!

Never had a day like this (or can't remember the last time!) before and it's been amazing lol

Bohbell · 09/03/2019 15:27

I’ve worked all morning, made luch and done some housework. I feel reaaly guilty now because i have poriod pain and have neen on MN as a rsesult for two hours. Can i ask what you all do during these times of extended rest? Do you just sit/watch TV/ read?

Bohbell · 09/03/2019 15:30

I need to make more of an effort to do less. It’s good to do nothing every so often. Just how do you go about it?

missmartini · 09/03/2019 15:35

@Bohbell this is exactly me. I work full time and 2 kids and never just sit ...except for today and sadly enough we planned it lol

There's dishes in the sink, there's washing in the washing basket and stuff to get ironed...but it will be there tomorrow when I'll do it! Smile

Slowknitter · 09/03/2019 15:51

Just how do you go about it?
Just sit down and stop doing stuff. Or read, knit, listen to music etc. I don't find it at all hard - in fact I could literally sit in a chair doing nothing except think for ages and not get bored.

BillyAndTheSillies · 09/03/2019 15:54

I'm still in PJ's and until two hours ago, so was the rest of the house. I've just had a nap and apart from opening the door to the Tesco man and the Uber Eats driver haven't left the sofa/bed.

9 weeks pregnant and exhausted. DS seems quite happy to have a lazy day and DH is on the sofa watching telly while DS snoozes next to him.

We've got plans to go out tomorrow and this tends to happen, if we aren't up and dressed really early and plan to do something we end up lazing about all day.

lastqueenofscotland · 09/03/2019 15:59

I can’t do nothing, today I’ve done parkrun, coached a sports group, done shopping, made lunch and cleaned my house top to bottom. I’m off to the late kick off football now and then have friends round for late tea.

Not a stealth boast at all, I have really compulsive behaviours around exercise. Can’t ever skip it and I can’t relax if my house isn’t completely spotless. I wish I could switch off, I find going on holiday stressful in case my lodger makes a mess or I won’t be able to run.

Malibucyprus · 09/03/2019 16:46

I love doing nothing days! Problem is DP just cannot do them, he has to get up, get washed & dressed and start fannying around.

I don’t work Fridays so all washing, ironing & housework is done, therefore I see nothing wrong with having a day off on Saturdays. But I’m made to feel guilty/lazy when he wants to go off doing stuff.

Funny thing is, DP doesn’t do anything productive, he just can’t doss. As we speak he’s pottering around in the shed, not achieving anything.

I’d love to sit with him watching films, eating junk food 😔

ShannonRockallMalin · 09/03/2019 16:52

I was literally just sitting here feeling exactly this! I’ve been at work this morning, having emptied dishwasher, got breakfast, cleared up and put on a load of washing before I went. Finished at 1pm, came home got lunch, hung washing out, then sat down with a coffee and MN, and here I still am.

Teen DSs have spent all day gaming in their rooms, DH is on a weekend away with friends, so why do I feel so guilty for having a couple of hours sat on the sofa?!

CalamityJune · 09/03/2019 17:00

I was going to take DS into town to buy some veg from the market but it was raining so I haven't bothered.

When he had his lunchtime nap, I had one too. Sleep when the toddler baby sleeps!

I did make a pan of homemade soup this morning and I'm reasonably on top of housework this week so I don't feel too bad for having a hibernation day. I'm currently trying to watch the 6 nations while DS resents me for not putting CBeebies on.

ScouseQueen · 09/03/2019 17:05

Love a lazy day. It's more often than not a Sunday here but we do films, popcorn and easy meals. Sometimes I also potter a bit and get washing done, go for a quick Aldi top up trip but it's still good.

Elephantina · 09/03/2019 17:16

Ah it does my heart good to hear of other people's "do nothing" days. I was brought up in a household of rushers and doers and the perpetually busy, so from the age of about 11 school holidays stopped being fun really quickly - DM would leave me and DB lists of jobs to do before we were allowed to do our own thing.

I thus find myself rather a lazy adult, given to procrastination. I married someone who is also a doer, most of the time - he rushes around doing housework and feverishly tidying, apparently terrified of even 5 minutes downtime.

Me, I can't wait to shut myself in my "office" upstairs and crochet or do my nails for hours whilst listening to an audio book. Or sit and binge watching something on Netflix. I might interrupt myself for long enough to stick some washing on, or change the bed or something.

But I have quite a complex and occasionally stressful job, so switching my brain off and not having to answer a million technical questions at the weekend is a relief. I don't want to think about much.

Unfortunately the childhood guilt of doing nothing never leaves me so I can't fully surrender to it - and DH finds it hilarious that the sound of the hoover actually makes me slightly anxious. He hoovers for what feels like HOURS.

Millie2013 · 09/03/2019 17:16

Sparkling, that’s me!

My parents were always really active, my mum still is and they had a thing of making me feel incredibly guilty for relaxing, unconsciously, but sadly it’s stayed with me.
I’m working on it, as don’t want to pass it on to DD

HeathRobinson · 09/03/2019 18:15

My mother always used to say - 'I haven't sat down all day!' Even as a child, I thought it was a bit stupid. Why not make time for yourself? Maybe it was SAHM guilt talking?

So I've totally gone the other way. All I've done today is feed the cat, fill his outside water bowl up, sown some seeds and lounge in bed. Oh, also managed brunch.

Crunchymum · 09/03/2019 18:37

I try to make sure we have a low key day most weekends. Less so in the summer, but definitely in winter.

Kids are full time at school, not home until 6pm x3 evenings a week. I work part time, DP full time (very manual job) and baby is out the house half the week 8am-6pm. We're all very tired come the weekend and as mine are still pretty young, I like to give them one day where we aren't rushing / out early / on the go all day. I tend to still do loads on theses days though Shock