Would you consider a day in bed a waste of time?

[fuckedandbombed]

I'm asking because it's what I seem to do with all my days off including most of my annual leave.

I'm suffering with depression. I'm probably menopausal, and I'm always tired and lacking motivation.
I do keep my house clean and I walk my dogs .
But I love just knowing I don't have to get up - that I can doze and watch tv and daydream, not have to get dressed or do my hair or out make up on. I'm not sure if it's a really bad habit I'm getting into it whether is my saving sanity time .

Thoughts please?

If you enjoy doing that, and it helps you, you're keeping on top of things etc then no it's not a waste.

No it would be a day well spent for many!

If I was 25, no. Now I’m 20 years older, yes! But I’m not suffering from depression so you do what you need to do.

Have you spoken to the GP about your menopause symptoms? HRT could help?

Yes, I would hate that. I’d never take a day of annual leave unless I had something exciting planned or a holiday.
However, if you enjoy it then that’s absolutely fine. Each to their own.

Do what you need / want to do op. But if you’re starting to worry that it’s not healthy for you, could you wean yourself off it a bit? So just one day on a weekend instead of 2?

Well, I would think it was a massive waste, yes. But you don’t and so that’s fine. Horses for courses.

No I wouldn't consider it a waste. I'm usually incredibly busy with very little time to myself. We all need time to rest and recuperate sometimes. That's just as important as work/ housework/ days out etc

Of course it's not a waste of time if it helps manage your health both physically and mentally. If you feel you are doing it too much then you probably are though.

Could you have a lie in but make a plan for the afternoon? Maybe a slow start, brunch then an activity? It might help you to feel like you have actually achieved something.

No a day in bed isn’t a waste if it makes you feel better. But it is definitely not helping your depression that it is all you do with every day off. Try and ease into having the odd day off doing something else you enjoy....even if it is taking a picnic blanket to a park and reading and dozing outside instead of at home in bed.

Saturday and Sunday mornings don't really exist for me. I'm always in bed, preferably asleep. In the afternoon I usually get up, but might still not get dressed until late afternoon so I suppose I do the same as you. However, I think there's a difference between resting because you're genuinely tired and staying in bed because you feel you don't have anything to get up for. I hope you're getting some treatment for the depression.

It wouldn't be rejuvenating to me, I'd just feel cross with myself at the end of the day, but if it suits you, that's good.

Bit of a mix for me , i like a lazy day occasionally, but i do find if i have too much time it makes me feel lonely occasionally.

If you like it , you do you x

Yes I’d consider it a waste of a day. I work f/t and seem to have little time to myself so a day off is very precious and would be spent mooching round the shops, looking for charity shop bargains, going for coffee, going out with friends - any number of things really.

When I was off ill with depression the counsellor I was given through work said to try and build one nice thing into your day then got you up and out of the door, even if it was just for half an hour. I found it really helped. Everyone is different though, so if it works for you then do it and don’t feel guilty! 😊

I think it's okay every now and again, but if you find yourself wanting/needing to spend ALL your time in bed you have a problem.

I think the occasional day is fine but if it’s every day off op and your annual leave I don’t think this is healthy. Are you seeing someone about your depression?

I often wonder if I am a bit depressed.

Most of the time, I would rather be in bed. When I finish work (WFH), I clean the house, get washing done etc - and then all I want to do is get into bed. I am lacking a lot of energy and motivation too at the moment. Finding it hard to work and have 0 attention span.

I’ve always been a bit like this (well, from about the age of 22). But I feel it’s gotten worse, especially over the last year.

I love it though..having nothing to get up for. I’m finding it hard to make plans with friends/family at the moment. I am going away this weekend and dreading it!

I think so what makes you feel happy OP - maybe just not everyday? Hope you start feeling better very soon

It would be for me, but I’m quite extroverted and like to be out and about. If it helps you, that’s all that matters.

I have ME / CFS I spend a lot of time in bed. I have no choice as I’m too ill to be anywhere else.

Energy levels have a lot to do with gut bacteria. As do moods. Maybe look into propping yourself up in different ways? Ultimately you do what you need to do to survive.

I'm an extrovert. When I'm with people I'm life and soul of the party .

I'm taking antidepressants, but have been for 2 years.

I live alone now . I was married a long time and brought kids up who are now adults with their own lives although my dd and I still do a lot together.

My last relationship ended quite suddenly 2 years ago. I work full time .
I'm self sufficient.

I just feel so lazy . But it's what I enjoy . When im in company it's nice but im also becoming increasingly hermit like - which is also ok . My friends. Do try and chivvy me along but im finding after a busy and stressful working week I just want to languish in bed , watch tv, cuddle my dogs and do nothing. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I always think I’ll feel better if I just stay in bed. But in reality, I always actually feel better when I make myself get up and do things. It’s hard sometimes though. And I’m always annoyed I’ve got something to do! But really happy afterwards.

Sometimes days in bed are amazing.
I wouldnt be upset about it, no.

However, I've also been in a place where I was in bed as I didnt see any point in not being in bed, no worth etc.

That isn't healthy... but if going out and making yourself do "stuff" and that isn't what you want to be doing, that's totally counter productive.

Only you can decide what makes you happy, and what is a waste of your time etc.

I've spent ALL DAY before now on MN and reading crap on the Internet. Now that's a waste of bloody life!

Maybe speak to your GP.
But no fundamentally I don't see it as a problem. I'm a party animal, and on days off May meet a friend for lunch. But I also enjoy downtime, slobbing around at home and doing as little as possible.

A mental health day is exactly that - a day to spend doing whatever makes you recuperate somewhat. A day in bed in the winter sounds great, in the summer I’d suggest shaking it up with a coffee in the garden or in nature, even for only a tiny ten minutes then back to bed. But no, not a waste

Who will walk your dogs though? I’d have a half day in bed but I’d take my dogs out at some point, it’s not fair on them not to go out all day!

Its probably not helped by lockdown and at points there being nothing else to do. I've always been aware that I could easily slip into the habit of never leaving the house and never talking to anyone. During lockdown I've had to work even harder to keep this tendency under control.