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Original poster

Anyone else just enjoy the simple pleasures, to not always have things planned and rushing around doing things?

109 replies

Cv8 · 08/04/2023 12:12

I've a busy job, I'm also an introvert and need a lot of down time. I've had a week off work and have just really enjoyed having down time, reading my book, a nice walk every day, just a couple of lunches out with friends/ family. I live alone and like my own company. I've a hobby I love that I do once a week. A couple of different people had asked me what I'd planned for my week off and were a bit surprised when I replied "nothing". I'm someone who needs a lot of down time to recharge. I've a holiday booked for later summer but absolutely no desire to go away now.

Anyone else like this?

OP posts:
CreationNat1on · 08/04/2023 12:16

I m getting more like this, I get bored and feel left out if I m not invited to stuff, but I find more than 3 or 4 hours in the company of big groups draining.!!!

I heard someone say recently "nothing is something that I do".

I find the judgey pants competes wanting to endlessly benchmark themselves against others, their use of time, their hobbies, very draining and childish.

CreationNat1on · 08/04/2023 12:16

Competitors

Hollyhead · 08/04/2023 12:19

Me! I find the schedules of some people’s annual leave mind blowing, they take their children out every day! When is the downtime?! We don’t do nothing, the two week Easter holiday will include seeing grandparents, a museum trip, a cinema trip swimming, and a couple of trips to play areas but I think that’s more than enough getting out and about!

IjustbelieveinMe · 08/04/2023 12:19

I live alone too and when off work love nothing more than getting up walking my dog and then not having any plans. Love going to the cinema on my own too.

ditalini · 08/04/2023 12:22

Me too, but I have family and friends who would go completely crazy if they had nothing to do.

Neither is better imo, and both types of people should take the other into account if sharing a holiday. Otherwise have at it and enjoy your quiet time.

Dh is an extrovert and needs to be on the go so we do stuff together for part of the week but he takes the dcs out and leaves me to a good ol wallow some times as well. It works.

Stoechas · 08/04/2023 12:22

This is why I enjoy the Easter Bank Holiday 1000% more than I do Christmas. Expectations to do things and enforced/expected time of seeing other people are spectacularly reduced.

RosesofAmsterdam · 08/04/2023 12:22

That's the sort of thing I do during annual leave too but I don't call it nothing, I call it resting!

VimtoVimto · 08/04/2023 12:22

I retired last year and although I volunteer twice a week and attend a couple of groups and exercise classes I always leave one day free to potter about. I’ve always been an introvert and found the questions about how I spent days off and weekends difficult to answer without feeling like a loser.

HungryMum101 · 08/04/2023 12:22

Yes, I love to just see how each day unfolds.

UWhatNow · 08/04/2023 12:23

Me too! Doing nothing at home is my ultimate holiday.

Echobelly · 08/04/2023 12:24

I'm enjoying having no fixed plans this weekend. Doing a bit of furniture shopping, some baking, maybe go for a walk, that's about it.

HungryMum101 · 08/04/2023 12:25

A friend is the exact opposite of this and all of the constant scheduling and needing to be seen at stuff is a combination of them being an extrovert (so genuinely gaining energy from being with others all the time), and insecurity / fear of being judged.

Movingbacktoexeter · 08/04/2023 12:27

We used to be like this. Then we turned into competitive busy people and I can't remember why. Always had to have plans and then our mental health took a nose dive.

We are now forcefully going back to this OP and we absolutely love it.

Learning to just "be", taking time and soaking it all in. Its changed my mental health and I've finally come off anxiety tablets. DS is less fraught and DH is much more relaxed.

Mumped · 08/04/2023 12:27

Absolutely. Too many plans stress me out. I don’t always want to be living to a schedule.

I’m the Queen of ‘pottering’ Grin.

Jessica356 · 08/04/2023 12:27

Me. When I get time off work I like going for lunch on my own, shopping on my own or just to relax and listen to music or watch a documentary. I also try to catch up on housework.

DelphiniumBlue · 08/04/2023 12:27

VimtoVimto · 08/04/2023 12:22

I retired last year and although I volunteer twice a week and attend a couple of groups and exercise classes I always leave one day free to potter about. I’ve always been an introvert and found the questions about how I spent days off and weekends difficult to answer without feeling like a loser.

My go-to answer is "lolling around on the sofa reading novels and eating chocolates". The implication is that I enjoyed doing it and chose to do it, so nothing loser-ish about it. Most people's response is "how lovely"!

CrotchetyCrocheting · 08/04/2023 12:29

VimtoVimto · 08/04/2023 12:22

I retired last year and although I volunteer twice a week and attend a couple of groups and exercise classes I always leave one day free to potter about. I’ve always been an introvert and found the questions about how I spent days off and weekends difficult to answer without feeling like a loser.

I find this too, that it's hard to answer what have you been up to etc without feeling like a boring bastard. I love being at hone just pottering about. I'm big into gardening, crochet, reading, solo dog walks in the woods, I just like peace and solitude. I'm only mid 30s though and feel like a complete loser if I say that my favourite thing to do is potter about the garden with the dogs trailing me.

BlooDeBloop · 08/04/2023 12:29

Family of four here and certainly no agenda this week! Kids get a lot of free play time. I will garden, read, go on MN. We'll visit family no doubt, but we'll mainly be at home. Away from the godawful holiday crowds. Bliss!!!

goodnessgraciousmeagain · 08/04/2023 12:32

I'm 100% the same OP. I've been looking forward to the Easter bank holiday for a few weeks just so that I could 'potter'. Nothing nicer than a long sunny bank holiday to tidy up garden, do leisurely jobs, watch a film and enjoy the blissful quiet.

I wouldn't describe myself as an introvert as I do enjoy others' company but I'm equally content with my own too

RaraRachael · 08/04/2023 12:36

I've recently retired and am loving having time to myself. Previously I was rushing around getting everything done at the weekend ready to go back to work on Monday. I'm happy with my own company, but still see workmates in their days off.
My mother was almost hyperactive and had to be busy every moment of every day and I think a bit of that rubbed off on me.
She used to call her friend a lazy cow because she would sit in an afternoon and read a book or do a crossword while she was flying around cleaning stuff she'd already cleaned.

Original poster
Cv8 · 08/04/2023 12:40

Movingbacktoexeter · 08/04/2023 12:27

We used to be like this. Then we turned into competitive busy people and I can't remember why. Always had to have plans and then our mental health took a nose dive.

We are now forcefully going back to this OP and we absolutely love it.

Learning to just "be", taking time and soaking it all in. Its changed my mental health and I've finally come off anxiety tablets. DS is less fraught and DH is much more relaxed.

I too have suffered with anxiety, and I find the more I have on, the worse it gets.

Glad to hear I've plenty of company in my love of doing nothing!

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 08/04/2023 12:40

Totally. A day with nothing to do except read, go out when I want to and just chill is my favourite.

HelpsHeal · 08/04/2023 12:41

No, I think I do, but then I end up feeling a bit meh after a day of doing nothing. I like downtime but I need some sort of plan, even if it's sit in the garden with a book, have a coffee with a friend.

Movingbacktoexeter · 08/04/2023 12:41

I think slow living is becoming more popular. Hopefully

hamstersarse · 08/04/2023 12:41

I’m not super introverted but totally need weekends like I have right now. I’ve ‘done jobs’ all weekend so far at a leisurely pace but have also met friends for a quick drink and am meeting some shortly to do a sporting activity.. nothing too hectic and all very local

I like a bit of both. Once I’m recharged, too much time on my own gets a bit repetitive, but the other way and too many things scheduled and I’m grumpy and stressed

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