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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a day doing nothing?

56 replies

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 21/10/2023 11:38

I just want a day of absolute nothing.

It is the start of half term, so teacher tired. I work in a boarding school (which I love) so it is long hours during term but we catch up with the breaks. I know lots of other professions get tired before anyone starts.

There is nothing that needs doing today -everything can wait.

Only 1 teenager at home - pretty self sufficient now.

It is pissing it down

But I feel I should be doing something - putting a load on, walking the dogs, the sheets could do with a change….

Anyone else just want /need a do nothing day occasionally?

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 21/10/2023 11:47

‘Occasionally’?

I do this REGULARLY. Am doing it now.

We’re a busy house, we work hard and have two children with ASD who like downtime.

We frequently do fuck all and it’s glorious.

Crack on - teachers really need to decompress too - it’s hard being ‘on’ all the time and exhausting.

CornedBeef451 · 21/10/2023 11:49

Do it!

Sometimes it lovely and even vital to have a vegging out day, particularly if your exhausted!

Disturbia81 · 21/10/2023 11:54

Do it! We all need to take more time to rest and switch off. And lose the guilt about it. I was burnt out recently and had a week like this and it reset me.

Devilsmommy · 21/10/2023 11:54

Oh definitely do it. I've got a 1 yr old so god knows when I'll get one of these days🤣 enjoy it too, don't sit there guilting yourself about it either 😁

Catza · 21/10/2023 11:58

Most people don’t know how to rest guilt free. It’s an important skill to cultivate.

mondaytosunday · 21/10/2023 12:09

Gah my sister is a very busy doctor but has taken two weeks off and came to visit me on her way to Spain. I don't think I saw her sit down once other than to eat. She decided my windows needed cleaning (they do, but not urgent) so next day after a morning out had me drop her at a shop (she wanted to do shopping for herself too), where I pointed out the tube back and she went shopping and then WALKED the three miles back to mine carrying a bucket and mop and squeegee thing! Then washed my windows. She's in her 60s for goodness sakes! She also started washing my kitchen cupboards. Then the next day she did it again! My house is not dirty I swear. She didn't even join us in the evening to watch a bit of TV. Drove me nuts!
You do not need an excuse to relax!

Lottapianos · 21/10/2023 12:15

Do it, do it, do it! I'm on my third day of taking it easy - no lists, no projects, no busywork. We were due to go away this week but that didn't work out, so we've had a little staycation instead. And it's been MARVELLOUS! I desperately needed it and didn't realise. Will be going back to work on Monday with a full tank of energy. Get on that couch OP, or even go back to bed!

Sartre · 21/10/2023 12:16

Everyone needs to do this from time to time.

Kfjsjdbd · 21/10/2023 12:16

I’m so jealous, I would absolutely love a day doing nothing. But the 5 and 3 year old sadly mean it’s impossible.

Drews · 21/10/2023 12:18

Nature hibernates in winter. Humans are part of nature too and you're allowed to have rest days.

PrancerandDancer · 21/10/2023 12:23

Oh absolutely you more that deserve it.

I do a volunteer activity with children once a month and am exhausted by it so in awe of teachers dealing day in day out 🤣

Me and my little one are having a nothing day today. It's raining, DH's working and we've just discovered she has dyspraxia which can really fatigue her.

We are having a lovely cosy day in our pjs.

Hope everyone enjoys there's too ☺️

ChienneDesFromages · 21/10/2023 12:23

Of course! I agree that unwinding is a skill, and we are very much losing it nowadays. People always seem to need to be busy, productive, or engaged with the outside world (often pissing their life away on social media) to somehow feel their life is worthwhile. I’m not great at doing nothing at all, but love days where we don’t rush about, are mostly home and do nice things together. And remember our family actually likes just being together. We are having three days at the moment of doing not nothing, but not very much, and a day and a half in, it’s lovely. Just taking things slower, sitting down with a book, getting grubby in the garden, cooking a lovely meal, snuggling up with a film, walking the dogs are lovely things to do. Walking to the pumpkin patch later, then doing pumpkin carving. It’s so easy to fill your life with chores and then wonder where the time went. Enjoy!

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/10/2023 12:25

Meh.
Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix is good. If you start now, you’ll get most of it done by dinner 😁

Lottapianos · 21/10/2023 12:27

'It’s so easy to fill your life with chores and then wonder where the time went'

This is so very true. There's a time and a place for chores, but unwinding and relaxing are very important skills. It feels so good to find a different gear. Your car would be very unhappy if you drove in 4th or 5th gear all the time, same for your mind and body

CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/10/2023 12:47

I had a very busy morning doing chores (I work ft). I have the house to myself for the day and this thread has inspired me to sit down and watch House of Gucci with a cream cake. Thanks all!

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/10/2023 12:56

I do this. I tell myself I need a nothing day then end up doing something. I'm sure I've got some kind of adhd

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/10/2023 12:58

Don't mean anything against anyone with adhd by the way

AhBiscuits · 21/10/2023 12:59

I do this often.
I do usually stick a wash on or sort the dishwasher tbf but that doesn't take long.

ButDaddyILoveHim · 21/10/2023 13:08

I'm doing the same. I usually volunteer on a Saturday morning but it was cancelled today as it's pissing down, so I stayed in bed until 10am with a coffee and the radio. I'm now on the sofa and just about to get stuck into a book, with a cup of tea and some peanut-butter toast.

I have given the hob and the microwave a wipe down, but apart from that I don't intend to move much until bedtime.

It's important to do this now and again. There's no moral superiority in being busybusybusy all the damn time.

DinaofCloud9 · 21/10/2023 13:11

I do thus quite a lot. There's nothing wrong with taking life easy when you want to.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/10/2023 13:14

I’m doing it today. I’m very run down from work though.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 21/10/2023 13:18

I make sure I have one of these days regularly, even adults need down time.

Sort of having one of those days today. Little bit of vacuuming, the tesco delivery and taxi for my daughters play date is all I've done. Obviously need to cook dinner (and took a short work phone call) but other than that my arse is firmly planted in front of the TV and I plan to stay that way all day.

mycatsanutter · 21/10/2023 13:23

Im getting better at lazing about , I can't do it all day but can do it for half a day I think it's much needed from time to time .

Birdkin · 21/10/2023 13:24

I’m a teacher too and nothing is my plan for today as well! Currently on the sofa and don’t plan on leaving 😁

theduchessofspork · 21/10/2023 13:27

All the time

Especially Saturdays. Am on the sofa right now.