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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help me not to waste a downtime day

10 replies

MNUse · 20/01/2024 13:01

Work is full on at the moment, multiple deadlines. Working till 11pm last night, decompressing after, so I didn’t really get to sleep until 3am. Obviously feeling the effects today - too awake to want to sleep longer but I can’t really settle much to anything involving concentration (e.g. reading a book) and not really feeling up to a long walk. Any recommendations for a relaxing zoned out but meaningful way to spend the day that doesn’t just involve sitting on my phone? Or should I just make myself go out for that walk and that will wake me up?

As is probably coming across I’m single and don’t have kids yet, so it’s not that I’m just ignoring them! Tired mums, if and when you do get a downtime day (which I appreciate may not necessarily be the case) how do you make the most of it without further knocking yourself out? Or what did you do in my situation before you had kids?

YABU - it’s fine to have a mindless vegging day on your phone or not doing that much once in a while, even if it feels unsatisfying

YANBU - you can make a better use of a downtime day and here’s how

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 20/01/2024 13:02

A walk will wake you up

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 20/01/2024 13:04

Go for the walk. Buy yourself a magazine and treat yourself to lunch in a cafe.

ConcealDontFeelPutonaShow · 20/01/2024 13:05

Hot hot hot bubblebath, lots of salts, candles, plinky plinky music and a nice towel to get into after. Bonus points if you have a fireplace and can whack that on with a loved series (easygoing like friends) or a book to reread afterward. I have to head out to the local pub to get my fire fix.
Bar of chocolate and Guinness, tea, wine etc.

FeatherBlack · 20/01/2024 13:05

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time

Sometimes this is true and necessary.

summerlovingvibes · 20/01/2024 13:08

Walk, bath, sofa!

MNUse · 20/01/2024 13:09

FeatherBlack · 20/01/2024 13:05

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time

Sometimes this is true and necessary.

Totally agree but I don’t actually enjoy vegging all day on my phone, I just do it when I feel too sluggish to do anything else!

OP posts:
ConcealDontFeelPutonaShow · 20/01/2024 13:15

Phone screen dopamine isn't very long lasting. It's like caffeine, you get a big hit and then a greater comedown. Exercise, reading, meditation all have better long term dopamine outcomes.

Mementomorissons · 20/01/2024 14:12

I agree that doom scrolling all day is depressing, but you definitely don't need to do anything 'productive', even God was meant to have had a weekend where he just chilled out and did nothing.

Do an 'everything shower', watch some TV, order a pizza

MNUse · 20/01/2024 17:30

Mementomorissons · 20/01/2024 14:12

I agree that doom scrolling all day is depressing, but you definitely don't need to do anything 'productive', even God was meant to have had a weekend where he just chilled out and did nothing.

Do an 'everything shower', watch some TV, order a pizza

I’m curious what’s an ‘everything shower’ - do you just mean as in, thoroughly scrubbing all parts of your body, shampoo and conditioner etc?

Maybe an everything shower and then an everything pizza lol

OP posts:
Mementomorissons · 20/01/2024 18:01

Everything shower is like a pamper session shower - as in 30 minutes, using all your exfoliators, body polishes, oils, fancy soap and whatever else you've got that you hardly ever use

I think it's very much a teen girl term as usually only people who don't pay the water bill feel relaxed doing this 😅

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