Are you happy to spend a day doing nothing?

[ForZanyAquaViewer]

Just that, really. I have a fairly busy life, but I really relish a bit of ‘nothing’ time. Not leaving the house on a Sunday, reading my book and eating a takeaway is really quite heavenly.

I was discussing this with a friend and she was very much of the opinion that she’d feel horrible and guilty if she ‘wasted’ a whole day. The general feeling being that she needed to productive, get out and about, and do stuff. Every day.

I found this really interesting. There’s lots of different kinds of people, and that’s obviously fine. However, in this respect, are you a ‘could never waste a day’ person? Or a ‘happy to lounge’ person? (If you’re a person who would be happy to lounge only after doing stuff, then I’d consider you a ‘could never waste a whole day’ person).

YANBU: happy to lounge
YABU: could never ‘waste’ a whole day

You can be at home all day and have things planned, as well as structure, though.

@FortyTwoDegrees I wish I could relax more. I don’t really believe it is a waste of time to relax at home all day. My mindset is the issue to be honest. I feel constantly on edge if I am not having fun, doing something that I deem worthwhile. It is because I work full time and am not currently enjoying my job, so I tell myself I am wasting precious non-work time unless I am eating out, having an experience, treating myself, doing my hobby or learning something new. I never take time to stop. And doing chores makes me resentful because I am wasting non-work time. But am counting down the years to retirement to have a rest. Just writing this all down is making me think maybe I need some therapy!

I love days at home. It's such a pleasure. I don't think it's doing nothing though. I read (a lot), do pottering about housework, maybe watch a film I have missed, maybe bake, bit of gardening.

I’m disabled and unable to work so I need to pace myself. If I’m active one day, I’m in pain the next.
I’ll admit some days the furthest I go is the kettle.
i find it strange that the “ I’m always busy” types feel the need to even say it
Everyone is different.

I did nothing yesterday. Literally nothing. Sometimes it's the only way I can function the next day.

From someone that clocks up an average 65 hr working week between work/uni/tutoring (not to mention housework food planning,being mum etc) I relish any time to do nothing and let my mind and body reset.

I know exactly what you mean, I do love a home day but simultaneously always feel guilt that I should be productive, which is a problem I'm working on! Probably because I'm chronically ill so I have a lot of rest days though. DH is forever telling me resting and home activities are still doing something and valid but it still makes me anxious even while I'm simultaneously having a good time at home... it's why I secretly quite like having a mild cold where I'm just about ill/ contagious enough to 'justify' doing nothing but well enough to chill out lol

@unstableunicorn you sound very like me. So sorry to hear you are chronically ill, but I really hear you about having a cold. That is the only time I really enjoy lying around binging boxsets and staying in my pyjamas!

Very very happy to do nothing if DC are busy elsewhere but I wouldn’t do nothing with the DC at home, it’s much easier to take them out.

People who need to be busy all the time I put in the same camp as people who get up at the crack of dawn. Not my people but I'm fine to live and let live as long as they don't judge me for enjoying a quiet day at home resting (I have ME) or a long lie in whenever I need one. There are no prizes for spending an entire day busy doing stuff as opposed to relaxing or resting. People can also be more productive by starting later in the day so they aren't exhausted.

I'd love the opportunity to give it a try.

People who need to be busy all the time I put in the same camp as people who get up at the crack of dawn.

I've always seen them as people who aren't overly comfortable with their own company or thoughts, so they need to be kept busy as a distraction.

I like the idea of it but if I dont go out I end up with cabin fever by tea time. I don't need to go out and 'do' something. A walk, a potter or sit in the garden is enough.

I love those sort of days. I tend to do them when the kids are at school so still book them into breakfast and after-school school as work full time, hubby is at work and I have the house to myself. Will read, watch trashy TV, might do a bit of shopping for myself if I have motivation and can have an afternoon nap

My boys are 6 and 10, older one has sen, so sometimes I just need to be a bit selfish and do what I want without feeling that I need to be cleaning or looking after the kids. They are the days when I don't want to adult, helps me recharge those batteries

Yes, why not.

How about we just don't judge other people for their preferences?

I love my own company but I don't enjoy hours and hours of "chilling" or relaxing.

I don't call people who do lazy..

Each to his own.

I did the 7 day rush when my kids were little. I worked full time, out every weekend to the park/farm/cinema/bowling etc. I also managed to fit in some care for my grandparent as well as keeping my own home spotless.
I would say I didn't stop for at least 15 years!
I have a few health issues now, nothing too catastrophic but the main symptom is fatigue.
I make the most of any time I can do nothing but it still doesn't happen that often. I consider today a nothing day because I haven't got dressed and been out but I have changed the bed, hoovered upstairs, cleaned the bathroom and made curry from scratch.
Ideally I would work fewer hours and spend more time doing nothing!

I usually at least walk the dog. So as a min get some daylight and outside time. But I do like a chilled day. If I don’t have one for a few weeks I feel a bit drained.

My mother is one of those people who can't believe that people lie in beyond about 8.30am and then sit around doing "nothing" at home, as it's a complete waste of a day. She has to go out somewhere every day, and made us do the same when we were younger. It was exhausting!

I am the opposite. I like my days off from the world. I work very long hours, so the little time that I have at home to wind down and relax is precious! Besides, I have lots of interesting things to do at home, like art, gardening, spending time with my pets, or reading. I enjoy wading through the piles of 'to be read' books that are currently so high that they're threatening to topple over and suffocate me in my sleep 😁

I don't really enjoy being in the house all day but I would happily spend my life just reading, walking, doing stuff at home. I feel zero need to be up and doing productive things.
TBF though I consider my day productive if I've finished a book or a jigsaw!😁

Without them I'd lose my mind.

I love a day of doing nothing.

For me this would entail not needing to leave the house and doing the bare minimum, i.e. cooking meals and maybe a washing load. I then spend the day doing things I enjoy like reading, watching tv and diamond art.

I could happily stay in my little house and not go out all week.

Happy to lounge for most of a day but I’d at least go for a run or to the gym first. But I get bored and twitchy if I’ve done nothing at all.

Why do you always need to be 'doing' though? What are you scared of by just 'being'?