Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do Nothing days

18 replies

TheLivelyCat · 31/12/2025 19:45

So its new years eve, and I feel I've had a rare do nothing day with my 2 DDs, DH is working till 10pm. We went to the cinema, out to eat, and back home. My DDs have watched 3 films in total today. I've pottered about a little. And watched with them off and on.

For us this is a low key day. As my DDs are normally high engery, hate sitting around, allways running around, playing sports, going for walks, could be miles long, or in school etc. The fact they have chosen to spend the day watching TV is rare (normally means they are ill).

Im not complaining its been nice and calm. One DD is autistic and she's been fairly relaxed today as well. Normally climbing the walls when home (literally) Yet I feel ive been unproductive, I'm not used to it 😂.

How often do you as a family have do nothing days?

YABU you shouldn't have let your children watch so many films.

YANBU enjoy your rare rest day, (it won't last)

OP posts:
ScrambledEggs12 · 31/12/2025 19:48

I wouldn't call going to the cinema and going out to eat a doing nothing day...

Didimum · 31/12/2025 19:48

I don’t think going out to cinema and out to eat is a ‘do nothing’ day. You’ve been out and about. Do nothing is home all day and with no set activities or plans. Basically winging it at home all day and anything you do do is super low energy.

Zanatdy · 31/12/2025 19:49

Going to the cinema and out for food isn’t what i’d class as a do nothing day.

lochmaree · 31/12/2025 19:56

Going to the cinema and out for food is like a big day for us 😂 do nothing is staying at home usually we do some house improvement type little jobs or something.

BriefEncountersOfTheThirdKind · 31/12/2025 19:59

It's not a do nothing day imo, because you left the house 🤣

Regardless, it's good to enjoy some "you time"

Original poster
TheLivelyCat · 31/12/2025 20:20

I think I class the cinema as doing nothing as its a passive activity, I just turn up and watch the film for a couple of hours,.and eating out again no prep involved.

I'm used to high engery days out, hiking, trampoline parks, farms, beaches, etc.
For example we will spend the day doing mini golf a 1h drive each way. Then my DD will want to go to the beach or play football, bike ride when we get home. Or will hike miles and want to go back out again when we get home.

OP posts:
SunnieShine · 31/12/2025 20:26

ScrambledEggs12 · 31/12/2025 19:48

I wouldn't call going to the cinema and going out to eat a doing nothing day...

Me, neither.

Barnbrack · 31/12/2025 20:39

I get this and feel it so strongly. Autistic eldest so a normal day off school is a 2 hour trip to trampoline Park at 10am when it opens. Lunch, long dog walk and trip to playpark. But if downtime/screentime before dinner, sometimes a bike ride after dinner, 1-2 hour evening/bedtime routine.

Barnbrack · 31/12/2025 20:43

Meant to add how old are they? Asd eldest is almost 8 and youngest is neurotypical and 4 and honestly this Xmas holiday has been so wonderful, eldest has tolerated less structure better, youngest is able to play more independently, they get on well 99% of the time. This time last year it would be unthinkable to do 80% of what we've done this holiday. My son came shopping with me and iw as able to actually buy some last minute Xmas gifts, he wanted a hot chocolate and was able to sit on a cafe and drink it calmly. Weve travelled to family, we had family round Xmas day. We've only had 2 minor meltdowns and they passed quickly.

grinchmcgrinchface · 31/12/2025 20:44

Cinema & out to eat? Thats not doing nothing? Is this some weird im better than you as i never sit still posts?

Pandorea · 31/12/2025 20:47

My children are all young adults now and we did lots of cool active things during their childhoods and went to lots of nice places. The day they all remember as one of their favourite though was when we were all a bit (but not very) ill with a cold and we sat on the sofa pretty much all day and watched back to back Sarah Jane Adventures. It was really fab!

Middlemarch123 · 31/12/2025 20:48

That’s not doing nothing OP, doing nothing is feeding cats, making tea, back to bed. On repeat. Feed kids ready meals, then back to bed.

Original poster
TheLivelyCat · 31/12/2025 20:49

Barnbrack · 31/12/2025 20:39

I get this and feel it so strongly. Autistic eldest so a normal day off school is a 2 hour trip to trampoline Park at 10am when it opens. Lunch, long dog walk and trip to playpark. But if downtime/screentime before dinner, sometimes a bike ride after dinner, 1-2 hour evening/bedtime routine.

Yes this is our normal type of days. DDs are 10 ASD and 7.
I've enjoyed the calmness today. Although its now nearly 9pm, and the bubbles have just come out now.

OP posts:
soupyspoon · 31/12/2025 20:50

Lol, I went to the dry cleaners and hoovered the kitchen and living room (the bits you can see) and bought some wood in from the garden and put a wash on and I consider that 'busy'.

Going out you say??

Original poster
TheLivelyCat · 31/12/2025 20:55

grinchmcgrinchface · 31/12/2025 20:44

Cinema & out to eat? Thats not doing nothing? Is this some weird im better than you as i never sit still posts?

Edited

Not a brag post at all, sorry if its come across that way.
my days are stressful normally. I wish for more quiet days. Normally my DD.age 10 Autistic is shouting at me if shes only done a football match in the morning for example as she hates being home. We are working with professionals to help her.

OP posts:
Barnbrack · 31/12/2025 21:25

TheLivelyCat · 31/12/2025 20:55

Not a brag post at all, sorry if its come across that way.
my days are stressful normally. I wish for more quiet days. Normally my DD.age 10 Autistic is shouting at me if shes only done a football match in the morning for example as she hates being home. We are working with professionals to help her.

Show quote history

People think it's exaggerating that every day is so high octane, i swear people don't believe we need to do it. We have membership to every available activity in easy reach.

Because of our high activity levels my son can cope with school and learning. Before we got this balance going we were at a loss with rage and meltdowns and complete inability to focus. Take the air down day when you can. My sister just bought my nephew a treadmill for the living.room and a ln exercise bike for his bedroom and it's revolutionized their ability to be at home. Maybe worth a try.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 31/12/2025 21:28

It sounds as if it's more of a plan nothing day, rather than a do nothing day. Either way it sounds lovely.

10K · 31/12/2025 22:03

A day when you get dressed and actually leave the house is not a ‘do nothing’ day. A ‘do nothing’ day is a day when everyone stays in their PJs all day and has a bath only to put clean PJs on (because we have ‘some’ standards!)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page