Having a duvet day

[WineBeforeWhine]

Why do I feel guilty doing nothing. I had planned on going out, but it’s so cold outside I decided to stay home. I’m retired and my time is my own, but having a day like this makes me feel guilty that I’ve wasted it. How can I just enjoy a day like this?

Both words could be apt!

The media is always full of fresh starts in January, new keep fit routines and suchlike. In reality our bodies want to slow down and wait for longer days and warmer temperatures.

Nothing wrong with a duvet day, it's a chance to reset and relax. I knit baby cardigans for prem babies so that is often my duvet day activity. I wouldn't feel guilty anyway but finishing another cardigan means I haven't "wasted" the day.

Someone mentioned on here the other day the madness of working ourselves into the ground all year to pay for a couple of weeks' holiday - the odd rest day throughout the year would make much more sense in health/restorative terms but for some reason the former has been promoted as being more sociably acceptable. Probably because there aren't many ways for big corporations to make money from our duvet days!

We could be friends

Write a wee list of what you will do later in the week. Then don't look at it till tomorrow. Now relax.

I’m retired. I had over 40 years of having to be somewhere I didn’t want to be listening to people I didn’t want to listen to. Now I go out when I feel like it and stay in when I feel like it. I don’t do anything because I feel I “should”. Did that for years. Just chill OP. xx

Doing nothing is not a waste of time if that’s your preference.
We don’t have to leave the house everyday or being productive or whatever. If you’re retired and can do nothing when you feel like doing nothing then enjoy it!

Well I’m grateful to all of your replies. It’s true I’ve been conditioned through my life not to waste time, however I can now see I deserve some me downtime, I’ve just had a snooze on the bed, had a cuppa and am now going to binge The Time of our lives on Prime.

I don’t think it is a waste of time though. It’s an appreciation of being able to enjoy a contentedly relaxed day.

Enjoy the day. I reckon you deserve a quiet day so enjoy it and you don't need to feel guilty.

Crack open some wine. You'll give less of a shit after a glass or two.

Don't feel guilty! I'm having a duvet day too; I'm off work on Mondays and usually I'm buzzing about doing things, life admin, sorting etc but I had partial root canal treatment last Monday and my whole mouth is in agony so I've decided to cancel plans today, sit in bed, rest, keep warm, dope up on painkillers and watch some George Clarke programmes. There's so many things to do but with this pain I can't face it. Even if I wasn't in pain sometimes it's still good to have a rest day. X

😭😭😭😭

I have recently retired and initially found it difficult not to be busy, busy, busy all the time, Now I always have a jigsaw on the go, a diamond art painting, Netflix on the TV, the fire lit, and a book to hand. Just relax and enjoy the calm.

Enjoy it op.
Im currently waiting for a lovely lady to arrive to my home, to give me a back massage.
Should I feel guilty not at all.

Perfect. Think of it as a cheap day spa break!

What @LadyLaLaLandsaid 💯

Pointlessly and aimlessly going out because you think you should, is not an achievement!

OP every action has a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is to recharge, relax, refresh. A duvet day is purposeful in that respect and is not a waste of time. Enjoy it

100 per cent this. growing up younger my mother was constantly on the go. sitting down was deemed lazy even now she is retired she still can't sit still nor stay at home.
I now have a long term chronic pain condition and have to schedule rest days and manage my day to day work load or will make myself sick. but I struggle to do it without feeling guilty. 😩 as someone else said people are starting to understand we need rest days so you go ahead and do it.

this is so my mother response 🙄 some people neeed days at home. this is guilt tripping

amen 😀

Try telling yourself you're resting in order to get more done the next day (or whenever that might be). It's not realistic to be productive 365 days a year and many animals fully hibernate in winter, so just getting out of bed is an achievement in certain circles 😆.

Agree with the PPs saying the guilt is a learned response. My Mum was of the view that lie ins on the weekend or school holidays were the height of laziness and we should always be up and doing something. I've ended up living next door to a similar woman who regularly makes comments that I should be out working on my garden when I have a day off work. There's nothing wrong with my garden, it's not overgrown or causing her any inconvenience. I'm just working out there less often now I've landscaped it to how I want it and it just needs maintaining. It's made me realise how unhealthy not enjoying some downtime is. It's like she's incapable of relaxing, even though she tells me her health isn't great and it would likely do her the world of good.

Don't feel guilty. Sometimes your body and brain needs some down time and a duvet day is perfect for that, especially on these cold wet days. Your soul is telling you to rest and thats exactly what you did.

I love that there is so much support for doing nothing.

We all lead such busy lives, to wind down can only be good for us.

I do this at least once a week. I love a ‘rot in bed’ kind of day, recharges me for the rest of the week 😅 nothing to feel guilty about at all!