AIBU to think lazy days are underrated in modern life?

[Alldoomandgloom]

There’s so much pressure in modern life to always be doing something exciting. Holidays, days out and the like. It’s exhausting! AIBU to think that lazy days are underrated?

Not BU at all. Nothing wrong with staying home and relaxing or doing light chores and expecting the kids to play with their toys / read a book / do a puzzle for a while.

I love a lazy day. Now my kids are young adults I often have them to recharge. Today I’m going to catch up on my programmes, walk the dog, read my book and that’s all. I did loads of cooking yesterday so I don’t even have to cook. Absolute bliss!!

I wish I felt like this in some ways but I can’t. I find being lazy more stressful than anything in a busy day.

I can’t sit in front of the TV or be on my phone without wanting to cry with boredom.

Yes since I retired and my wife went part time, I feel slightly guilty if we sit down and/of just potter for a day
This is despite doing lots of important and useful things on those days as well

That’s a boring day not a lazy day.

What’s the difference?

I try to be lazy but others in the family make it impossible! There's always something needing done.

I love a lazy day, and I’ve also realised how luxurious a lazy morning feels. I used to get mad when DH and the DC would lie in all morning while I was up waiting for the day to start, but now I love the quiet. I can scroll MN and have the TV to myself, while sitting around in my PJ’s and having multiple cups of tea.

Nothing better than endless cups of tea and a mindless scroll!

I volunteer and don’t work at the moment (that may change soon!) so have 3 lazy days and yesterday one.

For me though, it’s probably too much as I then procrastinate about things.

Lazy day: doing things that your enjoy that don't take a lot of energy. These things can include (but are not limited to): nothing, watching TV, reading, knitting, jigsaw puzzles, sleeping, crafts, long bath, skincare/pamper session

Boring day: doing things you don't enjoy and find dull, regardless of how much energy they use

Dolce far niente....the sweetness of doing nothing.
A planned purposeful day of doing nothing is very different to a 'boring' day. I plan a lazy day but that includes a nice long dog walk as to me that's utter enjoyment and something I'd rather do than boring stuff. Then I have a long afternoon bath, watch a film and generally do 'nothing' of any pressing urgency.
I feel strongly that a lot of mental health issues in younger people are in part due to the lack of switching off from the world. The constant stimulation or pressure to must be doing something gives no time for your brain to just 'be'. To have that reflective space is so important.

I always book in a lazy day on as regular basis as I can.

I will do all of the chores etc on different days and make it clear that I am not doing anything on a particular day.

I will never feel guilty.
I work hard and pay all of my bills.

Yep I love the feeling a calm lazy day gives me. I’ve learnt to ignore the feeling I should be doing something and instead enjoy days just doing what I feel like doing! I’m trying to train my husband to be the same as he always feels like he should be doing something or it’s a waste of the day.

I’ve been up since 7 as couldn’t sleep and have been scrolling and drinking tea with the cat on my lap. A lazy start to the day, bliss!

Fair point. Those do sound nice.

I like a lazy morning but I hate the sensation of having wasted a whole day.

Its the way I was brought up. My mum hated idleness so I was made to feel guilty if I wasn’t being productive. Particularly TV: that was the devil for her.

I’ve never really shaken it off.

Oh I’ve always loved a lazy days. I was born to potter about all day with interludes of lying, reading on a sofa by a sunny window,

I’m retiring this year and cannot wait. My “lazy” days will be filled with looking after my house plants, a little watercolour painting, jigsaws, cross stitching and reading.

My MIL is like this and to her, relaxing and laziness are synonymous. I always feel like a sloth compared to her!

I'm highly energetic, generally love to be doing stuff, walks, swims, day trips, holidays etc. but every now and again I have a lazy day and love it.

I am a big fan of a lazy day or even just a lazy morning or afternoon is bliss. In today’s 24/7 always on society we are programmed to be always on and doing something. This is also fuelled by social media which pushes the idea that everyone is out there being productive and having an amazing time so you should be too. Mainly this is linked to the idea that we should buy more stuff or experiences to make our lives better. The truth is we survived for a long time without all this overwhelming, relentless pressure and it’s damaging effects are seen by the rise in stress and anxiety levels. We all need some time to just to slow down, switch off and decompress.

Totally. I have 2 weeks off for Easter and was feeling exhausted and burnt out by the end of term. I cancelled a trip away and I'm so glad I did. Next week I'll be doing quite a lot of work ready to go back, but this week I didn't even check my emails or to-do list until yesterday afternoon. I've been going for walks, knitting, and had a relaxed lunch with a friend - just generally chilling out. I feel so much better for it.

That's not my experience tbh.

When people have asked me what I'm doing over Easter weekend, I've said "Absolutely nothing, and I can't wait!", and the reaction has been very positive and encouraging, enjoy the rest, etc.

I think people love lazy days more than they ever did.

I have lazy days all the time. I don’t care. I work in a physical job so need them

I agree with this in theory but the problem is that most modern ways of “switching off” involve being on a screen of one sort or another. Actually switching off being online takes a conscious act of will. Being online in any form, whether it’s phone, TV, gaming or whatever is ultimately rotting your brain.

I read so that’s my outlet but otherwise its quite hard to find a form of relaxation which the whole family will go for and which doesn’t involve being on a screen.

As long as you have got out of bed, get dressed and are not eating junk food, a quiet day doing very little has its value.

I love a lazy day, as do DCs. Life is really busy during term time and it is rare to have any unscheduled days, so I make sure I book rest days in during the holidays. I try to have at least 2 days a week that involve pottering around the house or vegetating so we get a chance to recharge, although they do have to be non-consecutive so it feels like a treat and doesn't slope into boredom!