Do you ever just do nothing?

I think it took lockdown to slow me down after retiring in 2019. Everyone told me you have to find things to do and keep busy, which I did and had several short holidays.
Then lockdown and after the initial shock and fear, I really started to enjoy the peace and quiet.
I am now happily relaxed into retirement, I swim and walk the dog with friends and spend a lot of time reading and just pottering in the garden and doing what needs doing in the house, I sew and crochet but all at my own pace and love having empty days of just doing whatever I want and that includes nothing at all.

Who calls sitting down to read or watch TV doing ‘nothing’? Maybe they need to look up the meaning of the word.

I’m very proficient at multi-tasking while sitting on the sofa - knitting while watching TV. I will also take up the remote to zoom through the ads, but admittedly I can’t do this while also knitting.

Welcome Geejay. ?

Yes I can do nothing and “drift away with the fairies” with surprising ease ? .

I'm not sure if I understand what "doing nothing" means, is reading a book "doing nothing", spending hours painting and drawing, walking the dog, riding a horse, struggling with a crossword, watching an interesting or exciting TV programme??? If it is, then I spend the vast majority of my day "doing nothing". I do a minimum of housework, enjoy cooking so it's really not a chore, love gardening but pay someone else to do the really hard work. Honestly, I really don't understand the concept as I am always doing "something" but I try to ensure it's something I enjoy and want to do.

Sago how awful that was for you.

So many people seem to equate being busy with being productive, whilst of course we know that isn't always necessarily the case.

I think lots of people equate busy busy with having a happy life. And some people just keep busy because they don't know how to enjoy their own company, quietly. Or don't like themselves much and need constant distraction.

Yes, welcome, "Geejay " .
I've always wished we had more Grandads on here but I think some are intimidated by our female dominance.
We need the balance of your masculine input. We're different, but we're incomplete without you.

geeljay

Hello ladies of Gransnet. Hope you don't mind an old granpa rejoining. My late wife was a member for some years and we
found your site both friendly and informative. Just nice for me to keep in touch with views and contribute now and again.Regards Gordon.

Welcome!! ?

I love doing just nothing - well maybe a jigsaw, or watch something I missed on tv on my iPad, or read. I try to get the basic chores done first, but sometimes that’s a challenge. Ps. I do go out and do things plus meet friends and family etc, but I do love my doing nothing time too. My daughter hates it when she has nothing to do - obviously doesn’t take after me!

there is nothing wrong with being content, do what you want - especially relaxing if you want to!

It goes against the grain for me to do nothing, i find it impossible to just sit and do nothing..... i never sit in the front room till it gets to at least 6pm, 7pm and then i am either writing my book or doing sewing crafts something .... ANYTHING.

I’m doing nothing right now. Today was a working day, I’ve come home, had a shower, had dinner and now I’m faffing on my phone and am about to watch Love it or List it on TV.

Welcome geeljay, I hope you continue to enjoy Gransnet.

Thinking ? about this - what's the difference between doing nothing, and thinking about doing nothing. And not thinking?
I think it's a stage of mental weariness in old age.

A while ago I heard comedian Bob Mortimer on Desert Island Discs say he loved nothing better than a day full of 'purposelessness'.I loved that !

One of the most relaxing programmes on TV is Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing.
However, they're doing something ie fishing and idly chatting and I'm doing something ie watching them.

I’m not as busy as I would like to be. This wasn’t the case pre covid but a lot had changed. I do enjoy a leisurely breakfast but after that I can feel quite miserable if there’s nothing to do. I always thought I’d enjoy doing very little but now that’s possible I don’t like it!

As a child my horrible mother wouldn’t ever let me do nothing, if I was caught watching TV, reading or drawing, I would be in enormous trouble.
My father once beat me for having my feet up on the sofa on. Saturday afternoon! I thought I was alone in the house?.
So to do nothing for me feels almost sinful, I do have tea and a read in bed in the morning which I relish.
On holiday I read and laze without feeling guilty but otherwise unless I’m ill it’s a concept I struggle with.

Because of M.E. there is a lot of time I can't do anything very much, so I read, do crossword puzzles etc. But I've grown to quite like it. Relaxing is good.

Welcome jeeljay ….

Yes, I do nothing. It’s part of my neuro rehab therapy ?.

? jeeljay

A while ago I heard comedian Bob Mortimer on Desert Island Discs say he loved nothing better than a day full of 'purposelessness'.I loved that !After decades of work and rushing around after family at least a couple of afternoons a week I just mooch.Today I've got absorbed in a jigsaw.The other day I read all afternoon. I hate having too much planned now.I'm still a very active person walking dogs ,maintaining a large garden ,caring for DGCs and an elderly mum.And regularly catch up with friends. But it's absolutely essential to my health now to give myself permission to do nothing much some days. And I too adore watching the birds.Some friends schedules would leave me in a heap !

This.

Often. Life can get very busy.
It’s good to step off the roundabout now & again and just breathe.
Drop those shoulders down from your ears.

Auntieflo

Sometimes I just sits. ☺️

Me too, frequently!