“Keeping busy…”

No, I'm with you all the way on that one! Sometimes 'busy doing nothing' is exactly what we need.

I agree.

I am sometimes busy but there is no guilt if I feel like doing nothing. Mind you, if I am crafting or painting I wouldn’t class that as busy as I find it very pleasant and relaxing.

WH Auden wrote a poem which starts
“ What is this life, if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare…”

This is my favourite poem. If I ever feel guilty about reading all morning I remind myself how much I longed to do this when the children were small.

See my post Tizliz - and the poem in full

In the garden is the best reply. Covers everything. Sometime back I read the phrase "competitive martydom" and I can add to that "competive busyness" as something I hear/read quite a lot. Luckily I take no notice. Or my reply can be "gosh" which is a bit 1950s I know, but says exactly....nothing!!

yes, copied that bit from your post, was agreeing with you 😀

I have no desire to be busy, which is just as well really as I can’t do very much 😂

"In the garden" is often my reply, could be weeding or business papers. If they pop over they can see, stay home -- I'll not burst their bubbles.

Can so relate to this, my daughter whom I love dearly, always says what you been doing today Ma, as we walk the dogs together and gym every day, she actually knows, but wants me to be busy, she knows I do Duolingo at least 45minutes a day, I am vague, in the garden is my stock answer, but not weeding/ fighting ivy, it means I’m at the gin bench with a largish one, spaniel by my side, admiring my garden, prob have a book, and throughly enjoying doing absolutely nothing, if sun is out, pure bliss!

RosieandherMaw

See my post Tizliz - and the poem in full

Leisure was written by W.H Davies. I learnt it as a child.

I wouldn’t / couldn’t keep busy , boring,

Aldom

RosieandherMaw

See my post Tizliz - and the poem in full

Leisure was written by W.H Davies. I learnt it as a child.

Of course- over enthusiastic fingers got carried away after typing W.H. ….
Oops, very oops!

RosieandherMaw

Aldom

RosieandherMaw

See my post Tizliz - and the poem in full

Leisure was written by W.H Davies. I learnt it as a child.

Of course- over enthusiastic fingers got carried away after typing W.H. ….
Oops, very oops!

Good job you didn't type W H Smith Maw 😂

I translate 'keeping busy' in my head to 'doing interesting things'. I don't think anyone ever asked me if I was keeping busy because they thought I should be 'busy'. My daughter is keen that I have interesting things to do to keep my mind and body active, but she doesn't assume I am doing them 12 hours a day. In fact one of our favourite things to do when she visits is to have a lazy brunch sitting in the garden, followed by coffee and pastries and then probably a doze. Our idea of keeping busy.

Mine too, Ambergran! Not all the time though. The secret is to do what suits you at the time (where possible). That means resting, hobbying, snoozing, whatever ! Be happy!

The absolute glory about being retired is that you can do exactly as you want, when you want.

So this week I have spent a day doing nothing, a day visiting a garden, a day having lunch with friends, a day fiddling in the garden, and then visiting sister, a day twiddling a bit of housework and then visiting son’s new puppy, and a day cutting out a fleece dressing gown to sew, then reading. In between washed and ironed etc. So thst does seem a bit busy now I’ve written it down, but I actually feel as if I’ve had a very relaxed sort of week.

Next week I’ll do nothing! Except visit the hairdressers, and chiropodist! And of course garden.

“The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished.”
― Nelson De Mille

I am often very busy doing nothing!

dragonfly46

I am often very busy doing nothing!

Me too!
"...working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do!"

Not sure why, but no-one ever asks me what I've been up to but I like to be busy doing things while I can.

Being retired means I can choose what to do. I will answer in the garden in future if asked.

I hate doing nothing although it does happen sometimes I need to feel I m busy doing something or else the day is gone, wasted, never to return, so the days I ve got nothing on I try and declutter, tidy ( which doesn’t come naturally or enjoy) potter anything other than nothing
I hated retirement I stay well over retirement age and felt as useless as a lolly in a heatwave which is why I started doing voluntary work for the last 10/plus years

I'm glad others pointed out it wasn't Auden!

I have been retired for two years now and have yet to reach the stage where I do as I like.

Family commitments are such that there isn't very much time for me- my friends only want to meet in the day when I am busy and won't go out at night which is my down time but have no where to go.

In some ways I'm glad I haven't reached that stage when I might feel bored. I have so much to do it's ridiculous!

Someone said to me there is no such thing as retirement-you just get busier and they were right!

Yes retirement is certainly not what many seem to think of having enough to do😄.

My first 10 years was spent looking after my mother, so that was a full time occupation. Since then I have had more time to please myself and it is delightful.

I would not return to full time occupation for less than £1million a week wage.