Wasting time, relaxing or procrastinating?

Wellyboots6

I have lots of annual leave to take at work before April, so have taken a week off this week.

I am on day 2 of my week off and am sat here doing absolutely nothing. I am not even dressed, haven't taken the dog out yet and am watching daytime TV.

I was looking forward to my week off as I have so much I need to get done: cleaning, budgeting, gardening, dog training etc

Am I wasting time, relaxing or procrastinating?!

I have plans for a couple of days this week so won't be able to get my odd jobs done then. I know full-well at the end of the week I won't have got anything done and will be moaning that I wasted my week!

Not really a question, more of a moan about my general lack of get up and go!

fannyanna

Relaxing is something that you enjoy doing. You don't seem too happy and state that you're having a moan about your lack of get up and go. I would therefore say that you are wasting time.

Get up, get washed and dressed and take the dog for a walk. Whilst you're out with the dog have a think about something else productive that you would like to do today and then thing about something you'd like to do afterwards that you would find relaxing (even if it's sitting in front of the TV).

Edited to say that at the end of the week you'll then feel as though you were productive with your time off but also benefited from some relaxation.

Caroline_a

Sounds lovely! I've been in work since 07.30 and likely to be here until at least 18.00, so I'd love a duvet day!

Wellyboots6

Thanks fannyanna for the push

I have adapted your suggestion to; getting a coffee, getting all my paperwork together and diving back under the duvet on the sofa to do all my online 'odd jobs' first. These are the ones I have avoided doing most as I really don't want to look at my bank account! My theory is, get the worst bit done first but whilst warm and toasty and then reward myself with a walk afterwards.

I am enjoying not being at work Caroline, just wish I was actually on holiday or something! Not had chance to take my annual leave this year so I have managed to cram some of it in before April but will also lose a load and not get paid for it.

I was also tempted this week to get some extra 'work' work done too. We have uncertainties around our jobs at the moment and are pretty much being encouraged to fight to prove our worth. Can't decide whether to stick to my guns and have the leave I am entitled to, or do a little extra to try and gain some brownie points...

This is why I never get anything done, I over think things!

tyllwyd

I work from home and I've got a couple of children, so I'm constantly juggling work / housework / looking after the kids / paying my OH some attention so he doesn't feel too neglected. The most difficult bit is trying to find time to rest or do something that I enjoy doing - the danger is that when I'm trying to relax, my mind is nagging me telling me to jump up and clean the kitchen floor (or whatever).

What I am trying to say is that if you are mentally/physically tired, make sure you allow yourself a bit of time when you permit yourself to do nothing useful! Otherwise, you will get to the end of the week and find you haven't concentrated on what you've been doing, but equally you haven't had a good rest either.

pollypenny

Katy, just relax and rest!

That's what holidays are for. Too many of us women spend time off in catching up on jobs.

Enjoy your week off! :T

Robin_TBW

katy721 wrote: »

I am on day 2 of my week off and am sat here doing absolutely nothing. I am not even dressed, haven't taken the dog out yet and am watching daytime TV.

So what's the problem? Sounds like what I'll be doing with the time I take off work, though replace daytime TV with video games

Tiddlywinks

It's holiday so you need to do something enjoyable... and there is nothing like a duvet day in front of the telly to relax you (especially with some choccie digestives).

BUT you don't want to get to the end of the week and look back and regret not getting some of those odd jobs done... because then they will still be there when you go back to work and will be a constant reminder of how you 'wasted' your leave.

Get the balance right - yukky job now and then have at least Thursday and Friday to just chill.

Enjoy.

view

Personally for me, I say do what you want with your day. Even if that means sitting under a warm duvet watching telly.

For me, that is my down time... mind can wander, focus on sometimes rubbish (sometimes not) tv and forget about work/problems/life etc..

Recharges the batteries.

I hear people say they feel guilty for wasting a day of holiday doing nothing. I personally don't feel like that, I think allowing yourself a 'nothing' day is not to be felt guilty about, you're being kind to your mind and body IMO.

You work hard, you put your mind, stress levels and body through hard stuff every day. Why not give it all the full day off? As you say, you have lots of annual leave to take - therefore obviously have been working very hard with not many, if any, leave days.

Could I do that all day every day, no. But once in a while it's great! :T

Kayalana99

Im terrible!! I know I have all this stuff to do but I sit around on my laptop doing nothing why? Because I can't do something else untill its done. I'd love to read a book or play on my ps3 but I wouldn't do that because then it would put of doing what I need to do....but I am to lazy to do what needs doing so I end up doing nothing at all!!

Does that even make sense?? :-)

Wellyboots6

This is exactly what happens to me Kayalana!

I managed to get the most urgent paperworky bits done today and have taken dog for a nice walk too.

Feeling quite positive and motivated now although if I look at my list of jobs again I know I won't do any of it!