OH bored and has to do something...

cliffsgirl

I'm brilliant at doing nothing!!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

The Fella's first words to me after ' thank you ' (for the cuppa placed beside him) were ' so what sort of things are you planning for today? '. I can do lazy, but I'm far better with doing something. And after a week of flu and doing absolutely zilch, not getting dressed and never moving further than the couch, I need to do something.

And after a week of flu where I unintentionally gave up smoking (and have no intention of starting again), I really need to do something.

The something on Saturday consisted of cooking, cleaning, shopping, making mini Halloween pumpkins with fangs, meeting people for brunch, going to the pub and blitzing the kitchen, bathrooms and floors. All in about five hours.

Today, my answer was 'I think I might go to the gym. And then get something for dinner '. His reaction was ' that's a really good idea, I didn't come to bed until very late, so I'm just going to stay in bed for a bit. But I'll see you later '

So I've spent three hours at the gym, a leisurely period at the supermarket, cooked a lovely roast chicken dinner, seen the offspring on a flying visit on the way back from the cinema with a friend, been stung for £100 by said offspring. And had a very long, hot shower.

I am now on the sofa wearing shorts and a vest top, long thick black socks, legs draped over his as he finally made it out of bed when I asked him to keep an eye on the roasties whilst I was in the shower. I'm watching superman ii and have no intention of moving until bedtime.

His attitude is observe, assess and then, once my intended activity levels have been established, encourage me whilst keeping the hell out of the way.

meritaten

I know how this feels OH has just taken a week off work - and driven me nuts. he always wants to be 'doing something'. The upside is, that the house has been 'springcleaned' and the outside Upvc is sparkling white!
The downside is, that he has mooched about huffing and puffing, sighing, dragged me down B&Q on unnecessary trips, and totally disrupted my 'routine'.
I sympathise Victory - I really do!
I tried to grit my teeth and mentioned that the 'soffits' and 'guttering' could do with cleaning out. and winterising the utility room pipes (no heating in there). at least that got him busy a day or two.
I was unpreprepared for this week off - normally, I plan a room makeover, or a holiday, if I know he is off for a week (his work plan dictates he takes a week off after so many hours worked, but I cant keep track as some hours are exempt - its complicated!)

trolleyrun

Well if any of you who like to keep busy are at a loose end and can't find something to do, please do come round to mine. I have plenty that needs doing, but I cba getting into the swing of things. Lazy? Oh yes I am

seven-day-weekend

To some people, possibly those with anxiety issues, what you and I call 'relaxing' is seen as a waste of valuable time and the beginning of descent into senility. And things like cleaning the bath may also come under the category of 'wasting valuable time', it's something you fit in around the 'important stuff'.

However, they are quite often unable to define what the 'important stuff' is. All they know is they are wasting their life on fripperies.

My husband is like this. He suffers from anxiety and after 43 years I have got used to it and even try to think of 'important stuff' he might be doing. He will do things like clean the bath whilst worrying about the important things he should be doing.

When his mental health is stable, the 'important stuff' gets back into perspective and he can live a more relaxed lifestyle. It's very exhausting thinking you always have to be a worldchanger.

Hezzawithkids

I bet would be really good at doing nothing, if I ever got the chance! OH barely gets out of the house over the weekend unless some social gathering has been arranged, his first blast of fresh air on a Monday morning must make him go dizzy. Yet after working all week I feel the need to keep moving at the weekend, because if I stopped I might never get going again. But OH will just take himself off the the bedroom on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and just veg out listening to the radio and - more usually - dozing off to sleep, waking up just in time to stumble downstairs for the dinner that I've just cooked. If I do appear idle for more than 5 minutes then I get the "what are your plans for today" pop quiz.

I would kill for an 'empty' few hours at a weekend, just for the thrill of discovering what it's like to truly relax for once. But then if I did I would probably get a guilt complex and think about all the things I should be doing. Can't win either way.