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Is it okay to do "nothing" (read below)

Sherlock77

Sherlock77

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
This may or may not be what you think it sounds like...

It's been a very hard week at work, instead of our usual 7 AM (that's too early), they bumped us up to a 6 AM start with 10 hour shifts (Ugh!) Getting up at 4:30 every morning completely threw off my body rythm, it seems like I spent the entire day tired

But... They did give us Friday off, so this being Thursday evening my weekend just started

I am involved with a couple of clubs, and also enjoy going out at night to local cafes for things like a music open mic, music jam, or even a poetry evening, but I've always tried to budget my time to no more than two nights out per week

Even a day off - I just have to get out and explore something, anything, no matter how tired I feel, particularly through my photography, and I feel like I've failed myself if I didn't get out and explore

Weeks like this make me feel so tired and I hate the feeling of not being up to an evening out because I get cabin fever quite easily, like many Aspies my mind is constantly churning and thinking, and never really turns off

Even now, my body is tired, I have tomorrow off, and I'm still debating whether or not to head out this evening for either A) a local music jam or B) a local songwriter circle, because I really don't want to stay in

Or maybe I should do "nothing" sometimes... o_O
 
LucyPurrs said:
Who's permission do you need to do nothing?
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My own permission :rolleyes: Let's just say I would probably wouldn't do a beach vacation very well, my idea of relaxing is driving on a side highway on the Canadian prairies, mind active, looking for photos to take... I don't ever relax in the normal sense of the word
 
If you feel guilty for doing nothing, I say there's no reason to. You've earned it, you're working harder than usual at work. It's not like you sit around all day every day and do nothing.
 
You would only be doing nothing if you were dead. Otherwise sleeping is doing a thing and so is lying down and staring at the ceiling. However, I think you are wondering about passive occupation or frivolous pass times. You should do what makes you happy, rested and healthy on your days off and that might not always be the same thing. Maybe your body needs a rest but your mind doesn't or the other way round. Maybe you need to chill on Friday and go out on Saturday. Only you can know but there is nothing at all wrong with being less active than you usually are.
 
tlc said:
If you feel guilty for doing nothing, I say there's no reason to. You've earned it, you're working harder than usual at work. It's not like you sit around all day every day and do nothing.
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I suppose, I know I drive myself too hard sometimes... For the record, I'm not going out tonight to any music things, just feeling tired, and I intend to get a full sleep tonight...
 
Winnie the Pooh is the master of doing nothing! ;)

What would you do if you did nothing?

Watch a documentary about someone trying to sell their soul or somethin', I don't know! :D
 
Yes. It's ok to do "nothing". At times, your mind and body need a rest to reset and recuperate. Forcing yourself to go out and do something when your body is telling you otherwise is likely to just make you even more tired and have less energy for the week ahead. Which means not much energy for the next weekend, a vicious cycle. Best to rest and take it easy.
 
Changing work hours can be an overload in itself. I worked nights for 20 years. I had to attend a special geriatric course and it was a day shift schedule. The entire time I was completely useless. It's not only the night and day sleeping thing, but I just didn't know what to do or how to do because I was just completely thrown off in every way.
Give yourself time to adjust.
 
Oh, and if you don't feel like going out, you can still do photography - do some still life at home. I like photos of old albums scattered around, or spilled nail polish and things like that. You can still use your creativity. :)
 
Changing ones routines or expectations is difficult (more so for us I believe). But it is good to practice the idea of flexibility. One does have to make a decision one way or another, but then fight the impulse to second guess or dwell on it. Instead make the new course as pleasant as possible. Unexpected changes will happen often, and its good to learn how to roll with them and reduce your inner stress. Doing 'nothing' sometimes or even regularly is fine. It might be a problem if you never did anything, but once in a while or when you have no choice is fine.
 
This is what I do to relax, went downtown this afternoon to take photos... But my mind is always "on", I heard this guy drumming from across the street, just had to get over there! Joe is a first nations person from Newfoundland, and made this drum himself... I chatted with him for a few minutes, nice guy... The gears in my mind are always churning away, always alert...

Drummer 01.jpg
 
Sherlock77 said:
This is what I do to relax, went downtown this afternoon to take photos... But my mind is always "on", I heard this guy drumming from across the street, just had to get over there! Joe is a first nations person from Newfoundland, and made this drum himself... I chatted with him for a few minutes, nice guy... The gears in my mind are always churning away, always alert...

View attachment 53050
Click to expand...

You're making me into a fan of photography, something I have never had any interest in. I love this picture, too!
 
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