How to Have a Great Do-Nothing Day (and Not Feel Guilty About It)

I’m insanely jealous of my cat. She lounges around this place like it’s her job, and she’s clearly loving every minute of it. No deadlines, no work, no chores, just hours of flopping out like a bearskin rug in a beam of sunlight.

It’s the easiest thing in the world, and yet, the idea of taking a full day to do absolutely nothing tends to bring about feelings of profound guilt.

Especially since a Do-Nothing Day almost always needs to happen on one of the two precious days that make up the weekend. I always feel like I should be cramming in as much non-office-related productivity as possible.

There are always so many things to do, like groceries, laundry, shopping, writing, and making time for friends and family. I mean, how can I just waste a whole day doing nothing?

I know I'm not alone in this struggle. In today’s lightning-speed, digital society, we're somehow made to feel that if we're not being productive every minute of every day, we're being lazy and throwing away precious time.

And time is precious. But if your mind and body are screaming at you to stay home and do nothing, and you can’t remember the last time you spent the day in your pajamas, it’s time for a well-deserved break.

So, just for once, let’s forget about productivity hacks. Today, let’s talk about do-nothing hacks.

What I Really Mean by "Doing Nothing"

When I say do nothing, I don’t mean you have to sit on the floor in the corner staring at the wall. (Although if that’s your jam, by all means, don’t let me tell you otherwise.)

I'm talking about spending a day home, with your only goal being to relax with zero productivity. I understand though if you’ve been “go-go-go!” for so long that you don’t even know how to do nothing, so let me help you out with a few ideas:

• Napping on the couch
• Netflix binging (my personal favorite)
• Sitting in your backyard with a coffee and magazine
• Snuggling with your pets
• Reading a fun book
• Meditating

Next, let's look at how to plan for a Do-Nothing Day that optimizes the rejuvenation factor and eliminates the guilt.

1. Schedule Your Do-Nothing Day in Advance

That’s right, you will need to make premeditated plans to do nothing. This is critical to achieving a guilt-free Do-Nothing Day for a couple of reasons.

First, committing to a Do-Nothing Day makes it official. You won’t start off the day hoping to be productive and then be disappointed with yourself when you spent the whole day binging Gilmore Girls.

Second, planning ahead gives you time to evaluate what critical productive things need to be done before your Do-Nothing Day so you can prepare accordingly.

It also helps you moderate how many Do-Nothing Days you’re having. I like to do nothing at least once a month.

2. Eliminate Temptation to Be Productive

When you need to be productive, you learn to minimize distractions, right?

Reverse engineer this idea on your Do-Nothing Day by outlawing anything that might lead you to be productive.

If you’ve made the proper preparations from step one, you should be able to turn your phone off and not feel the need to check it. Get pressing chores or errands done the day before, tell your friends and family that you'll be unavailable, and for God’s sake, don’t look at your emails!

3. Unplug for at Least a Few Hours

Goofing around on the internet is fine if that's what you like to do to unwind, but I would strongly encourage you not to spend the entire day on Social Media, especially if you are prone to doom scrolling.

Instead, shut off all your devices for at least a few hours and substitute your online time with a book or a good movie.

4. Appreciate the Little Things

One of the best things about doing nothing is that you are totally free of distractions, which enables you to really live in the moment and appreciate the things around you.

On my Do-Nothing Days, I like to really pay attention to the little details that make life wonderful, like a sip of fresh (decaf) coffee, a soothing hot shower, or the feeling of sunlight on my face.

It sounds simple, but it's a great way to be present for your Do-Nothing Day and practice gratitude (which is scientifically proven to make you happier!).

Conclusion

I found out the hard way that burnout is real, and let me tell you, it’s a beast. That's why taking a break is never a waste of time - it's a crucial act of self-care.

When was the last time you took a break? Chances are, it's time to take a look at your calendar and schedule a guilt-free Do-Nothing day. Go ahead and give yourself the gift of nothing!

Author's Note

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