Note: this is an attempt at humor, written while I was being too serious about myself. Spo
According to my app that monitors my activity, I’ve had some sort of exercise every night now for an over a fortnight. I thought a break would be good. I planned to go home directly after work, which I did, knowing there was work-to-be-done tasks at home. To my happy surprise Someone (the dear!) did them: the dishes were done and the laundry was all folded and put away. Even the kitchen was all tided up. So there was nothing pressing to do. Hot puppies! I had a free night! The opportunities are endless; I could do all sorts of put-off projects and pleasures. So what did I do? Nothing, that’s what. After taking off my work clothes I fell into bed and did noting. No, I did worse than nothing, I doom-scrolled and played mindless games on the phone, neither concluding with a sense having had a pleasant past time. What a waste – or is it? Sometimes Psyche decides if I am not going to sit still she will plot me having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown she hasn’t determined which.
Sitting still is hard enough for Urs Truly but sitting still and ‘doing nothing’ is even more of a challenge.* It’s times like this I wish I had some Ritalin or something like it. Bourbon is a close second but I do not drink when home alone. Some archetype sitting at the inner board of directors needs to out-vote (or slap silly) the inner Midwesterner who finds doing nothing so horrible. If it can’t see reason then locking him in the walk-in closest could do. Truth is, even if I thought of something to do I feel too tired right now to do anything. It’s 8PM and I am nodding off as I type this. I’m turning into an old man who wants to retire right after dinner and wakes at 4AM.
Let your body be the guide, is a good rule but what if you body wants to eat an entire thin crust pizza (which I did) and get into bed and nothing else? When Someone comes home from work he’s going to find me asleep like a beached whale and no fun that. If he wants to talk we can do so at 4AM; I will be awake to do so.
*I could try meditation but my motives are wrong. I’ve hear tell The Dali Lama discourages Westerners doing meditation as they do it to feel good and not to make the world good.



35 comments
March 27, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Debbie W.
Sounds like “letting your body be your guide” is good advice, at least occasionally. 🙂
March 27, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Urspo
only occasionally, as we are out of frozen pizzas
March 27, 2026 at 3:15 AM
David Godfrey
Many – many- many years ago, a wise man told me, “sometimes the most productive thing you can do, is set on the beach and drink rum.” You need time to reset your brain and rest.
March 27, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Urspo
what sort of rum?
March 27, 2026 at 9:57 AM
David Godfrey
My preference is a dark well aged one.
March 27, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
I think as we age, many of us go to bed early and get up early. But that’s easy for me to say as I’m very much an early bird rather than a night owl.
March 27, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Urspo
yes it is called ‘circadian advancement’ or something like it. Teens stay up late/sleep in late, and over time this advances to bedtime at 8PM and wake up at 4AM
March 27, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Moving with Mitchell
I’m better at sitting till than I was a while back, but I still feel guilty about it.
March 27, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Urspo
Tut! Like all matters, practice makes perfect. Or close enough.
March 27, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Alicia S
You could almost have been speaking about my evening. I ran a few errands on the way home and I was planning to have some chicken and a fabulous new celery, cucumber and apple salad that I found a recipe for online (see…online can be a positive thing). But I remembered my son had bought a pizza the night before and they gave him a free personal pan pizza and he brought it over for me to enjoy. I ate the whole pizza and chased it down with a little bowl of Lays potato chips! I watched an episode of Bridgerton then got ready for bed and doom-scrolled until I fell asleep while watching a youtube video! But I do feel rested and refreshed this morning. I earned last night and so did you!
March 27, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Urspo
Well done! Good for you!
March 27, 2026 at 7:15 AM
rjjs8878
Sadly, the phone apps are designed to keep you scrolling and playing games. Some software and technology companies are evil.
March 27, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Urspo
only some? I know their devilish tricks and I fall for them anyway especially when feeling fatigued.
March 27, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous
My body is telling me my age and that it needs to move more. Ah, a whole pizza sounds great in theory but like you suggest, absolutely energy draining. _Sam
March 27, 2026 at 7:42 AM
Urspo
A full pizza hits all the dopamine when consumed and then there is the aftermath.
March 27, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Pixie
This will sound petty, but I swear it’s not. It’s good to know that there are men who feel guilty about doing nothing, not just women. I have a terrible time not being productive, not doing something, because what? I’m just taking up space? I’m only of value if I do something? Produce something? Being is not enough? I think these feelings have to do with capitalism and religion but it’s how I was raised and they are deeply imbedded.
March 27, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Urspo
One of my favorite memes has a woman sitting on the couch, looking not at ease:
“that awkward moment when you’re not sure if you actually have free time or if you’re just forgetting everything’.
March 27, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Anonymous
Pixie,
THIS!!!!xoxo
Meg B.
March 27, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Robzilla
My legs are doing the same thing right now. I started indoor bike riding again and they don’t want to cooperate today.
March 28, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Urspo
Peg legs are becoming popular again. Always good at Halloween for playing pirate.
March 27, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Rustownmom
When Hubby walked the earth, if I had ever come home to a clean house I would have fainted from shock. You are fortunate indeed! I am all for self-care and extra rest and follow your “when in doubt, get horizontal” rule. Adding pizza to it is amazing.
March 28, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Urspo
My trouble is Someone is a much better cleaner than I, but he does so far less frequent than I want the place done. I should have asked a few logical questions when I met him.
March 27, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Anonymous
Let your body be your guide is great advice. I used to tell my Ballet students that during certain Barre exercises. (Listen to your body, there’s a “good” hurt and “bad” hurt.)
I think doing nothing is an art, and should not be conflated with laziness. We are all entitled to sit “and watch the candles burn” from time to time.
March 27, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Anonymous
(Meg B., btw)
March 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Urspo
I write this Saturday morning. While doing ‘legs day’ at the gym my L knee made it quite clear it was not enjoying things and guided me to stop.
March 27, 2026 at 9:31 AM
rjjs8878
probably all.
March 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Urspo
Let us hope so! 🙂
March 27, 2026 at 9:44 AM
jefferyrn
Doing nothing is nice sometimes. But that pizza is not good to sleep on. I would be ill.
March 28, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Urspo
I remember after a night of fitful dreams I woke feeling badly but at least I hadn’t been transformed into a large cockroach.
March 27, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Robert
Don’t beat yourself up, love. Occasional mindlessness is a break for the nerves.
March 28, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Urspo
Yes, it feels good from time to time.
March 27, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Blobby
Yesterday morning I ran 5 miles at 05:00, came home, at b’fast and took a nap at 07:30. I’m not one to talk.
March 28, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Urspo
Good for you! I admire thems who exercise first thing in the morning, something I have never liked. 8AM Saturday at the gym/weights is about as early as I will do.
March 28, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Sassybear
If you text a buddy a picture of your cocktail is it really drinking alone?
March 30, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Ron
I never drink alone but I do like a glass of nice red wine when dining with friends. Pat was down the past two weeks and we found a really delightful “red”. We bought several bottles. When he left. yesterday there was still a half a bottle left. I’m making an exception to never drinking along and I’m polishing off that bottle of wine tonight with my dinner of dirty rice. I can’t let that delightful red go to waste.