The Restless Truth About Lazy Days

Daily writing prompt

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

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“A day without purpose is a day I’ll never get back.”

Lazy days sound good in theory, don’t they? The picture of lounging around, doing nothing, drifting from the couch to the fridge to the recliner. For many, that’s the definition of rest. But for me, it’s the definition of torture. I can’t remember the last time I let a day slip away without doing something—anything—that felt productive. The word productive isn’t just a goal for me; it’s stitched into my DNA. Even when I’ve been laid low with the flu, I’ll find myself organizing my vanity or straightening my workbench. That’s just how I’m wired.

Some of that comes from childhood. My father worked at Boeing, and whenever contracts ran out, layoffs would follow. Suddenly, there was no steady paycheck, and I felt the tension in the house. As a kid, I didn’t understand the bigger picture, but I remember feeling uneasy when work stopped or when money seemed spent too quickly. Deep down, I wished there was more security, more planning. Looking back, I know my parents did the best they could with what they had, but those moments planted a seed in me: the determination to always stay moving, to never waste time, and to be careful with every dollar.

That seed has grown into a lifelong mindset. Even in retirement, I can’t sit idle for long without feeling that gnawing question: What did I do today? My financial planner tells me I should relax, that I’ve done a good job planning, and that I’ll never run out of money. But I still can’t sit still. Being productive for me isn’t only about filling time—it’s about earning money, or saving it. And more importantly, it’s about what I do with that time and effort. That’s how I measure progress: spending time and making a difference in the lives of my grandchildren and the people in my life.

For me, that “something” usually looks like progress on a project. It could be writing a blog post, lifting weights, listing an antique for sale, or spending time with my grandkids. But more often than not, it’s hands-on: working on a home project, making a repair, or tackling a renovation at one of my properties. Those things bring me satisfaction because I can see the results. I walk away at the end of the day with tangible proof that I’ve moved the ball forward.

Lazy days, in the traditional sense—lounging around with nothing on the agenda—don’t leave me rested. They leave me restless. I find more peace in motion, in activity, in progress. Even when I pause, I prefer it to be intentional: reading something meaningful, taking a walk with Marmee, casting a line into the water, or reflecting on the past in my writing. Those moments restore me, but they aren’t “lazy.” They’re purposeful.

For some, rest comes from shutting the world out and doing nothing. For me, rest comes from knowing I used the day well. That’s when I can lay my head down at night and feel truly at ease.

So, do lazy days make me feel rested or unproductive? Easy answer: unproductive. And for a man wired the way I am, that’s the opposite of rest.