6 Reasons why doing nothing during WFH/furlough is absolutely perfect.

As government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions start easing, employees returning from furloughs, and companies start discussing back-to-office plans, one of the first watercooler topics will inevitably be, “so what did you do during the Work From Home (WFH)/Furlough period?”

Home workouts? Nope.

Learn a new skill? Nope.

Started a new series on Netflix? Nope.

Home party? Nope.

New game? Nope.

So what have you done? As you start scratching your head, frantically trying to recall where the past few months have gone, you panic a little as you realize that you’ve drawn a blank.

“Nothing,” you reply. “I just chilled at home.” 

Before you feel guilty or unproductive, here are some reasons why doing absolutely nothing was perfect.

1.     It’s your choice of indulgence. In our fast-paced world, doing nothing is a luxury. You’ve simply seized the opportunity to do (or not do) something that you’d normally not be able to do. Think of it as a holiday – not so much a staycation but a homeliday (there I’ve coined it).

2.     Your treat for your body. Who says it has to be a healthy treat? Whether you treat your body by excessively snacking or by giving yourself a lot of sleep, you are that bit happier and what everyone else thinks shouldn’t matter. Hopefully you haven’t over indulged on the more unhealthier stuff.

3.     A getaway in the comfort of your own home. It may sound like a contradiction, but by disengaging from everything, you are creating your own getaway. If people can disengage briefly through meditating, you certainly can disengage by doing nothing.

4.     Reduced stress levels, body regenerates. You’ve obviously not felt much or any pressure to do anything, and that’s the way you like it. It reduces your stress levels and your body gets to repair itself.

5.     You’re financially stable. If you have no pressure to take on any part-time work or find a job, it probably means you aren’t hard-pressed financially. You also have a comfortable place to live. Count your blessings! Not everyone has that.

6.     You’ve contributed to society. If you truly hardly ventured out and garrisoned yourself at home, you’ve reduced the potential spread of COVID19 by a little. You’ve deprived the coronavirus of one more host. You may not have meant it, but we’ll take it. Like an accidental goal scored in football or an alley-oop turned 3-pointer, just nod and say you’d meant it.

Also worth noting is that while we think we may have done nothing, we may have done things like spending time with the kids, playing with your pets, pampering your significant other, bonding with your sibling, and so much more.

So there you go. Time to stop feeling guilty. By doing nothing, you have actually done at least 6 things. If it helps, say it as it is written.