Why You NEED a “Do Nothing Day”

Look, I’m gonna say it straight up: sometimes the hardest thing in the damn world to do… is nothing.

Yeah, you heard me. NOTHING.

Now, if you know me, you know I’m all about grinding, pushing forward, and finding the will and the way no matter what. But here’s the truth I had to smack myself in the face with this past Labor Day weekend: if you don’t stop, if you don’t take a break, if you don’t force yourself to just sit the fuck down every once in a while, life will take that break for you. And trust me, it won’t be pretty.

This blog is about what I call the “Do Nothing Day.” Why you need it, why it’s harder than you think, and why it might be the best damn reset button you’ve ever hit.

The Grind That Never Ends

Me and my wife—we’ve been on a run lately. Nonstop. Kids, dogs, work, family, traffic, games, appointments—you name it, it’s on the schedule. Every day feels like a full-on sprint. You know the deal: if it’s not one thing, it’s five other damn things stacked right behind it.

We’d been saying the same thing to each other for weeks: “We’re tired. We’re doing too much. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?”

And the answer? Because life is busy. Because family and friends matter. Because showing up feels good. Because we like being out there, living, and making memories. But there’s a hidden cost.

That cost is exhaustion. Physical. Mental. Emotional. We were running on fumes.

The Forced Break

So here’s what went down. Labor Day weekend came, and instead of hitting the lake, the river, or another family gathering, we said, “Fuck it. We’re staying home.”

And you’d think that would be easy, right? Just don’t do anything. Stay in. Chill. Relax.

Nah. That shit is HARD.

I felt like I was torturing myself just sitting still. You know when you’re so used to being busy that when you’re not, it feels like you’re missing something? Like your purpose disappeared for the day? That’s where we were.

It’s like walking to the fridge over and over, opening the door, staring inside, knowing damn well there’s nothing new in there—but you keep checking anyway because you don’t know what else to do.

That was our day.

The Struggle of Doing Nothing

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: doing nothing is a skill.
You have to practice it.

When you’re always on the go—working, grinding, planning, fixing, cleaning, handling bills, managing kids, shopping, training, whatever—you forget what it feels like to just… exist.

So when the break finally comes, it feels wrong. You’re restless. You’re bored. You want to go somewhere, do something, make yourself “productive.” But the whole point of a Do Nothing Day is to fight that urge.

That day, me and my wife nitpicked little things just to fill time. She drew on her iPad. I flipped through shows. We messed with dessert recipes just for fun. But in between, we were complaining about how bored we were. It was almost funny.

Almost.

Why Rest Feels So Damn Weird

We live in a world that tells us to stay busy 24/7. Hustle harder. Be productive. Don’t waste time. And I believe in that—most of the time.

But you know what else I believe? Burnout is real. And if you keep burning that candle on both ends, eventually it burns out in the middle too. That’s when shit breaks down.

That’s why rest feels weird. We’re conditioned to think stopping means we’re lazy. That if we’re not doing something “important,” we’re wasting time. But that’s bullshit.

Rest is part of the grind. Recovery is part of progress. You can’t sprint forever without collapsing. Even machines overheat. Engines need maintenance. Bodies and minds are no different.

What a Do Nothing Day Really Is

So let’s get this straight:
A Do Nothing Day isn’t literally “do nothing.” It’s about doing nothing that drains you.

On our day, we did little things: grabbed easy dinner ingredients, made dessert with the kids, sat down as a family, laughed, talked shit, just hung out. No agenda. No rushing. No pressure.

It wasn’t about achieving anything. It was about being. That’s the difference.

You don’t need a weekend getaway. You don’t need a whole vacation. You just need a day carved out where you hit the brakes, pull the e-brake if you have to, and slide right into I’m not doing a goddamn thing today.

That’s a Do Nothing Day.

The Aftermath

Here’s what happened the next day: I felt better. Slept better. Woke up with energy.
My wife? Same thing.

It’s like recharging a battery. You don’t even realize how close to empty you’ve been running until you finally plug in and let yourself sit. That one boring-ass day gave us the reset we didn’t know we needed.

And that’s the point. It sucked in the moment. We complained, we felt restless, we wanted out. But by the time it was over, we knew damn well it was worth it.

Recognizing the Signs

So how do you know you need a Do Nothing Day? Easy:

• You’re snapping at people for no reason.
• You’re exhausted even after sleeping.
• You’re busy but not productive.
• You feel like you’re on autopilot 24/7.
• You start dreading things you usually enjoy.

That’s burnout knocking at your door. And you can either answer it and take the break—or ignore it until life forces one on you, usually in the form of sickness, breakdown, or pure mental collapse.

How to Plan Your Own Do Nothing Day

Yeah, you actually gotta plan this shit. Otherwise, you’ll fill the day like you always do. Here’s how:

1. Pick the day in advance. Mark it on the calendar like an appointment.
2. Set rules. No errands. No “catching up” on chores. No “just one quick thing.”
3. Keep it simple. Grab easy meals, watch movies, nap, hang out.
4. Expect boredom. It’s gonna feel uncomfortable at first. That’s normal.
5. Embrace it anyway. Remember, the goal is to stop running for a bit.

Rest, Recover, Reload

Life’s not about all gas, no brakes. You can push hard, but you gotta know when to pull back too. You don’t lose momentum by resting—you gain it.

Because when you come back after a Do Nothing Day, you’re sharper, stronger, and ready to tear shit up again.

That’s the balance people miss. You can be tough as nails, but toughness also means knowing when to hit pause.

The Angry Dad Bottom Line

Look, I’ll keep it real: the grind never stops. Bills don’t stop. Responsibilities don’t stop. Family doesn’t stop. But you? You need to stop every once in a while.

If you don’t, life will stop you.

So take that Do Nothing Day. Bitch about it if you have to. Get bored. Stare at the fridge for no reason. But let your mind and body breathe. Because the payoff is worth it.

Trust me—I fought it, I hated it, but I came out the other side feeling like I’d been reset. And sometimes that’s all you need: one day to put the fire back in your chest.

So plan it. Take it. Live it.

Because the hardest thing to do… is nothing.

But sometimes that’s exactly what the fuck you need.