Is it normal to always feel like you have to be doing something productive?

Question

Why can't I just enjoy life? Why do I always feel like I have to be doing something?

Answer 1

Feelings of guilt are a part of the overall sadness you feel. There is a quote I like to remember whenever I'm feeling down:
"Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

Answer 2

You're asking the wrong person here--I have the same exact problem. Yet somehow I always find a way to be unproductive anyway and feel bad about it.

I think one solution is to set aside a reasonable amount of time each day to devote yourself completely to whatever work you think you need to get done. Work continuously for no less than an hour at a time, but reward yourself with breaks in between.

Answer 3

No, that's not normal. Learn to be a slacker once in a while, it may not come naturally, but once you get the hang of eating junk food in bed while playing video games until you pass out, you'll wonder why you were ever such a do-bee in the first place.

If it helps, remind yourself that if you aren't rested and mentally refreshed (translation: slacking) once in a while, your performance will suffer for it. People do a better job when they're doing things if they aren't always doing something.

Answer 4

Perhaps you always feel like you have to be doing something because there is something or some part of yourself that you are not comfortable with. And you stay busy so you don't have to confront it. I cannot begin to hazard guesses as to what it could be. But my suggestion to you is that you start taking a few minutes to yourself everyday to explore what exactly it could be. Try meditating, or just sit quietly and think in silence. Don't be afraid of what might come up. Be happy that you are making strides towards living a happier, more fulfilled life. :-)

Answer 5

My wife has that problem...she's finally relaxing at the end of the day....work before play.....sometimes I just enjoy "being" and I do this most of the times before my work is done. But, based your prior question, you definitely need to get your studies in before "play" time. You are in an important time in your life in getting your education. After you get settled into life...don't take it so seriously and live more for the moment (not foolishly or dangerously, mind you). Good luck.

Peace, Love, and Blessings
Greenwood

Answer 6

You may have a compulsive disorder or your parents may have always expected too much of you....take time to smell the roses and enjoy life some. Go to a pool and swim, go to the mall..buy a book and get comfy and read..do something to bring some joy into your life...learn to relax and enjoy those around you...Good Luck to you...I use to be that way myself. I finally broke out of it though by just forcing myself to take time off...

Answer 7

[In Chapter Three, Lord Krsna tell us, "All men are forced to act helplessly, according to the impulses born of the modes of material nature; therefore, no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment." And Prabhupada's purport reads: "This is not a question of embodied life; it is the nature of the soul itself to be always active. The proof is that without the presence of the spirit soul there is no movement of the material body. The body is only a dead vehicle to be worked by the spirit soul, and therefore it is to be understood that the soul is always active and cannot stop even for a moment. As such, the spirit soul has to be engaged in the good work of Krsna consciousness; otherwise it will be engaged in the occupations dictated by the illusory energy." This last sentence is very important. We understand that our nature is spirit soul full of bliss, eternity and knowledge, and that the soul is always active and eternally part and parcel of the Supreme Soul. And now we see that as such, the spirit soul has to be engaged in the good work of Krsna consciousness; otherwise it will be engaged in the occupations dictated by the illusory energy."]
Back to Godhead Magazine #35, 1970
Krsna consciousness is the Absolute Necessity for Mankind in this Age
The Devotee As Yogi

Due to the condition of material existence we must always work to bring around our total being of subtle body, gross body and entire life to engagement towards the good culminating in the eternal good.

We need to learn what is the proper use of our total being. Learning can be work, but begins with turning towards the Absolute Spiritual Truth and away from the truth of animal life and atheism.

We are always inclined to act with body, words and mind so we must train these actions towards the good and the Supreme Good.

Answer 8

When GOD put Adam in the Garden, Adam had work to do!
Tend the Garden! But it wasn't like work to him, it was a Blessing to tend that garden.
Make it Grow all over the Earth!
Then things got messed up.
Cursed.
Now, we still have that "want to" to do things.
We still want to "Work".
Back befor things got messed up, working was a Blessing!
Now, working can be hard.
But, you can still find work to do that you really enjoy, then, work becomes a Blessing Again!
Seek and you will Find.
I tried growing a small garden years ago and it was very enjoyable!

Answer 9

Yeah my whole family
feels like if your aren't doing something productive
then your wasting your time
we love watching TV but generally when my mom or one of my sisters watches TV their doing something like quilting.
Maybe that's your way of enjoying life.

Answer 10

before I had infants, i replaced into continually a profession woman and continually supported myself for some years before I have been given married and stayed at homestead to look after my 2 infants My women are actually 3 and 5. I remeber whilst my oldest replaced right into some million 365 days i could oftentimes experience the comparable way, yet it truly is with the help of the fact the end results of each and all the time beyond regulation you're spending which contain your newborn are actually not yet so obvious. Spend the time wisely and function numerous relaxing, memories, workout, playground, video games and toys for the perfect discovering age, music and mum and toddler activities and as your newborn gets older this is going to alter into much less complicated so you might verify the outcomes. As your infants advance to 3 and 5 you will truly start to word that your newborn loves and respects you, would have greater valuable manners, and could probable be smarter and could be plenty greater balanced alround than in case you were sending them to daycare on the same time as you worked. this is actual accomplishment given it truly is the destiny you decide on on your newborn. Giving them this head initiate will enable them to administration greater valuable whilst they get to college and this could persist with on into their later years. i in my view think of you will locate the infants in college that have been given 'time' from their mothers and fathers. save up the stable artwork and quickly because of the fact the toddler get somewhat older the sensation of feat grows each and on a daily basis because of the fact the toddler gets smarter. you're fortunate which you're able the place you're able to try this on your loved ones. whilst your infants are 22 and ending there preparation you're actually not likely to be asserting to your self, I wish I spent somewhat much less time with them whilst they have been youthful and earnt some additional funds truly! you will get used to staying at homestead and doing the unpaid element of the workload.