It’s scary to have nothing to do on hols

Gillian loney

REMEMBER the days when the word holidays meant something? Maybe it was an all-inclusive resort on some far-flung coast. Maybe it was a trip to Ayr and an ice-cream cone by the sea.

Now, it’s a move from one chair to another – a chance to switch off the computer and visit another room.

Still, I’m determined to make the most – or rather the least – of my free time this month, starting with a week off and very little to do.

We’ve all read a lot about the relentless pace of lockdown life recently; stats that say those of working from home are putting in more hours, getting less rest and generally doing ourselves in without crossing the front door for days on end.

One survey suggests Scots are putting in an additional 7.7 hours of overtime a week, and only 50 per cent of them are getting paid for that extra hustle.

And with all our lives currently on hold – weddings and celebrations cancelled, trips abroad or even out of our postcode area put on hold indefinitely – it’s no wonder that so many are hiving away their holiday hours for better times ahead.

As a manager, I keep having to remind staff to take time off, even if it is just to sit about in their PJs without a hangout or deadline in sight. And it’s advice I’m determined to take myself when I clock off next week.

But I won’t lie; the prospect of having nothing at all to do makes me nervous.

For months I’ve been filling those long lockdown hours with DIY projects, weekend cooking sessions and lots of extra stress that I don’t need. But am I the only one who feels guilty at the thought of a duvet day; restless and anxious at the prospect of “wasting” 24 hours in front of the telly?

Homes Under the Hammer has its charms for a day or two; a long lie and breakfast in bed are the stuff of dreams when you’re working away, week after week. But it’s tough to bring this ever-puffing engine to a complete stop when you can’t hit the gym or go for a swim, go to the pictures - when you can’t check off at least one memorable thing you did with your time off.

Of course, that phrase we’ve been muttering to ourselves comes to mind: “At least you have a job”. Worrying about what to do with myself for a week pales in comparison to those on furlough, one endless day that could bring far more misfortune when it comes to an end.

But working or not, we’re all being a bit too hard on ourselves right now; pushing just a bit further, stressing more, anxiously awaiting the relief of a hug from mum or a trip to the pub with old friends.

And so if a day on the couch, remote in hand and a cheeky wee snack is all we can do, I say let’s go easy on ourselves, get rid of the guilt and embrace a slower lifestyle ... even if it’s just for a week. Anyway, I’ll sweat those crisps off the following week when I come back to a million emails.