> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gilespcroft.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # I took a day off and it was really hard - URL: https://www.gilespcroft.com/i-took-a-day-off-and-it-was-really-hard/ - Published: 2026-06-05T06:00:17.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-05T06:00:17.000Z - Description: You're not going to get the experience you want… but do it anyway. 😎 - Author: Giles P Croft - Tags: Thought realisation, #re-use, Stress, Real stories, Psychology, Productivity, Overwhelm & Burnout, Mental Health, MECHANICS, Guilt, Film & TV, Cycling The other day, wife and child went off camping together, leaving me home alone for a few days. Doesn’t happen very often and it was a Bank Holiday weekend, so the first day, I decided to take a day off. - No emails. - No content creation. - No business social media. - No planning. A proper unplug. So I committed to sitting on my arse, watching TV, and playing video games. Sure, I did a short ride on the indoor trainer, but I enjoy that and technically I was still sitting on my arse, watching TV, so, yeah. Now, dear reader, you should know that I do *all* of these things from time to time when I’m *not* taking a day off, too. But boy, did it feel different! 💡 What does that tell you about how we experience the world? The exact same activity, but with a different mental (i.e. made up) rule → utterly different experience! And you know what, I hadn’t really noticed how different it feels, because I haven’t committed to taking a day off for a very long time. So there I was, sitting on my arse, happily watching TV and all of a sudden I notice the guilt. The Giles Ego Construct pops up and starts telling me: > 📦🗣️: *That’s enough R&R now. Go do something constructive.* Oh. No, actually, it’s ok. I’m taking a day off, remember? I don’t have to do anything. \[I relax. Smile. Stick another episode on.\] 5 minutes later it’s back. > 📦🗣️: *What the f\*\*\* do you think you’re doing?* Oh. No, it's ok. \[Relax again.\] > 📦🗣️: *That’s enough now* Oh. \[Relax.\] > 📦🗣️: *This is wrong* Oh. \[Relax.\] And on and on and on. --- There's really only one way to deal with this: 👁️ Observe it… Let it go… Observe it… Let it go… Like interval training for awareness! In truth, most of the day was like this. It didn’t detract too much, because it was so revealing. And to be fair I still got to sit on my arse all day, watching TV and playing video games. But today is not a day off, so I’m writing about it and letting you know that the next time you try it, it might not work out like you want (i.e. blissfully free of the mental noise) but you should probably do it anyway. Just to see. 💟 Giles SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY REMINDERS newsletter [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/2025/12/DR_Lockup-Black-1.png)](#/portal/signup) Want to start **your* days with helpful, insightful content like this? The Daily Reminder is a quick, lighthearted email that arrives in your inbox, to help keep you grounded in reality, so that you get to **‘Think less, and live more.’* **“They feel like a moment of stillness in a world of madness.” \~* Neil, UK **“One of those small things with big impact. Honestly, just sign up!”* \~ Paula, UK [GET YOURS NOW ](#/portal/signup) ### Related [Practice!Do we want to talk about this stuff, or live it? 😄![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)The Daily RemindersGiles P Croft![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1715274156767-22ebfa6ff978-1-a2cd97c10ea7825ca5a9b70a3b5a36d72481a4d51242e0e7d5f3f95f7aa3e36f.jpeg)](https://www.gilespcroft.com/practice/) Yup. You wanna see change? You're gonna have to practice!