About this quote

Enjoyable downtime refills your energy and makes the rest of your hours more productive. If an hour of reading or wandering leaves you clearer, it helped your wellbeing. Try scheduling short pockets of play this week and note whether your mood or output changes. Ask yourself after a break: did I come back calmer or sharper? Keep what works and drop the guilt.

When to use it

• After finishing a big client presentation at work on Friday, you shut your laptop and tell your colleague, "I'm taking the afternoon off — time I enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
• During finals week, you close your notes for an hour to play guitar and say to your roommate, "I need this now; time I enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
• On a weekend morning, you decide to skip errands and go for a long bike ride; you tell your partner, "I'll be back later — time I enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
• After a tough training block, you rest one day instead of pushing through and remind yourself, "Time I enjoy wasting is not wasted time."