Daily Prompt – January 25, 2026

Leisure time is a hard concept for me. Relaxing is hard. I have a natural inclination to do things and more importantly to accomplish things. So even the things I do for fun, don’t always seem like fun to the outside world. My art and craft and learning (not grad school) activities are leisurely for me. But I may seem stressed by them because there is this invisible need to accomplish something. Finish the project or at least show a measurable amount of progress.

It’s impossible for me to do nothing. Time waster games feel exactly like that. The games I enjoy most have a puzzle element that leaves me with a sense of accomplishment. I also prefer things with easily identified quests and linear progression to giant open world games. They leave me feeling like I am aimless and not achieving the goal even if I’m completing quests or finish tasks.

It’s quite tasking but it’s who I am. When I attempt to do nothing, my hands find ways to stay busy and its usually destructive ways. Tearing up paper or pulling at threads. Scratching or picking skin. Really anything to keep my hands occupied because occupied hands mean occupied brain.

My brain is my best friend and my worst enemy. I’m sure many can relate to that feeling. If left to its own devices it creates problems that don’t exist for the mere pleasure of solving them.

So I guess the short answer is the thing I enjoy doing most in my leisure time is anything that keeps me busy.