On Loafing (I)

I realized that there has not been a single post on idling/ loafing on this blog despite its (rather) pointed title. So I have decided to distill and condense the finer points of idling since I have nothing else to do right now:

1. Idling is only fun when you are actually supposed to be doing something else which is far more important. I have observed this curious trend because I do not find lying on the bed after exams half as enjoyable as it was before exams. I can only assume that this is because fleeting moments appear more precious. This is the same reason why I am a little unenthusiastic about the idea of an eternal heaven, because I suspect that it won't be as great as it is made out to be when we have to spend an eternity there.

2. Afternoon naps are a good way to past time, especially on weekdays, and are infinitely sweeter than sleeping at night. You should not be determined to sleep, because for some reason I sleep better if i fall asleep doing something else. I can only assume that this is again, the forbidden fruit effect ( see above). Get on the bed, read a history/English / math /whatever textbook ( Geog usually does the trick for me), and you will find yourself drifting into sleep without any consciousnes and any effort.

3. I always study on my bed. As such, my studying periods are always leisurely, as I can conveniently fall asleep whenever I am tired. The computer on which I am typing this out is on the table next to my bed, for the same reason. It would be so much better if the room is cool and you are snugly tucked in a blanket, but sometimes you can't ask for too much, i.e, boarding school.

4. If you are furiously trying to keep yourself awake when reading your notes, you are much better off asleep anyway. There is no point reading when you are tired; it is seldom enjoyable and never effective. Don't berate yourself for idling, you are just practising sound hygiene.

5. Forget about study schedules. They are too regimented and destroy the pleasure you get from idling besides( especially when you allocate a certain time to rest). I personally find it so much better to rest whenever I feel like, and then study. Study schedules might be more effective, but it is effective in the same way mass production lines and fast-food chains are effective. Which is to say, I don't agree with it.

6. Since this is also somewhat related to the subject of revising for exams (since that is when I end up idling the most) I feel obliged to address it. I do not see why people insist on sitting up when studying. I personally feel that the most natural position to be in when reading a book is to be on my bed, under a blanket. I have never done otherwise, unless absolutely necessary, i.e school. It is silly to assume that sitting up forces you to concentrate ( in the same way, I suppose, some people go to libraries to study). If you have to be forced to concentrate, you probably should not be studying at that time anyway.

There are certainly more, perhaps I'll address this question further when something comes to me because I am too lazy to think right now.

P.S. There is a rumour going around that I am a bum who sits around doing nothing. I would beg to differ. I actually do study, and quite a fair bit too (on my bed, that is, but that is a matter of personal preference). Its just that I don't study 'like a horse', because I think studying like a human being, i.e four to five hours a day, is quite enough.