“A Running List of Things I Said ‘I’ll Do After Lunch’ and Never Did”

There’s a very specific time of day when I become the most ambitious version of myself.

It’s not morning.
It’s not night.

It’s exactly 15 minutes after lunch, when I’m sitting with a full stomach, a drowsy head, and a confidence level that makes me think I can run a startup, write a book, clean my cupboard, and maybe, I don’t know… fix my entire life?

But then... the nap demon arrives.

And so begins the cycle.

🌞 Exhibit A: The Ambitious Post-Lunch Brain

“I’ll just lie down for 5 minutes… and then I’ll–”
✨(Cut to: me waking up 2 hours later wondering what year it is.)

So, here’s an actual list—yes, I wrote it down—of all the things I’ve confidently told myself I’ll do after lunch, and absolutely did not do.

1. "Clean My Room"

Expected Outcome:
Color-coded socks. Shelf that sparks joy.

Reality:
Moved one bag from the bed to the chair and called it “progress.”
Dust allergy triggered. Took it as a sign from the universe to rest.

2. "Reply to That One Important Email"

Expected Outcome:
Professional tone. Correct grammar. No overuse of the word “just.”

Reality:
Typed “Hi!” then got overwhelmed.
Suddenly remembered I hadn’t hydrated.
Opened YouTube “just for 2 minutes.”
Fell into a rabbit hole of dog grooming videos. Email = forgotten.

3. "Fold the Washed Clothes"

They’ve been chilling on the chair for 3 business days now.
Every morning I dig through the pile like Dora the Explorer looking for matching socks.
The clothes are now part of my interior aesthetic.
Modern, minimal, mildly wrinkled.

4. "Call That One Relative Who Keeps Asking Why I Don't Call"

Expected Outcome:
Heartfelt conversation, mutual updates, cultural bonding.

Reality:
I mentally rehearsed the conversation 4 times.
Then got exhausted from the imaginary effort and took a nap instead.

5. "Water the Plants"

By the time I remembered, it was dark and the plants looked at me like
“It’s fine. We’ll just photosynthesize our trauma.”

6. "Write That Deep, Thoughtful, Soul-Stirring Poem"

Mood:
Writer mode ON.
Background music: Lo-fi + rain sounds.
Chai in hand. Instagram bio ready: “poet at heart 🌸”

Outcome:
Wrote 3 lines. Deleted 2.
Ended up rhyming “life” with “knife.”
Closed laptop. Opened Netflix.

7. "Reply to All Pending WhatsApp Messages"

I opened the chat.
Saw the length of the last message.
Closed the chat.
Felt guilty.
Wrote this blog post instead.

8. "Start Journaling Again"

I even opened a fresh new notebook.
Wrote the date in cute lettering.
Then couldn’t decide which pen to use.
Then remembered I have bad handwriting.
Then spiraled.

9. "Go for a Walk"

Ah yes. The Great Walk Plan.
Made complete with playlist, bottle, and mental pep talk.

Unfortunately, by the time I stood up, the sun had set, the dogs were barking, and the bed had started calling me softly:

“Just lie down for 2 mins, re...”

10. "Fix My Life"

Big goal. Very ambitious.
Probably should’ve started smaller.

Like drinking water.
Or finding that sock I lost last Tuesday.

🌚 Moral of the Story?

I’m not lazy.
I’m just... chronically after-lunch optimistic.

There’s something about being full that makes the brain believe we can take on the world.

Only to realize 30 minutes later that the world can wait.
Right now, there’s digestive peace to be made.

🫖 Ending Note: From Me to You (and Your Chair Full of Clothes)

If you’ve ever said:

• “I’ll start after lunch.”

• “Let me just rest for 5 minutes.”

• “It’s not procrastination, it’s strategic delay.”

…then this one’s for you.

Because maybe we’re not behind.
Maybe we’re just marinating in our potential.

So here’s to us—chaotically cozy, slightly behind schedule, and deeply human.

And hey, at least we didn’t forget lunch. That counts for something.

🍃 But Here’s the Thing…

You’re not alone.
We’ve all been there. That post-lunch peak energy fantasy… followed by a humble nap reality.

But maybe—just maybe—we can channel that ambition in smaller doses.

Start with one drawer instead of the whole cupboard.
Reply to one message.
Water one plant.
Drink one glass of water.
Write one silly sentence in your journal.
Even baby steps count—especially if taken in pajamas.

Because momentum doesn’t need to come in giant leaps.
Sometimes it just starts with finishing the chai and not opening Instagram right after.

So here’s to us—chaotically cozy, slightly behind schedule, but trying.
Slowly. Softly. One tiny post-lunch goal at a time.

And hey, at least we didn’t forget lunch.
That’s productivity too. 🫶