Doing "nothing" every now and then is actually good for you. So don't dust. Don't balance your bank statement. Instead, sit back, waste time and enjoy.

Since you don't want to waste time figuring out how to waste time, we suggest six essential ways to avoid the stuff you "should" be doing:

Nothing strenuous

• Nap: Feeling tired and run down, and it has nothing to do with iron-poor blood? Nap! A 20-minute snooze can improve alertness, productivity and mood, according to experts from the National Sleep Foundation.

Subtle self-enrichment result: beauty sleep.

• Play catch with children: Maybe your kids spend too much time in front of the television, blocking your view. Grab a few mitts and a ball and invite them outside.

Subtle self-enrichment: quality time.

• Smell the roses: Sit back. Observe. Enjoy.

Subtle self-enrichment result: introspection.

Board games

• "Sorry!" (Parker Brothers): Few joys in life equal that of landing on your little brother's red playing piece (and he always throws a fit if he isn't red) and sending it back to the start. This classic game has it all — simple rules, straightforward play and sweet revenge.

Subtle self-enrichment result: humility.

• "Cranium" (Cranium): One of the all-time greatest party games, "Cranium" supplies the activities while you supply the talent and creativity. Players must sculpt, draw, hum or act out in ways teammates can guess what is being sculpted, drawn, hummed or acted out.

Subtle self-enrichment result: socialization.

Books

• "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time," by Mark Haddon (Vintage): The story revolves around the mysterious death of a neighbor's dog, but at its heart is Christopher, an autistic teen who's as good at math as he is bad with people. Haddon's first novel is a fascinating glimpse inside a mind that works in vastly different ways.

Subtle self-enrichment result: understanding.

• "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee (Little, Brown & Co.): This tale of life in a small Alabama town, as told by 8-year-old Scout Finch, resonates as strongly today as when it was published in 1960.

Subtle self-enrichment result: acceptance.

• "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" (series), by Alexander McCall Smith (Anchor): The fact these mysteries are set in Botswana is enough to set them apart, but the books truly excel in character development and clever narratives. McCall's breezy, humorous style makes these novels difficult to put down.

Subtle self-enrichment result: Pure enjoyment.

Classic DVDs

• "Casablanca" (1942, special edition two-disc set): This is one of those rare films where it all comes together, from acting to dialogue to unforgettable scenes. It's time to watch it again.

Subtle self-enrichment result: art appreciation.

• "Star Wars" trilogy ("Star Wars," 1977; "The Empire Strikes Back," 1980; "Return of the Jedi," 1983): It took a few years, but the greatest space opera of all time is finally on DVD.

Subtle self-enrichment results: thrills and chills.

• "The Lord of the Rings — The Fellowship of the Ring," special extended edition (2001): The filmed version of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic stands by itself as an amazing cinematic and technical achievement. You're missing out if you have not seen the behind-the-scenes extras packed on this four-disc set.

Subtle self-enrichment result: insider knowledge.

Online

• Friendster (www.friendster.com): The premise is simple. You sign up. You invite friends to sign up. Those friends invite their friends to sign up, and so on. Pretty soon you've created a community filled with friends of friends of friends.

Where you go from there is up to you. Find a tennis partner. Organize a book club. Land a date. This sure beats hanging out with co-workers all the time.

Subtle self-enrichment result: bonding.

• Zap 2 It (www.zap2it.com): Zap 2 It is a one-stop information resource for all your movie, TV and celebrity needs.

Subtle self-enrichment result: pop-cultural awareness.

• Shockwave (www.shockwave.com): Play one of the many action, sports or mind games, or click on the link to Atom Films for dozens of inventive short films.

Subtle self-enrichment result: a great reason to upgrade to cable modem.

Video games

• "Viewtiful Joe" (Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation2): This has slow motion, hyperspeed and a hero with mad martial-arts skills; what else could you want from a video game?

Subtle self-enrichment result: improved hand-eye coordination.

• "Burnout 3: Takedown" (PS2, Microsoft Xbox): The goal of this driving game is twofold: win races and cause as much mayhem as you can. You earn points for driving like a madman, narrowly missing oncoming cars and forcing your opponents over retaining walls.

Subtle self-enrichment result: relief of rush-hour aggression.

• "The Sims" (PS2, GameCube, PC): Feel as if your life is out of control? Then take the reins of someone else's life. Guide your tiny digital folk through jobs, marriages, children and other of life's little stages.