What If Being Lazy Was a Good Thing?

One of the most insidious challenges I see in productivity culture is so many people don’t know how to relax. Any activity not directly related to checking things off a to-do list is mired in guilt and an ever-present internal tirade of “shoulds”, like: 

• I should be working
• I should be doing something around the house
• I should be making progress on that project
• I should be productive

This mental lashing is then swiftly followed up with additional reprimands in some variation of:

• I feel lazy
• I’m being lazy
• I’m just so lazy

But what if you should be lazy?

What if being lazy was good for you? What if laziness wasn’t a mark of poor character and instead was a sign of a life well-planned and well-lived?

Oxford Languages defines the word lazy as “unwilling to work or use energy.”[1] Without any additional context, that definition is pretty innocuous. There are sometimes good reasons to be unwilling to work or use energy, especially if it is wasteful.

In her article The benefits of laziness: why being a lazy person can be good for you, Anne-Laure Le Cunff says,

“Rather than a sign of inefficiency and unproductivity, laziness is often the result of smart work freeing up time for well-deserved idleness. Furthermore, laziness can be the trigger for smart work in and of itself… as counterintuitive this may sound — laziness is often the other side of the productivity coin”.

The article reminded me of a piece I wrote a few years ago: Sometimes, Quitting is the Best Choice. Learn How to Become a Strategic Quitter. In the same way, quitting or being called a quitter has negative implications; being lazy or succumbing to laziness is considered a bad thing that you should avoid. As I mentioned in the article, quitting is neither good nor bad; it can often be the right choice, depending on the context. Strategic quitting is simply deciding on a different path. Tactical laziness (to use Le Cunff’s term) is the same; it’s a matter of context.  Le Cunff describes it like this:

“While the benefits of laziness are many, laziness itself is neutral. The specific context in which we feel lazy, the particular task at hand, the length of time we procrastinate for… All have an impact on how useful or not laziness can be.”

The benefits of laziness

Half the battle is reframing your perception of rest, recovery, and what it means to waste time, and untangling them from the negative ideas around laziness. Instead of beating yourself up for “being lazy” and “unproductive”, consider that there are significant benefits to being both lazy and unproductive.

1. Laziness can lead to more efficient problem-solving

One of the quotes I sometimes mention in my Calm Your Chaos sessions is Parkinson’s Law, which  states that “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” When you reframe laziness as being time-conscious, it means you will naturally find ways to get tasks done faster and with less effort.

Instead of overcomplicating work, “lazy” people often seek the most efficient, streamlined way to complete a task. They usually automate, delegate, or find shortcuts that maintain quality while minimizing effort. 

2. Laziness can promote creativity

Numerous studies show that when the brain is relaxed or idle, it forms connections between ideas, leading to creative insights. This is why taking breaks or “sleeping on” something can often lead to a solution to a problem you were struggling with. It’s also why you have good ideas in the shower, when you have few distractions and are going through routine actions. 

When you're not constantly busy, your mind has more time to wander and make unexpected connections, which can lead to innovative ideas.

3. Laziness can reduce stress and burnout

Your brain and body aren’t built to be on the go at all times. Chronic stress has all kinds of adverse effects on your ability to concentrate, make decisions, be creative, and stay engaged, not to mention on your mood, sleep, and mental health. Of course, there is also a range of physical impacts, like frequent headaches, digestive issues, recurrent infections, and even heart attacks and strokes.

Feeling lazy can be an important signal your body sends to tell you that it needs a break.

Embracing “laziness” in the form of rest and recovery allows your brain and body to recharge, improving your ability to focus and make decisions, engage with the people around you, and function effectively. And, of course, rest is not only something you need to do in service of being productive. Being lazy is fun! It is part of a joyful life, doing things simply for the enjoyment of them.

How to be tactically lazy

When approached without shame, tactical laziness can be a powerful productivity tool. It isn’t about avoiding work—it’s about working smarter, not harder. The key is to balance effort with intentional rest, automation, and simplification. 

1. Prioritization over efficiency over effort

As I often mention, it doesn’t matter how efficient you are at something if it isn’t the right thing. Instead of trying (and usually failing) to do all the things, which is an incredible amount of wasted effort, narrow down your priorities as much as possible. There are things on your to-do list that are never getting done. Or, at the very least, they will not be done any time soon. And that’s ok! Instead of feeling overwhelmed and bad about everything you have to do, be tactically lazy by identifying only the top priorities (your glass balls versus plastic balls) and focusing on those. 

2. Pay attention to your energy cycles

This might be shocking to you, but you are not a machine with a steady amount of energy at all times!😅 Feeling lazy is often your body sending you signals that your energy is low, and you need to take action to replenish that energy. It might be:

• You need to eat - food is fuel for your mind and body.
• You need to move - movement helps stimulate different hormones and brain chemicals that help make your body feel better and your mind function more effectively.
• You need to sleep - a quick lie down or nap can do wonders for a tired mind, letting it rest and replenish.
• You need to disengage - daydreaming or giving your mind some time to wander instead of actively focusing on something can be the key to solving a challenging problem.

When you pay attention to your energy cycles, you also become more aware of the things that drain you. Some activities will be more demanding than others. Some people will take more energy than others. When you notice what and who these are, you can be tactically lazy about when you engage with them and under what circumstances. 

3. Plan and protect rest time

Unstructured rest time is good for your brain, good for your body, and straight up just good. Rest is a requirement if you want to function well in all parts of your life; it might actually be the most essential “productivity tool” of all. And… It’s a vital part of a joyful life.

Be tactically lazy by planning and protecting your rest time. What you do and who you do it with doesn’t matter, as long as it recharges you and gives your brain and body time and space to unwind.

4. Intentional planning

Another way to be tactically lazy is by creating routines or checklists to help reduce decision fatigue by making decisions up front. When you decide ahead of time and are in a good frame of mind to do so, it makes it easier for you to execute on it. 

For example, meal planning is a great way to be tactically lazy. If you decide on your weekly meals and even pre-make them, you’ve made it easier to save time making them individually, money you are not spending on takeout or groceries you don’t use, and energy you probably don’t have at the end of a long day to make something from scratch. 

I’m particularly fond of planning your intentional, ideal week for the very reason that it helps set your intentions for the week ahead of time, given what you know about your commitments each day. While it will never be perfect, you can be thoughtful about your priorities and routines. You can do your best to plan when you will do things based on your energy cycles and when you will take your rest time.

As Le Cunff says,

“The specific context in which we feel lazy, the particular task at hand, the length of time we procrastinate for… All have an impact on how useful or not laziness can be. When manipulated as a tool — with caution, control, but no unnecessary shame — laziness can be used to be more productive and more relaxed over the long run. Being lazy can lead to smarter decisions, innovative solutions, and better mental health.”

I suspect we could all benefit from being a bit lazier!

***There are, of course, negative sides to laziness, and persistent laziness can be a sign of more significant issues. If that’s the case, it’s probably worth reflecting on why you constantly feel "lazy" and what might be causing it. Many physical and mental conditions present themselves as “laziness” (which can be extreme fatigue or burnout) and might deserve exploration with a professional.

Learning to be lazy is a skill! If you need some help, reach out. :)