The #1 Best Productivity Hack
Being lazy shows a lack of discipline.
Being lazy shows a lack of ambition.
Being lazy is a sign of entitlement.
Being lazy is not for those high-achievers striving for more out of life.
Or so we’ve been led to believe…
Work Smarter, Not Harder
In a society that glorifies productivity, laziness has gotten a bad rap.
Afraid of being stigmatized as “lazy” we hunt down the opposite perspective. Our good friend “busy”.
A colleague asks “How are you today?” and the instant response “Busy” falls out of our mouths with ease. Proof that we are contributing members of society. We are a worthy member of the tribe.
We cling to busy to prove our self-worth and outrun our self-doubt.
We fight for that high of the constant go, go, go in pursuit of…well, I’m not actually sure what. But at least we’re not being lazy!
Busy requires very little thought.
Busy simply requires action. Action for no rhyme or reason. Action that tries to disguise itself as productivity.
Laziness, on the other hand, requires deep thinking.
Laziness requires considering new perspectives and approaches. Questioning our default behavior in the search of easy street.
Being lazy, I would argue, is the key to working smarter, not harder.
10 Lazy Productivity Hacks
Forget the societal norms. It’s time to embrace your lazy as you climb that ladder to success.
Lazy Productivity Hack #1: Create Templates
Stop reinventing the wheel. Stop starting from scratch. Stop staring at a blank screen wondering where to start.
Be lazy.
Create reusable templates to reduce the amount of upfront thinking you need to give every new project.
Think about the presentations, spreadsheets, or documents you seem to create on repeat and templatize!
Dig up the latest versions you created and save them as a “template”. It will take less time than 5 or 10 minutes and you’ll have an asset you can reuse repeatedly to save you hours down the line.
These templates can be used as the starting point for consistency and allow you to simply focus on filling in the gaps specific to the new project. It’s like starting a puzzle that just needs those last final pieces put in place.
Feels so satisfying to be lazy.
Lazy Productivity Hack #2: Use Checklists
Similar to the documents you create on repeat, there are likely projects you do that require the same steps from start to finish. Every time. Like Groundhog Day.
Be lazy.
The next time you’re completing one of these monotonous tasks, switch it up just a bit by writing down a checklist of steps you take. Then store the list for easy access.
The next time you encounter a similar project pull up your checklist. This will alleviate the extra anxiety of worrying you’re going to forget something. And reduces the brainpower needed just to decide where to start.
Save the brain power. Lean into the lazy.
Lazy Productivity Hack #3: Shut Down Work Thinking
When you’re done working. Stop working.
This means no checking email or IMs throughout the evening.
Be lazy.
Even if you don’t act on these quick checks, they’ll linger in your mind. Distracting you, stressing you, and taking a lot of extra thinking effort.
Shifting out of work mode to personal time mode, on the other hand, will help you recover from attention fatigue. This will mean you can be more effective when you are working.
If you don’t allow yourself to make this context switch, you’re sure to get less done the next day.
“When you work, work hard. When you’re done, be done.”
Cal Newport, Deep Work
Use the lazy button now and guarantee you’ll get more done tomorrow.
Lazy Productivity Hack #4: Stop Being Reactive
Don’t jump to every text, email, and IM notification you get.
Be lazy.
I used to make this mistake all the time. When you do things well, you quickly become the “go-to” for many different questions and problems. Couple that with a habit of people-pleasing…and suddenly, the pings seem to be endless.
Being reactive to the constant barrage of notifications, unfortunately, means you’ll be constantly focusing on someone else’s to-do list. Fielding distractions left and right, leaving you exhausted and behind on your own priorities.
Pause notifications and give people a chance to solve their own problems. People can be pretty resourceful on their own. Often, if you give it a few minutes or a couple of hours, people will find the answer to their own questions.
So, not only did the world not crash and burn from a little laziness, but, you may have saved yourself some future interruptions as people “learn how to fish” on their own.
Lazy Productivity Hack #5: Find Tasks to Delegate or Not Do at All
You’re to-do list is always going to be too long and the space on your calendar is always going to be limited.
Be lazy.
Stop trying to cram it all in. Cut your to-do list in half. Either ask for help completing what’s on it. Or, better yet, kick the low priorities to the curb.
Take those tasks that stick around month after month and never get done and move them to your to-don’t list. If you haven’t made time for them yet, they’re probably not urgent enough or not important enough.
You’re too lazy to be bothered with those anymore. Embrace the JOMO (Joy of Missing Out).
Lazy Productivity Hack #6: Take Breaks
Short breaks to stretch your legs. Long breaks to take a tropical vacation. Doesn’t matter. Take them.
Be lazy.
Skipping breaks, on the surface, may seem like a logical path to reach your goals faster. But all work and no play means you’ll eventually get less efficient, less focused, and a lot more resentful.
That is not the recipe for the fast track to success.
Giving yourself and your mind a moment to decompress, will make you more effective in the long run.
So go take that lazy coffee break.
Lazy Productivity Hack #7: Sleep More
Ah, the ultimate marathon of lazy. A good night’s rest.
Definitely be lazy for this one.
Getting more sleep isn't just about rest. Adequate sleep improves focus, memory, and problem-solving skills. All of this combines to make you a task-tackling champion.
A well-rested mind is more creative and adaptable. You’ll make better decisions and the increased energy levels from quality sleep reduce the likelihood you’ll be tempted to procrastinate.
So, get lazy, set a bedtime and commit to it. Sorry, Netflix, that bingeworthy show will have to wait. Time for bed!
Lazy Productivity Hack #8: Try a Digital Course
Is there something you really want to learn or get better at?
Be lazy.
Chances are you can find the information you’re looking for free on the internet. There’s access to unlimited information right at your fingertips! But you certainly don’t have unlimited time.
Not only is it time-consuming, but the DIY learning route can be downright confusing. You’ll probably stumble on plenty of the “what” you should be doing, but the challenge is in uncovering the “how” to apply it to your life and your situation.
Take the lazy route on this one and find a digital course that can provide a clear path to quickly guide you to the end goal you’re looking for. Saves you time and makes learning much easier.
Lazy Productivity Hack #9: Be a Quitter
Stop throwing more hours at tasks that don’t make sense anymore.
Be lazy.
If a task you expected to take 2 hours has already taken 4, is it still worth it? The task was worth it when you thought it would take 2 hours. But what if it takes another 4 hours and 4 more after that?
It might be time to accept the work as good enough and move on. (Done is better than perfect.) Or scrap it all together.
Quit. Be lazy. Don’t throw good time after bad projects.
Lazy Productivity Hack #10: Let “Tomorrow You” Handle It
Don’t create an overwhelming present in the pursuit of a non-overwhelming future.
Be lazy.
One of my go-to justifications for overworking used to be based on the belief that working overtime today meant I was taking care of “Tomorrow Me.”
I would watch the clock fly past 5 o’clock with a mountain of work I convinced myself had to be done. Instead of reprioritizing or accepting it just wasn’t going to happen today, I’d think “Tomorrow Me will be grateful I got this all done. If I do this now, she won’t have to work late.”
That all sounds good and nice. Very heroic.
The problem was… “Tomorrow Me” still worked overtime… She was still desperately trying to get ahead and crank through even more. There always seemed to be a “Tomorrow Me” to think about. I was forgetting to take care of “Today Me.”
Be lazy and keep commitments to yourself today to shut the laptop at a certain time. You’ll reduce your burnout and actually increase the efficiency and effectiveness of “Tomorrow You”. “Tomorrow You” will be far more productive than “Today You” could have ever been. Well rested. Not burnout. No fear of whether or not she’s getting enough done.
So the next time a colleague asks “How are you”...
How will you answer?
“Lazy”, I hope!
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About Me
Hi, I’m Kara. I’m a former workaholic turned time-management expert. I help women stressed out in their 9-5 get more done, in less time, so they can get back in the driver’s seat and start living a life they love.
