Here’s the cold, bitter truth. In fact, my typing slowed as I started thinking about this.
I’m lazy.
Yes. I’m lazy. I don’t like doing…things. Anything that doesn’t involve an iPad, TV or sleeping. I just don’t like doing it.
No need to confirm with my Mom. (Although she did think it was funny to buy me a “Future Trophy Wife” pajama set.) I’m the youngest child. I’m spoiled. I was never expected to do a lot of chores. I just worked my butt off in school and…that was it.
The apartment my husband and I share is generally cluttered, even though I have all day to clean. I do my best. I take care of it as best as I can. But I put off anything that involves work.
Even my writing.
*sigh* Yes, I do delay writing out of laziness. In fact, I delayed this very blog. So. Much. Irony.
But is being lazy all bad? You may recall my post about how procrastination is a really great time management tool. (Yep, I did.) So how can laziness be seen as a positive?
1) Provides reorganization of thoughts: Taking the time to do nothing does what I call putting “perspective on the overwhelm”. Obviously, it helped me put together my thoughts of this very blog. It reminded me of the little things I should be focusing on and not all of the “busy-ness”.
Try it. Stop “doing.” Just for a minute.
Have you remembered something important on your to-do list? Notice you’ve had a muscle clenched or you were holding your breath?
Yeah, that freaks me out, too.
2) Brings out the proactive side of you: You’re a freelancer. An entrepreneur. A go-getter. Even I have a hard time being idle for very long. Taking a moment to be lazy reminds you of how proactive you have been (or need to be).
How has your business grown? What networking relationships have you fostered? What blogs or training do you need to catch up on?
3) Serves as a reward for working so hard: I’ve been doing a lot lately. Guest blogging. Working a new part-time job outside the home. Attempting to focus on the business side of social media rather than the personal side.
All while trying to maintain a small household, something I’ve never had to do on my own before (and for other people at that)!
4) May be a warning sign: Slow down and think about why you’re being lazy. Are you taking care of yourself – mentally, physically, emotionally? Being a freelancer or business owner means neglecting a lot of those important sides of your wellbeing.
Are you exhausted or not feeling well? Laziness can be a cue to something deeper you may need to take care of.
Notice how all of these tips didn’t encourage further laziness? (Man, I wish it did.)
But the truth is perpetual laziness is bad for you. Bad for your business. Just plain bad. It can’t get any worse than the worse three-letter word there is, now can it?
Despite my propensity to lie around and do nothing, moments of laziness (eventually) encourages some sort of action.
Self-employment: is it causing you to be lazy? Or are you a taskmaster, the dreaded other extreme? Talk to me in the comments below.
If you prefer being less burdened by tasks, so you can be a little lazy (for once!), consider working with me to relieve you of some of your writing and administrative assistant projects.
Image: susivinh
16 thoughts on “4 Reasons Lazy Isn’t (Always) A Four-Letter Word”
I love this post.
I’m currently back in Cubeville for the time being, but when I’m working from home, yeah—I’m lazy. It’s not because I don’t like doing what I do; I love it. It’s that I get to do things on my own time. And I’d often rather go for a walk in the sunshine or read a book than put myself on other people’s time.
But at the same time, it recharges my batteries so that when I do give my time others, I can do so using the better version of myself.
The idea of going out into the sunshine sounds great right now! But yes, “Cubeville” calls me as well. Except I’m actually doing nothing but walking around, so at least it’s a work out! 😀
Thanks as always for reading and commenting.
Great post, Willi. Whenever I get that ‘lazy’ feeling, I know it’s time to step back and take a day off. I’m rarely lazy so when I am, I can fully enjoy it.. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Savannah! That’s great you are rarely lazy. I’m learning now that the lazier I become, the greater the workload when I finally get around to it!
Great post, Willi. Whenever I get that ‘lazy’ feeling, I know it’s time to step back and take a day off. I’m rarely lazy so when I am, I can fully enjoy it.. 🙂
Ha! I love this. Who knew being lazy could actually lead to awesome things?
Like you, I tend to be a bit lazy too. I LOVE writing, but I generally put it off til the last minute. Still, it somehow works for me, so I can’t complain too much 🙂
Hey Jessica! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m actually being lazy right now with a blog. It’s going to get done, though!
It usually is my light bulb moment. I stop and realize how much I have been going through the motions. Being lazy helps me to focus on balance. This is when I get my best ideas 🙂
That’s awesome, thanks for commenting Mom!
It usually is my light bulb moment. I stop and realize how much I have been going through the motions. Being lazy helps me to focus on balance. This is when I get my best ideas 🙂
That’s awesome, thanks for commenting Mom!
As I read this I couldn’t help but wonder how you manag “laziness” with your client’s needs and time requirements? If I was considering hiring you I probably would think twice about it after reading this blog post. That being said, I think your business could bring a lot of value to your clients. I wish you successes!
Thanks for commenting! I always like to go against the grain when it comes to my blog posts, and show a bit of honesty, which I hope clients appreciate.
Also, if you’ll note I did say “Notice how all of these tips didn’t encourage further laziness? (Man, I wish it did.) But the truth is perpetual laziness is bad for you. Bad for your business. Just plain bad. It can’t get any worse than the worse three-letter word there is, now can it?”
Maybe I should highlight that, since my clients know I meet deadlines and try to exceed their expectations. Thanks! Great suggestion.
Comments are closed.