It’s Ok to Be Lazy – Here Are Five Compelling Reasons Why!

Why do we judge ourselves for having a lazy day? (Or maybe you’re one of the few lucky people that don’t?) Whatever camp you’re in – I have great news for you! There are several reasons why it’s ok to be lazy.

You can explore them all here.

Lazy time opens our minds to more creative outcomes.

Why do we constantly feel so pressured to think about this or that? Research tells us that our brains actually need time to relax into more expansive thinking.

According to Nesslabs.com, “Our mind has two modes of thinking: the diffuse mode and the focused mode of thinking. We need to maintain constant oscillation between the two modes in order to be our most creative and productive. Mind wandering, a form of diffuse thinking, is a useful mechanism for our brains to process information—sometimes leading to non-obvious solutions.”

So when you want to rest and are feeling lazy, try to let go of judgment. Allow your mind to relax, and see what creative ideas come in.

It’s ok to be lazy! Napping might even increase positivity and tolerance.

Do you secretly judge yourself for taking that afternoon nap? It’s time to let that go, too!

According to Deanna Ritchie of calendar.com, “There’s another advantage to letting your mind drift; it gives you the opportunity to reflect. While that’s an asset to your creativity and problem-solving, this allows you to become more self-aware. As a result, you’ll be able to increase your emotional intelligence.”

When slowing down long enough, you can become aware of your role in the situation, allowing you to make necessary changes in your reactions and behavior. (Who knew that being lazy would even help this?) So, you can begin to see a situation in a new light.

An idle mind allows us to dream about the future.

I wrote a story recently about the powerful impact of creating a vision book. A key step in this process is slowing down and allowing your mind to ponder how you’d like to feel in the future.

Dr. Michelle Bengston says, “An idle mind allows us to plan and contemplate the future. Here we dream about long-term goals and consider what new things the future might hold for us. Of course, it has to be followed up with effort, motivation, and initiative, but the process begins when we idly allow ourselves to dream.”

Discovering this has encouraged me to have “mind wandering time” more consciously. It makes sense to me. My mind can connect with higher goals, and I can begin to visualize and pull them toward me.

Lazy time can encourage you to enjoy life more.

The idea of a truly lazy Sunday may sound elusive. Thank about it. They are taking an entire day off without a to-do list or plans. Or, even one step further, imagine traveling without a schedule and allowing only your senses to guide you?

Chris Bailey at CNBC.com says, “A productivity mindset at home turns our personal lives into a running checklist, rather than something that should be enjoyed. We try to cram even more tasks into the day, thus eschewing slower (and healthier) activities that make us happy, such as taking a walk or reading a good book.”

We aren’t here only to cross items off a list. And our mental health is key.

This all reminds me of Abraham Hicks. A quote that comes to mind is, “You came forth to live happily ever after.”

So, let’s do that!

Are you feeling now like it’s ok to be lazy? Can you move toward embracing free time with more ease? We need to revamp our thoughts on this topic!

For more inspiration, see thoughts from Verse Three of the Tao Te Ching here.

What are some leisurely things you can do more? Let me know in the comments below.

And, please share with someone you know who could use more (guilt-free!) downtime and rest..