The Joy of Strategic Laziness

Why Dropping Your Resolutions Might Be Your Best Move.

The statistics are in: most New Year’s resolutions have already fallen by the wayside or will do so by next week. And I’m here to tell you that’s not just okay – it might be exactly what you need.

Why? Because resolutions often stem from external pressures and “shoulds” rather than genuine personal motivation. We pile on ambitious goals simply because January demands it, creating a recipe for frustration and disappointment. But what if your apparent “laziness” is actually your internal wisdom speaking?

Consider this: humans are naturally efficiency-seeking creatures. What we label as laziness often reflects our brain’s intuitive drive to conserve energy and focus on what truly matters. When we fight against this natural tendency, we waste precious mental and emotional resources on goals that may not align with our authentic desires.

The problem isn’t your reluctance to wake up at 5 AM for that workout program you hate. The problem is forcing yourself to follow someone else’s blueprint for success. True motivation emerges when we align our actions with our genuine interests and values.

Take Sarah, a client who beat herself up for years about not maintaining a rigid morning routine. When she finally gave herself permission to “be lazy,” something unexpected happened. She stopped forcing herself to be a morning person and discovered she did her best work in the evening. Her productivity soared once she worked with her natural rhythms instead of against them.

By embracing your so-called laziness, you might initially find yourself doing less. That’s normal. Think of it as a detox period from the constant pressure to optimize every moment of your life. As you shed the weight of external expectations, you create space to discover what genuinely energizes you.

The magic happens when you start distinguishing between activities that drain you and those that light you up. That’s when authentic motivation emerges – not from shoulds, but from genuine desire.

Ready to harness the power of strategic laziness? Here are five action steps to get started:

1. Conduct a “Should Audit”: List all your current goals and obligations. For each item, ask: “Would I do this if no one else cared?” Delete or delegate anything that doesn’t align with your authentic desires.

2. Embrace Strategic Procrastination: Before tackling a task, wait 24 hours. Often, the urgency fades, revealing whether it truly matters. Sometimes, problems solve themselves when we don’t rush to fix them.

3. Design Your Minimum Viable Day: Instead of an overwhelming to-do list, identify the 2-3 activities that truly move the needle in your life. Focus your energy there and let the rest go.

4. Schedule “Lazy Time”: Block out periods for intentional idleness. Use this time to daydream, nap, or simply exist without purpose. Watch how your creativity and clarity improve.

5. Follow Your Energy: Track when you naturally feel most productive and motivated. Build your schedule around these peaks instead of forcing yourself into someone else’s ideal routine.

Remember, the goal isn’t to become permanently inactive. It’s about releasing the guilt around rest and recognizing that your natural inclinations often point toward what’s truly important in your life.

When you stop fighting your lazy tendencies and start working with them, you’ll likely find yourself more productive in the areas that genuinely matter to you. The key is distinguishing between mindless procrastination and your inner wisdom telling you to redirect your energy.

So this year, instead of battling your nature, try embracing it. Your laziness might just be the compass pointing you toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.