Get lazy. It works wonders in your life.

Our lives are focused on being more productive, on moving to the next step, on walking faster, on speeding up, on squeezing more out of every minute, and on achieving an agenda envisioned by others. Millions are marching to the same beat every day, jostling others to get ahead. Repeat. And we don’t even have fun doing it because we are dead serious about it all.

It has also never been easier to live a life of aimless distraction. We bounce from one activity to another, intent on instant gratification. Distraction creates an unceasing monotone in the background of our daily lives, a dull drumbeat that keeps going on and on. Boredom, anyone?

Laziness in this context should not be confused with boredom. Boredom is when you feel like life is on the same repetitive loop. Boredom is when you don’t know what to do. Learning to be lazy is doing what adds value to your life. It is about learning how to maximize your time and energy in that direction. It is about exploring how to get there by working on the tools you have on hand.

Get lazy about saying yes to everything. Do you spend more time on virtual engagements because you feel obliged to? Do you feel forced to spend time on social or online diversions that seem to offer nothing but fleeting gratification? Learn to say no to them. Try, ‘Thank you but I’m not into that.’ Or ‘I’d love to, but I simply can’t make it.’ It may take some learning. You may hurt some and others may be put off. However, the more you say no to the things you don’t want, the more time you will have to do the things you love.

Maximize your time by getting very lazy about anger or other negativity. Why waste time on something so draining and destructive? Instead, channelize the energy you waste on negative emotions by doing things that will help you live the way you want to. All emotions can be observed, understood and managed. It won’t happen in a day, but now is a good time to start.

Get lazy about being in the company of people who diminish you and don’t hear your truth. People see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. They are welcome to their opinion but remember that you are not obliged to suffer it. Leave them where they are and move forward. You will be filled with positivity if you focus on your fulfillment and live your truth.

Get lazy about being judgmental. All of us are judgmental. We can’t help it. We do have the ability to work on this, though. The next time you find yourself judging someone or something, stop and observe that judgment. The ‘judge’ dissipates immediately.

Get lazy about collecting more. Look around you. Open your closets. Take a tour of your living space. Do you really need more than you have now? Instead, give. Give your time to others who may need someone to listen to them. Give your time to help someone in need. Give to your favorite charity. Give your time to volunteer. Give of yourself and life will always be abundant.

Finally, get very, very lazy about holding on. Don’t identify or define yourself based on something external. Stop clinging to it for dear life and making yourself miserable. Let go! Travel light. Nothing material is going to help you understand your true identity which lies within. Enhance your sense of freedom and happiness by discovering who you are.

“I don’t think necessity is the mother of invention. Invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly laziness, to save myself trouble.” – Agatha Christie

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