Things That Sound Lazy But Are Actually Just Smart

What if being called lazy was sometimes a compliment? Many definitions of lazy would probably include someone who takes the easy way out of a task, or someone who looks for shortcuts. But I’d argue that often, these people are making smart decisions—they’ve figured out a way to accomplish their goal with less effort. Isn’t that the very definition of efficiency?

Of course there are all sorts of ways that laziness can go wrong. If your definition of getting something done is simply not messing up too badly, or if your “shortcuts” result in someone else picking up the slack, that’s a different story. But in this article I want to celebrate some of the clever ways that so-called lazy people have found ways to do more with less.

All you need to add to this lazy spirit is a little ambition, and you’ve got a recipe for a pretty great life. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Avoiding things you don’t feel like doing

If I don’t feel like doing something, I often put it off until the very end. In many cases I find I don’t need to do that thing at all. The only risk of this approach is that you might be letting someone down who is depending on you. Be sure to communicate what you’re doing and why, as some people may not share your same sense of priorities, and it’s important to keep them happy.

Not filling every moment with productivity

Are you the kind of person that needs to be doing something almost every waking hour of the day in order to feel good about yourself? Has it ever crossed your mind that you might be getting less done than others? I’ve been shifting my approach from one of non-stop hustle, to a more laid back approach. The result has been that I do less in the margins, but when it comes time to focus on a key task, I feel more energized and I dive into it with a stronger sense of priority.

Letting your phone calls go to voicemail

If my phone rings and I’m not in the mood for a conversation, I often just let it go to voicemail and call back later at a time that feels more convenient for me. Not only am I in a better mood when I make the call, but I’m able to plan around it, instead of feeling like I’m at the whim of my phone. My efficiency is higher and I end up talking longer. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!

Skipping all types of prep work

I used to think I had to do all sorts of things to get ready to do the real work. For example, I’d spend a lot of time planning what I was going to write, and even more time outlining it before I even typed a single word. I came to realize that for me, this was mostly just procrastination. I wasn’t in the mood to start writing, so I convinced myself I was being productive another way. Now I just jump right into my tasks with minimal planning, and make changes on the fly. This has been a huge boost in my productivity.

Lowering your standards on small things

Like many people, I enjoy having a clean vehicle to drive. But it turns out, car washes aren’t cheap. I love the idea of hustling and grinding to save money, so I used to wash my car by hand. In fact, I didn’t have a driveway, so it meant driving to a pay-by-the-minute spot and washing it there. Eventually, it dawned on me that for the time and money spent, it was hardly worth it. I didn’t need my car to be sparkly clean, I just didn’t want it to be gross inside or visibly dirty outside. By lowering my standards a little, I was able to make better use of my time and money by simply using a quick pay-by-the-minute self-serve car wash every once in a while.

Being honest that you’re not interested

My last bit of advice might be my laziest sounding one of all. Whenever someone is talking to me about something I don’t care about, instead of faking interest, I just change the subject to a topic I’m more excited about. On one level this is kind of rude, but I think it’s way better than pretending to be interested in something you’re not, and just letting the conversation fizzle out. It saves time for both parties and delivers a stronger signal on what you care about—both of which are good things in my eyes.

Living on the edge of procrastination

I’ve often suspected that one of the keys to my modest success in life is that I’ve always been a procrastinator. I’m rarely early, but usually just on time, or even a little late, when it comes to delivering things I’ve promised. This has led to countless sleepless nights throughout both my college years and my professional career. But looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have very few regrets about the trade-offs I chose to make. I always prioritized my sleep and social life above everything else. This meant I spent no more time than necessary working, which in turn meant that I spent more time on the things I wanted to do, and less on the things I had to do.

Taking the easy way out

Growing up, I tried hard in school and worked hard at my various jobs, but I never went the extra mile. I had no desire to be better than average, or to stand out in any meaningful way. I simply wanted to do the minimum to stay out of trouble, and avoid unnecessary effort. While some might consider this a lazy approach, it actually gave me a lot of freedom. I had more time to invest in relationships and in projects I was really passionate about. But another benefit is that I became really good at figuring out what needed to be done, and what was just wasted effort. That’s a skill that has made my life a lot easier and more laid back than it otherwise would have been.