We’ve all been there. Days when you have no motivation and want to spend the whole day endlessly scrolling through TikTok or in my case binge watching Netflix’s latest show in one sitting. But with deadlines due and laundry piles building up some days you just can’t afford to take another lazy day. So, here’s my top tips for being productive from a certified lazy person:
- JUST GET OUT OF BED!!!
The first step is always the hardest they say so when you hit the snooze button, you’re killing productivity. Hitting the snooze button not only is ruining your brain in the long term by putting your brain into a state of sleep inertia, but it also directly kills your productivity for the next four hours as it starts a new sleep cycle.
One method I find helpful to combat this is Mel Robbin’s five second method rule which effectively means if you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds, or your brain will kill it. Mel Robbins also puts it bluntly when she says we’ve taught ourselves to wait ‘until we feel like it’ but as she explains, WE NEVER FEEL LIKE IT!!
2. Pick a work environment
Following on from getting out of bed its all about choosing an environment to work in which you know you can be productive. Emma Chamberlain explains in her recent podcast episode Good Habits that working in bed is a bad habit as she feels these waves of guilts that she’s been unproductive even if she has as working in her bed makes her feel as if she hasn’t left her bed all day. My go to has to be the library seeing other people being productive just seems to rub off on me or at least makes me feel somewhat productive. Or if going to the library feels like too much of a chore choose a coffee shop you’ve always wanted to try.
3. Get those 8 hours trust me.
Now time to demystify the age-old rumour that if you don’t get up at 5 am you are automatically not productive. Lies, lies, lies. Although getting up at 5 am seems to work for Richard Branson and Anna Wintour, it does not mean it will work for you. If you’ve been out the night before its unhealthy to get up at 2 hours later just to be productive. For me it’s all about getting those 8 hours of sleep.
4. Capitalise on your most productive time
Understanding and figuring out when your body and mind is most productive will help you get out of the rut of being lazy. Our bodies are all different so getting up early and working then won’t necessarily work for the next person. Then to maximise this – prioritise your to do list in importance and save the most important tasks for your most productive time.
5. Positive Thinking
To put it simply if you think you’re a lazy unproductive person you will be. Noticing this nasty cycle of self-actualising manifestation brings you one step closer to becoming a more productive person. So, I challenge you to embody the mindset of a productive person and I promise you you’ll be going through your to do lists in rapid speed.
6. Pomodoro method/ use timers to structure your day
If this wasn’t a lazy person’s guide to productivity, I would whip out the fancy technical term Pomodoro method. I’m not going to lie if you went through a study tuber phase – shoutout any other Unjaded Jade and Ruby Granger fans – you’re probably already familiar with this technique. It effectively means setting timers of 20-minute intervals to see how much you achieve during this time.
7. Avoid Distractions
You’ve heard it before and you’re going to hear it again – avoid distractions. Let me guess the first one which comes to mind is social media. Yes, get rid of it. Put screentime timers on it or go one step further and delete the apps whilst you try to work. Or my personal favourite is to hide the app off your home screen.
8. Reward Yourself
Treat yo self, it’s hard to be productive especially as a lazy person. So yes, go buy that top when you finish your assessment, or another one of my favourite tips for being productive as a lazy person is to get that Pret subscription. First thing first it gets you out of your house everyday but also for some bizarre reason Pret’s are always located near a library. Then every day you get to treat yourself or maybe even five times a day – for sadly £25 now not £20.
9. Make tasks fun!!
Who said medieval literature couldn’t be fun. Find someway to make every mundane task exciting whether that be listening to a podcast whilst you work or switching up between the tasks you find interesting and boring.
10. Facts Nobody’s Perfect
Just remember you’re not perfect and nobody is. We all have lazy days. And it’s okay to ask for help if you’re struggling.
11. You’ve heard it before but to do lists
To sound like every other self-help guide you’ve read before – To do lists. There truly is only one word to describe them – lifesaving. They just help you organise your thoughts and have some sort of plan of action. And nothing beats the feeling of crossing something off that list.
12. DON’T STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Easier said than done. But if you’re going to spend the whole day procrastinating sometimes its best to just take a day off and start again tomorrow. Or if you truly can’t afford to spend the whole day lazing take a nap and hopefully that’ll let your mind, think straight again. Finally, in true lazy person style, do those easy tasks whilst watching tv if that’s the only way you can get through them.