The benefits of laziness: why being a lazy person can be good for you

Laziness or Sloth is the disinclination to use energy and is seen as a negative trait in most cultures. Being lazy has also been associated with being a slacker, or a good-for-nothing person wasting time.

New scientific research tells a completely different story and lists out many advantages of being a couch potato. Being tactically lazy can actually be good for us.

"Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something".

Humans may be seeing laziness upside down, as it may not really be a sign of inefficiency or unproductivity, but a result of being able to work smartly and free up time to do nothing. Sitting lazily can also trigger further smart work.

1. Many smart solutions like the remote control, smart speakers, escalators and even the light switch are the work of lazy people.
2. Lazy people often actively procrastinate, and unlike the ‘passive’ procrastinators, they have better control over their work and time and perform well under pressure.
3. As lazy people see their energy as an expenditure that can be saved like time or money, they avoid unnecessary, low-output tasks, and prefer high-leverage tasks.
4. Lazy people are the pioneers of automating, delegating or eliminating monotonous and time-consuming tasks.

1. Slacking is good for our mental health, as being distracted and busy blocks our thoughts and feelings, leading to suppression of truth, and many mental ailments can arise from avoiding our real thoughts.
2. Resting and staying idle recharges our ‘energy stores’ just like a daytime nap refreshes us. Breaks are good for the body.

1. Many problems just need time to be auto-solved, and taking action may be detrimental to them. Lazy people often wait out and let the problem die on their own.
2. Being lazy may be an indication of a lack of motivation, lethargy, tiredness, hunger or a change that may be required on what we do with our lives.