Lazy Day? Don’t Worry, It’s Good for You
Today was not one of my more productive days.
I slept in, did not study much, and spent hours doing notable.
Am I going to punch myself for it? No. Can you punch yourself for it? That’s another no.
Here is why lazy days are not horrible and can be more beneficial than you think.
You Can Give Your Mind a Rest (And Boost)
A solid lazy day permits that brain of yours to take a nap. A much-needed one, at that.
And here’s some medical evidence from Cleveland Clinic to back that up.
“Some regions of the brain get more active when you aren’t focused on processing information. The best known of those brain areas is the default mode network (DMN).”
When your brain is on a default mode network (which suspiciously like a Wi-Fi setting) it can enhance memory and creativity. All from doing nothing!
But there are some activities that you should and should not do to activate DMN:
Don’ts
- Scrolling TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube
- Watching action-packed movies or TV
- Playing video games that raise stress levels (any game, as long as it will not make you toss your setup across the room.)
Do’s
- Meditating in a quiet space
- Taking a nap (bonus points if it’s a cozy room.)
- Chatting with a friend or someone from your family
It Takes You Away From the Hustle and Grind Mindset
While maintaining a productive mindset is paramount to success in any endeavor, keeping it on 25/8 is not.
If you want to enjoy a comfortable day, refrain from working all day.
Working on your off days throws off your work ethic.
Your mind and body are on vacation. Don’t make them call off.
Take this lazy day to put that mindset in your brain’s deepest closets and pull it back out when it is time to get your hands dirty again.
In fact, Greater Good Magazine has something to say on this.
“The inability to detach from work comes with symptoms of burnout which of course impact well-being and productivity.”
You may say, “What if I still want to get extra overtime, Frank? A little burnout won’t kill me.”
Well, I have something from the same article, one sentence after.
“However, disengaging from work when you are not at work makes us more resilient in the face of stress and more productive and engaged at work.”
Who would have known that getting away from work helps you get more work done?
In short, less is more. Go ahead and take a day off.
More Time to Reflect on Your Progress
“Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company, and reflection must finish him.” — John Locke.
Even hundreds of years later, his quote still holds its weight in platinum.
Without giving yourself the time to reflect, how else will you know if you have been giving life your best or letting it go by the dumps?
Give yourself some time to think. How have you been performing at work or school? Have you been functioning at your best?
No matter how much you reflect on a facet of your life, there is more to discover.
Oh No, Your Stress is Melting Away!
Stress is the boogeyman that attempts to scare you with its empty threats. The mirage that only exists if you believe in it.
What better way to evaporate this silly monster than to allow yourself every reason not to be stressed?
You do not have any work, chores, or other responsibilities.
That little stress fellow will try to break in, but your mind is too relaxed to notice.
If you want to keep stress from your mind palace, start building those towers of your favorite comedies and playlists.
Conclusion
Lazy days are beneficial. But why?
Having a lazy day allows your mind and body to rest. It boosts your creativity and memory. It helps you shift away from the hustle-and-grind mindset. It also significantly reduces your stress.
Go ahead, kick back that recliner, and grab some low-calorie popcorn.
Before you go, leave a few claps by the door and a reply in the proverbial mailbox. I wish you a quality lazy day!
Sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/job.1924
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_you_should_take_more_time_off_from_work
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_locke_163894?src=t_reflection
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-downtime-is-essential-for-brain-health