Do you ever feel like working harder doesn't always translate to achieving more?
Welcome to The Lazy Person's Guide to Success, where we debunk the myth that hustle is the only path to success. Instead, we explore how strategic laziness – working smarter, not harder – can boost your productivity, creativity and overall well-being.
• Master the art of prioritisation.
Not all tasks are created equal, some requiring more of your time and focus. Use the 80/20 rule (also called the Pareto Principle) to identify the 20% of efforts that yield 80% of results. By prioritizing high-impact activities and saying no to unnecessary tasks, you maximize productivity while minimizing effort. Strategic laziness is about eliminating what is unimportant, not slacking off.
Each person values certain tasks as important over others and it is up to you to decide which tasks are more valuable to you. If you have a subject you’re struggling in, I highly recommend putting your topics as a checklist and labelling them red, yellow and green, red being anything you don’t understand, yellow meaning you partially understand it and green being topics you're confident in. This is useful for any short-term exams you have coming up as you will save a massive amount of tim. This is due to you not only focusing on what you don’t know, but consolidating the topics you struggle with.
• Adopt minimalism for mental clarity.
A cluttered workspace or overloaded schedule can lead to burnout. Embracing minimalism – both physically and mentally – helps you focus. Declutter your to-do list, streamline your goals and simplify your routines. Meal prepping or capsule wardrobes, for instance, save energy for more significant decisions.
A useful piece of advice I received from someone was to do everything the night before because then you can do less in the morning. Having less is more than enough, just like how doing less is doing more.
• Use breaks to recharge.
"Lazy" doesn't have to mean avoiding work – it can be knowing when to rest. Studies show that short, intentional breaks enhance focus and creativity. The Pomodoro Technique, which alternates work and breaks, is the lazy genius's secret weapon. It ensures you recharge without losing momentum and is perfect for anyone who hates sitting at a desk for hours. Having a friend in the library where you can do this together is perfect. You get to socialise and still be able to get work done. I personally find it much more motivational knowing that at the end of a long session, you get to have a buddy to laugh with on your way home.
When you take breaks, your brain shifts to a different state which allows it to process new information and solve problems more effectively. This is probably why most students spot their mistakes after they finish an exam – people tend to have insights after stepping away from a task. Burnout is a the number one warning from Year 13s to Year 12s as sprinting at the beginning of a marathon will lead to pulling a muscle.
A-levels are a very important journey of self-reflection and concentration, one which requires you to prioritise your needs and focus more consciously on your self-development. Being in a competitive environment means that some people may try to get as much work as possible finished to feel "satisfied" with their workload. However, remember that you're in it for the long run. Don’t put all your weights on the donkey, as it will never make the journey.
• Delegate and outsource.
Why do everything yourself when others can help? Delegating tasks at school or outsourcing chores at home lightens the load, leaving you with more time for meaningful work – or relaxation.
Naturally, if you have a group project, being lazy and letting your partner do all the work isn’t following the lazy person's guide to success. A smart lazy person makes sure to equally split the work and make sure that all parties are working collaboratively. A smart lazy person knows that if they miss out on the work now, they will have to run an extra mile to catch up and end up with more work – I can assure you no lazy person wants that.
Having a support group is very important. How do you know if you have a support group? Well, having a group doesn’t mean that all your contacts need to know each other. You could have a teacher that you're very comfortable with and feel like they understand you. You might have a lunch buddy who you love laughing with or a classmate that helps you with homework. All these people in your life are your support group. They don't have to even know each other to support you.
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On that note, you don't need to restrict yourself to any specific friend group for one person. If your relationship with them is built on mutual care, then that person will be happy to hang out with you one-on-one. If you feel forced to be a part of a group you don’t resonate with, then you can choose to continue being part of that environment but you may risk giving up your full potential and the opportunity to meet people who understand you better. I would argue that leaving that group and possibly sacrificing that one relationship may be for the better. If you truly want to keep a close connection with that specific individual, then you could have a conversation. The topic? I’ll leave it up to you.
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Strategic laziness isn't about cutting corners; it's about optimizing your efforts for maximum impact. By embracing a range of cognitive tools like prioritization and minimalism you can smoothly avoid burnout and create a sustainable path to success. So, next time you're accused of being lazy, smile: you're just working smarter. And remember to take breaks – a flower can’t grow if it’s constantly in the sun!
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