The Hard Work of being Lazy

We live in a culture that hugely values activity and 'hard work'. But - paradoxically - the hardest work we can sometimes do is to stop rushing around and, for once, sit with our thoughts, analyse our feelings, take stock of where we are and understand ourselves better. From the outside, it might look as though we're being lazy. But we're in fact doing the hard work of processing our emotions, in a way that can be hugely helpful to our mental well-being and, in its way, remarkably difficult.

FURTHER READING

“At times, perhaps without quite knowing why, we slip into a resolutely ‘lazy’ mood. We’re simply not able to write anything new or can’t face setting up more meetings. We don’t want to clean the fridge or go out to befriend prospective clients. All we have an appetite for, it seems, is to loll on the sofa and maybe dip randomly into a book, wander down to the shops and buy a packet of biscuits or spend an hour or so soaking in the bath. We might, at an extreme, merely want to sit by the window and stare at the clouds. For a long time.”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Andrei Verioti

Title animation produced in collaboration with

Vale Productions

[huismands]

Procrastinators! Let's all unite!

But let's do it tomorrow...

[SteveV]

I quit the rat race and retired early a year ago at age 57. Now I spend most of my free time walking around in the forest observing nature. It's free therapy.

[teokun]

It's not only about being lazy
Its the inner voice that is shouting like an angry parent to you all the time : "You're not good enough, You will never achieve anything with this lifestyle". That inner judge is what really makes you more stressed and feel bad about yourself which in turn diminishes your motivation and worsens your mood -> making you even more lazy...

Edit : Thanks to all the positive comments ❤️, i wish for everyone to stay strong and hug yourself sometimes -> you need it :)

[keysmith]

When I was a child, my teacher told me laziness would lead me to homelessness. She was wrong! I live with my mom.

[harikishore]

Me: literally did nothing.
My brain: let's take a rest.

[docholiday]

When you find out that there's nothing you HAVE to do in this life, you then try to do nothing, but you can't. We're cursed by the restless striving within ourselves, we're as Pascal said "unable to sit quietly alone in our rooms". That's why the happiest are those content with the least. Whatever you get up to in this mortal realm, death will find you all the same. So chill out and indulge laziness or suffer apathy, and remember "Time enjoyed is not time wasted".

[BeastOrGod]

For some reason, when I don't take long breaks and be alone for a while, I feel like losing myself.
Not literally of course, but it's like I'm going autopilot or just becoming less aware of what I do and did.
When I do finally take long rest, I realize what I have done or why I've done things the way I did... Sometimes, I question who the hell I am in those times...

[maxlvl]

I’ve truly had some of the most profound and enlightening moments for myself just sitting deep in thought or taking a walk. I think in a world that makes us constantly feel so guilty about inactivity that we need to realise that constant activity is just as stifling to our progress.

[TheDaxter]

Thank you. I really needed to hear this. I've spent several months after finishing collge doing absolutely nothing. Not studying nor working.
Over more than a year ago I went through a breakup that led to a mental breakdown. So far I had spent my life guarded against my inner self and that was the breaking point. I went to therapy for 10 months; I struggled to finish my almost completed thesis dissertation; and recently I had to face the return of my ex asking for help with suicide tendencies he's been facing.
It has been so very difficult. The pressure I've built on me, alongside my parents and teachers, to "get going" to find a job and finish my thesis paperwork is enormous.
The videos on this channel constantly help to reassure me amidst the chaos. I'll get it together soon. It's been challenging to be kind to myself so far. I really needed to hear this. It's exactly what I've been trying to do; but I wasn't convinced on how to look at it in a positive way. Thank you.

[AfterschoolPsychology]

Video began with an ad saying "HARD WORK IS BULLSH*T". Perfect.

[YuyiLeal]

"Cult of activity" - so well put!... I for one have gotten out of that cult at least for a year now, and feel immensely freer...no need to be busy all the time, and life reveals itself from within, in much richer and way more interesting layers and hues.

[steijnvanb]

IMPORTANT, social media keeps you busy, so don't fall into the trap the you think you need to keep up everything online to the point it might cause excessive stress

[raefzn]

That's exactly what I tried to explain when I wrote a few days ago: "Those people calling me lazy just can't see the progress in my head and voice their own impatience to see a result." Thank you for giving my statement more expression. Peace

[clinicalminatology]

Scientifically speaking, neuroscience has proved that brain needs breaks of doing nothing, so the brain chemicals and neurotransmitters return back to its normal and resting state .

[brendadrew]

Brilliant once again and love the visuals! This semi-retired professional artist/composer quit the human rat race, commuting and working for corporate America since I was 19, decades ago. Raised three kids, lost one to coma and brain injury, helped raise her only child and daughter, ran two businesses and ended up partially blind in one eye with MS. Now, I sit back and enjoy my kids and grandkids, while living by the beautiful sea and nature. Was widowed four years ago after a 42 year marriage. Feel I deserve it big time! Thanks for sharing, spot on!

[sqoishicasette]

I've always had this thought, looked around at people and saw them all running not knowing where they actually want to go...
My friends, colleagues, relatives and even my ex partner are all so busy doing stuff but yet so little consciousness of their inner selves and minds...
It was one of the fundamental reasons I decided to break up, because he was too busy adding lines to his CV and his whole experience and yet had done little to no work whatsoever on his real self and his character. It felt like we were getting two different kinds of educations which didn't sit well with one another.
Being around such people always made me feel under accomplished because I was more contemplating and breaking down my thoughts, feelings and experiences rather than DOING something as they looked at it...
I always felt kinda sad for them and prayed that they never stop running because when they do and there is too much to process they will surely have a real hard time dealing with any of those.

I love this channel !....

[YashKMusic]

Procrastinators:

"What do we want?" - "Self-satisfaction through hard work!"

"When do we want it?" - "hmm maybe tomorrow..."

[petergorm]

I am in no way lazy. But I need time doing 'nothing', to recharge. And I detest being busy.

[theschooloflifetv]

What kind of thoughts are you keen to avoid by ensuring you are always busy? What revelations have you had by sometimes doing very little? Make sure you do not miss any of our future films by subscribing to our channel and turning on notifications.

[rea]

My best ideas always come when I'm chilling. And, well, that is the end of chilling 😀