How to Be Lazy and Still Get a Ton of Work Done

We live in a culture where being endlessly busy is pretty much the norm. So, with that in mind, how can you be lazy while still getting a ton of work done?

You do it by being STRATEGICALLY lazy. You do it making sure you take regular breaks throughout your day.

In this video, you'll learn about five strategies for getting the most out of those breaks.

My book "10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades" is completely free, so check it out if you're interested in improving your grades!

Companion article for this video:

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If you want to get even more strategies and tips on becoming a more productive, successful student, subscribe to my channel right here:

~ created by Thomas Frank

[casimiriii]

one of my favorite quotes: “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

[CanMetan]

My suggestion for intervals:
- *If you are learning something new*: Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes break.
- *If you are producing something without much learning*: 50 minutes of work 10 minutes break.
Either way, take a break for 15 minutes after a 2 hour work session. If I don't have anything else to do, I just do squats pull ups and stuff.

[Thomasfrank]

I'm honestly disappointed in myself for taking this long to work a Pokemon into the thumbnail

[LupusTheGamer]

I am so watching this video to procrastinate from studying for my finals

[coltonmccoy]

"Long breaks are between 30 minutes and an hour" For me a long break is 18 episodes of some show.

[samuel-cmfx]

How I am being lazy right now: Watching this video.
How I am getting a ton of work done right now: Watching this video.

[abdulazeez.]

I would listen to him for hours without being bored..
Amazing videos !

[jeffbronson]

Set up a Patreon or even just turn your ads on. We want to support you financially for what you've done for us.

[GauravDeo]

This is what my day looks like when i have no college.
6:00AM - Get up
6:15AM - Actually get out of bed
6:40AM - Go for a walk (depends on mood)
7:30AM - Come back & read some book or watch YT videos(sad that Casey quit vlogging)
8:30AM - Take a shower
9:00AM to 12:30 - Study ( with 5-10 mins break, usually checking my phone or playing a quick game, Forest is a great app bdw)
1:00PM - Have lunch
1:30PM - Watch some TV show
2:30PM - Afternoon nap (kind of)
4:00PM to 5:30 - Study (no break)
6:00PM- 8:00 - Study (small breaks)
8:30PM - Dinner
9:00PM to 11:00 - Watch TV show, YT videos, Read Quora, Read a book
11:30PM - Sleep Time (Finally)

[linguaphilly]

I like the 1 hour / 10 minutes ratio. The pomodoro technique is horrible, when you just start to get into the flow your time's up and then you get a break than feels way too short to take a breath and then you need to refocus all over again

[BBALLisLife]

When you are actually taking a break from finals and you are watching a video about breaks..

[FreedominThought]

Another good video Thomas! I like to practice a 45% rule when taking breaks. The traditional pomodoro scheme consists of 25 minute chunks of work with a 5 minute break after each one and a 30 minute break after every fourth one. That amounts to 45 minutes of break time to every 100 minutes of work. I really like Cal Newport's idea of building up focus like a muscle so recently I've been trying to bump up the length of my pomodoros and take 45% of that as a break after.

Also, I have to check out that "mind for numbers" book. I keep hearing a lot about it. Keep up the good work!

[RealGamerz]

High-Quality Work Produced = (Time Spent) x (Intensity of Focus)

Unlike computers, our brains need balance of work and rest.

So... Work with regular break intervals.

Benefits~ Allows you to work with intensity and longer throughout the day.

Two Types:
1) Tiny breaks~ 10-15 mins.
2) Long breaks~ 30 mins.

5 Tips:
1. Pre-plan your long breaks
- No ambiguity or guilt in your brain about when you should be working.
- Anticipation of pre-planned break creates time pressure that helps you work faster and more intensely.
2. Make your short breaks breathers
- Disengage from all work. Step away from your work area.
3. Don't distract yourself in your short break
- No social media or taking on another task because it makes it harder to switch back b/c of attentional residue.
4. Take a walk, stretch, get a snack, or talk to friends to get mental clarity.
5. Experiment with your work/break time intervals
- There is no best one. It's all down to personal preference and how much you can focus.
- You can work longer when you train your thinking muscles.
- Lots of set intervals out there: Pomodoro technique (25 min work, 5 min break), Beeminder Tock (45 min work, 15 mins break,
), DeskTime researched suggestion (52 min work, 17 min break).
- Can start with something like using pomodoro technique (25 min work, 5 min work) if amateur. Then, increase the time (ex. 1
hr work, 15 min break) you work in a given interval.

[maxcoseti]

taking breaks is not the same as being lazy, just saying

[kronusexodues]

it really helps to have a job you enjoy. When you really love your job, working and free time becomes the same. You know that feeling when you have to get kicked out of office because you don't want to stop working? When you are in the flow, you won't even want to be lazy.

[Demetrius]

Question - when I plan my day like you suggest I often get uncomfortable and a bit depressed, like I have no freedom of what to do with my time\life. How to get over it?

[izzyfouda]

I really love the way this guy talks. So many people who give advice are the preachy, holier-than-thou types but this guy seems to genuinely care about the effect this stuff is having

[symbioticcoherence]

45 minutes in and no dislikes so far. Seems like people agree; this is quality content.

[xFliox]

You take for granted English, me as a native Spanish speaker can fully conceive how gifted you are, this kind of quality of content is not available in Spanish, I'm so thankful for being part of the world that understands this amazing language

[MrJohnboyofsj]

I think this is actually good advice. I have done some of my best work taking lots of breaks.