• In Time Resources and Laziness in Animals, Professor Joan Herbers explains that because they have more free time, highly efficient predators may appear to be lazier than relatively unproductive predators.
• Rather than a sign of inefficiency and unproductivity, laziness can be the result of smart work freeing up time for well-deserved idleness. Furthermore, it can be the trigger for smart work in and of itself.
• Laziness has been the source of many innovations. Frank Gilbreth Sr. famously said: “I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.
• Slacking off can be a form of active procrastination. Active procrastinators are a “positive” type of procrastinator. They prefer to work under pressure, and they make deliberate decisions to procrastinate.
• Lazy people focus on high-leverage activities. They carefully manage their energy expenditure, people who are prone to laziness will tend to avoid unnecessary tasks.
• Unproductive time helps us manage our stress. Research suggests that procrastinating away from work and spending unproductive time can help us cope with stress. It is particularly true of teenagers.
• Being lazy makes you less prone to burnout. By taking regular breaks, lazy people will give an opportunity to their body and their mind to recharge, thus avoid burnout.
• Lazy time encourages diffuse thinking. For those who unaware of this term, diffuse thinking is casual mind wandering when you are not restricting your thoughts. Exactly the opposite of focused thinking. We need to maintain constant oscillation between the two modes in order to be our most creative and productive.
• Laziness can be good for our mental health. Keeping busy can be a very effective defense mechanism for warding off disturbing thoughts and feelings.
• Being lazy is a way to recharge our energy stores. There is extensive research showing the benefits of taking daytime naps and regular breaks, from lowering your blood pressure to clearing your mind.
• Problems can solve themselves if you leave them alone for long enough. Either because someone who needs a solution more badly than you do will take care of it, or because the problem becomes obsolete.
• Laziness can be a helpful symptom. When we feel lazy, our body and our mind are communicating important information. Acknowledging the feeling of laziness can be a great way to better approach the task at hand.