Thank God it was Saturday!
Jodie lay in bed, thinking, I don’t have to do anything today. I can just stay in bed and be lazy.
As soon as Jodie registered the word “lazy”, her eyes sprung open, and she did not want to stay in bed any longer.
The word lazy had always been a trigger word for Jodie as her mother had constantly told her throughout her teen years that she was lazy.
Jodie still remembered her mother’s remarks:- “Stop being lazy and go clean up your room” or “You could achieve better marks if you weren’t so lazy” and her personal favorite, “You won’t achieve anything in your life because you are lazy.”
Each time Jodie’s apartment was untidy or she wasn’t achieving her goals or not moving up the corporate ladder at work, Jodie felt pressured to do more, to not rest as she believed that doing so was her living the story of “I am lazy.”
Many people erroneously assume that they should be going and living life at full throttle and criticize themselves when they need to rest or relax, believing that doing so is a sign of laziness.
Further, we live in a society obsessed with productivity and the “hustle culture”—a culture which never sees us switching off and squeezing every moment out of our day.
This has resulted in increased level of chronic stress, exhaustion, and burnout as we neglect listening to our minds and bodies and don’t relax or take time out.
We need to reframe how we think about rest and take a step back to care for our physical and mental health. To practice self-care without feeling guilty or shame.
So, this week’s challenge is to make time to recharge. To allow your brain and body to rest and to take a break. To make a conscious decision to relax, to release stress and negativity, and calm your mind.
If you tend to overthink how you will relax, make a list of things you would like to do to relax. You could include things like reading a book, taking a bath or going for a walk.
Start to rethink laziness.
Far from being a flaw, being “lazy” can be extremely beneficial to your health and leads to a healthier and more relaxed life.
Consider this blog your invitation to be lazy. Let go of the guilt and start scheduling rest and relaxation into your life.
Keep creating,
Deborah Ruth
