By Klaus Döring
We always feel guilty about taking one, but a lazy day can actually work wonders for our mental health and make us more productive in the long run. According to experts, having at least one lazy day per week can help reduce stress, high blood pressure and improve our well-being.
So, what exactly is a lazy day? This essentially means to not do anything that is on your to-do-list, not checking work related emails, not responding to work calls, being in your pajamas all day, taking a nap, doing things that you really like – gardening, watching your favorite movie or show, some art and craft activity, eating good food without worrying about calories and enjoying all the simple pleasures of life.
Having a lazy day gives your brain a break and your body a chance to recover. It also reduces stress which could help you be more productive in your non-lazy days. It is also an easy way to prevent burnout and being susceptible to chronic diseases.
“If you don’t pick a day to relax, your body will pick it for you. You know it’s true. If you admit it to yourself. Relaxing really is a precursor to being more productive.
I am on my veranda as I write this, and although the month of February 2024 has just begun, only a few people seem to be in the summer mood. Yes, also today the sky is cloudy and looks like rain.
Hurray, doing nothing is really something. No, I am not talking about those people, who just hang out day-by-day and week-by-week by doing nothing and – maybe – just fed by someone. No, I mean doing nothing is really something great after a period of really hard work. By the way, it doesn’t matter, if it regards us or our children.
Of course, time off should be really time off. Days by the beach – with family or alone. Let’s stay outside and do absolutely nothing structured. I love to do drawings, write-ups (that’s not work for me!) or reading. There are still books in my library, which need to be ‘discovered’.
I still remember several lazy summer days, sitting in the blazing sun (shouldn’t be done anymore of course!), eating a Popsicle, getting all sticky, and running away from the bees. Of course, while still in Germany, those old lazy summer days turned into lazy winter days too. Lazy days shaped and characterized my whole (especially professional) life until now.
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