I’ve been hearing this song on the radio lately; it’s called “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars. As a Navy brat, this song makes my work ethic twitch painfully. How can I possibly listen to this song and think that it’s good for me?
“Today I don’t feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don’t feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone
‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything.”
We’re in the season of Late Summer now. In Chinese Medicine, Late Summer is the time of Earth. We need to slow down, to ripen to our potentials, and not be running so fast or so hard. When it’s this hot out, what do you feel like doing? Mowing the lawn? Building a house? Or something else? Nature says to kick back and let things be. Eat more peaches. Get in a nap in that hammock.
“I’m gonna kick my feet up then stare at the fan
Turn the TV on, throw my hand in my pants
Nobody’s gon’ tell me I can’t.”
So how does this affect our productivity? I mean, once we go lazy, we can’t come back, right? Once you choose to stop, or slow down, you are SURELY finished.
“A good way to boost productivity is to take short breaks throughout the day to re-focus and relax; a calm, relaxed mind will be more likely to be productive, while stress and too much information can prevent efficient thought processes. Taking vacations away from work for days or weeks at a time can also help improve relaxation and improve brain function.”
Wait, you’re saying this might actually be good for us? We can do MORE when we take breaks?
“Tomorrow I’ll wake up, do some P90X
Find a really nice girl, have some really nice ***
…..
Yeah, I might mess around
And get my college degree
I bet my old man will be so proud of me
But sorry pops, you’ll just have to wait.”
Even the Wall Street Journal is getting in on the act, claiming that time off isn’t an option, but required. According to one entrepreneur, Logan Hale, who runs a video editing business, “[I return] refreshed and with a clear strategy in mind for taking [my] company to the next level. I can get that mile-high perspective.”
So not only can having time off make you more productive, it helps you clear your head and see what you need to do in the future. Say, in the fall, when it seems like the whole country refocuses and gets back to work.
“Today I don’t feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don’t feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone
‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything.
Nothing at all.”
Lyrics by Bruno Mars
