There’s no better time to talk about laziness than on Labor Day.
COVID has forced many of us to re-examine our relationship with work.
It used to be that our jobs and livelihoods were intertwined.
We invested energy and sacrificed time for work because it brought that sense of stability and security.
COVID has revealed some harsh truths, chief of which – change is constant, and stability is an illusion.
Since then, I believe many of us have learned that other things matter more in life.
The Great Resignation saw many ditching work, not just for greener pastures but to seek better health, inner peace, care for their family and spend time with their children.
By all accounts, I’m grateful for my situation. I have a job that I enjoy and find myself working to fulfill a greater purpose.
I’m on a mission to spread a brand of mixed martial arts that encompasses discipline, empathy, respect and integrity to our shores.
Traveling often, I speak to sports commissions and try to lay the foundations for ONE’s eventual plan to stage live events on domestic soil in the US.
I’m employed in a capacity that allows me to productively utilize the skills and knowledge I’ve gained from over a decade of professional MMA.
There is no greater privilege than being able to love what you do. However, I recognize that it remains to many, a privilege.
Not everyone enters the workforce with a purpose, burning passion or desire.
People accept less than glamorous working conditions, substandard pay and long hours if it means putting food on the table, supporting a family or paying off bills and debts.
Taking a break
Taking a break is a luxury most can’t afford, not with inflation and gas prices as they are right now.
I don’t mean quiet quitting either, which has gone viral recently.
In 1965, a senate subcommittee published findings that suggested that by 2000, technological advances would have made possible a 14-hour work week.
Though comical, it does beg the question. Why are we still working so much?
And it underscores the immediate need to learn to take active mental breaks in your day. In fact, it’s more practical to fit them into your routines.
When was the last time you dedicated an hour to yourself?
I start off every morning with stretching, prayer and making my bed. These quiet moments give me the time to pause, reflect and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of life.
Just an hour each day, when compounded over the course of a year, might work wonders for your mood and mental health.
Set pointless goals
When I said I was going to talk about laziness, I meant to share how we can take advantage of it.
Laziness is a part of the human condition.
“Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.”
Robert A. Hienlein, Time Enough for Love
Many amazing inventions were borne out of a desire to take shortcuts and to find the path of least resistance.
Frank McNamara conceived the Diner’s card because he was too lazy to pay his restaurant bill with cash. That birthed the credit card.
Just think about the escalator or your TV remote control which grants modern conveniences that we don’t really need but have become accustomed to.
Every single time the word “goal” is mentioned on my blog, it carries a connotation of achievement and seriousness.
While goals ought to be aspirational and advance you in some way – intellectually or physically, I think there are times when we should set goals that break these rules.
Namely, pointless and aimless goals.
What are pointless goals?
On my blog, I frequently preach about productivity and wellness goals as a form of self-improvement.
I’m leaving some room for simple pointless goals that make me happy. Skydiving out in Eloy or spending time meeting our Navy at the shipyard.
Embark on personal adventures that challenge your spirit and remind you of the many wonders of our world and existence.
Some of these goals – like performing a successful handstand in 30 days or taking a photo of every street and intersection in your neighborhood – can be a journey of fulfillment.
It can seem silly to put effort into pursuing things that don’t matter. But setting a pointless goal and achieving can help counterbalance the relentless pressure of performing and achieving.
Benefit of pointless goals
Whether they are pointless or not, all goals serve to create stakes. There’s something to be accomplished, and most people like to finish things.
The hard part unfortunately is getting started. And that’s why pointless goals are great.
Since they involve pleasure or something you enjoy, there’s little inertia to overcome in the beginning.
You focus on enjoying the journey rather than obsessing about completing the goal.
And in stressful times, a little enjoyment goes a long way.