All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
This article is part ofSELFs second annualRest Week,an editorial package dedicated to doing less.
Linda Merad
(And were taking our own advice: TheSELFstaff will be OOO during this time!)
One thing I donotcount among my myriad positive qualities: being a good worker.
Ive slacked off on the clock for as long as Ive made money.
Now my shirking techniques are more advanced, especially because I work remotely.
That paradigm barely leaves room for family or friendships, let alone the straight-uprelaxationthat makes life worth living.
But you dont have to live that way!
On my best days, I sure dont.
Read what they have to say below, preferably when youre supposed to be answering some emails.
Treat free time like a meeting you cant miss.
That said: Try not to jam-pack your designated chilling time with activities or super-complex plans.
It can be helpful to set a recurring relaxation timethat way, you know respite is coming.
She tells SELF that she designates Saturdays as work-free.
I need to have one day of the week where Im not doing homework or work, she says.
Maybe on Sunday I have to work a little bit longer, but thats fine.
Friends, family, and enjoying my life are definitely my priority.
For Grace, taking a day off feels like prioritizing her mental and social well-being, not failing.
I know I can do moreso some days, I can do less, Grace says.
Remember that your business card is not your ID.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing us that theres such a thing as a cool job.
Sure, some look glamorous and fun (maybe they even are!
), and workcanbe meaningful and enjoyable.
The pace thats happening at, Im totally at peace with.
Martinez says she appreciates her restaurant job because it lets pursue her passion for painting.
Instead, shes grateful to have the flexibility to travel with her art to shows across the country.
Stop going above and beyond.
Be selective in your efforts.
Brings me back to reality every time.)
Youll quickly discover just how flexible so many of the productivity expectations in your life actually are.
Embrace slacking as a force of good.
Ad hoc social activities lend themselves to improvisation, Liming says.
Improvisation is more about ceding control and recognizing where we can come together with others and collaborate.
We have to be able to practice that so that live in a civil society.
Thats right: Hanging out isintegral to the fabric of society.Can you say that about your OKRs?
That motivates me to withstand the message that Im not a good person because Im not a good worker.
We think everything is so important, Grace said.
Like, If I don’t do this, the worlds gonna end!
But, ultimately, things are way chiller than we think.
Get serious about getting a little less serious.
Let the transformative power of slacking off make you a happier person.
