As someone who has, for pretty much the last 5–6 years of his life, done some form of training, exercise, or work almost every day, I feel pretty qualified to answer this question.
And the answer is a resounding… UNPRODUCTIVE.
No, maybe that’s not quite right. The truth is that lazy days make me feel like a failure. I feel demotivated, useless, guilty, restless, even lonely.
That’s probably not the healthiest mindset. Lazy days are important. It just depends on the kind of lazy day you’re having and who you spend it with. Some kinds feel rejuvenating; others, suffocating.
For instance, a day spent entirely at home doing nothing, watching TV, eating, sleeping may sound ideal to some, but for me it’s horrendous. It doesn’t recharge me; it drains me. But a day off spent with friends, watching a movie, going out to eat, or just talking, it feels better. There’s still that voice in the back of my head saying “you need to work harder,” but it’s quieter.
Maybe it’s the environment I’ve grown up in, but rest has always had a bad reputation. Still, when done right, lazing has huge benefits. Muscles grow during rest. Minds make sense of information only after slowing down. Even big decisions often become clearer after you “sleep on it.”
So maybe the next time I take a lazy day, I’ll try to remind myself that it’s not failure: it’s fuel.
That is if I take a lazy day.
blog 