Spoiler alert: Less really is more.
“Working on the right thing is more important than working hard” is one of my favorite sayings as a life coach.
We’re all familiar with the 80/20 rule, right? Italian Economist Vilfredo Pareto discovered this phenomenon in Italy in the 19th century: He found that roughly 80 percent of consequences come from 20 percent of causes.
Think about it this way: Only a small percentage of effort has an outsized effect, so investing in that 20 percent that drives most of the results is probably worthwhile.
As a former sales director for a Fortune 500 company, I can guarantee that 20 percent of my clients generated 80 percent of my booked revenue. When I was a bright and bushy-tailed beginner, I ran raggedly, pounding the pavement in countless directions. But with time and experience, I became increasingly selective about where to invest my most precious resource: my energy. But this doesn’t just apply to work: Think about it when you’re planning a party — if you put in 100 percent of your energy to make it absolutely perfect, will that guarantee everything goes right or is even noticed? No, probably only a small percentage of the bells and whistles — the amazing apps! the impeccable playlist! — will be commented on by impressed guests, and if you’re lucky, a decent chunk will go as planned.
The takeaway would be to do only what moves the needle because focused work pays off in obvious ways. But why do we rarely, if ever, think of applying it to our achievements?
Laziness is considered unacceptable, if not downright offensive, in a society that’s conditioned to go, go, go, go. We are rewarded for overwork, so much so that according to the Society for Human Resource Management, 44 percent of U.S. employees feel burned out at work. That’s almost half of us.
Kate Northrup, bestselling author of Do Less, says, “Most people don’t realize that we’re staying busy not because everything we’re doing is important, but because busyness is an addictive strategy to avoid being with ourselves and feeling our feelings. The great news about this, though, is that the more we practice tolerating spaciousness and being with what comes up in the stillness, the clearer we can get on the things that move the needle and the things we can stop doing altogether.”
Here’s how I weaponize laziness to achieve more:
Scratch whatever has no pay-off (be honest)
Is the task you’re working on right this moment genuinely important, or are you just filling time until 5 p.m.? I use this test: Is what I’m doing producing a result (a podcast episode recorded, a lasagna baked, a completed presentation ready to be delivered), or is it just busy work to fill the expected hours? If you’re just passing the time, take a nap instead — it’ll fuel the 20% of your efforts that truly matter.
Or spend that time on something fulfilling instead, like actions done purely out of love or joy, like playing with your kids, learning calligraphy, or taking a long walk in nature. Passion-fueled activities energize you and enrich your life experience in ways that pay off profoundly.
Ask for help
If I need help landing on a creative idea or support with a recipe I’m trying, I’ll ask my bright copywriting friends to riff with me over a quick audio note, or I’ll text 1 to 2 friends who love to cook. Many of us feel we must “go it alone” or do endless research to rely purely on ourselves. We don’t! Tap into the people in your life for support. If this makes you feel needy or like you’re skipping some steps, flip it for a second. Ask yourself, how would I feel if someone I cared about came to me for a little help? You’d probably be glad they did, or even flattered, right?
Fierce independence not only makes your life harder, but it also robs us of the bonding that takes place when we seek support.
Don’t do it if someone else can
As Dan Martell says in his bestselling book Buy Back Your Time, “The only way to successfully buy back your time is to value your time more than you value your money.” Can you delegate more to focus your limited energy where it truly matters?
As soon as I was able to, I hired a housekeeper. I happily gave up a couple of meals out a week for this. Hours saved keeping my home in order not only gave me weekend mornings back but the spaciousness to be creative and simply have more alone time to think and dream. This time is invaluable.
Let tasks solve themselves
Are you too eager to dive in and fix things when you could instead let the situation clear up without you? Oftentimes, challenges resolve on their own or shift in priority if you step back. By resisting the urge to react immediately, you create space for natural solutions to emerge – and free yourself to focus on what truly requires your attention.
Drop the ball once in a while! Sometimes, a non-urgent question in your inbox will answer itself in a few hours. Maybe someone else on your team can pick up the slack on a project when it was your responsibility last time. Martell says, “Not everything needs your energy. Success is about knowing when to step in and when to step away.”
Nothing in nature operates non-stop, and neither should you. Rest is not only necessary, it’s productive. Even Olympic athletes schedule rest so that their training can take effect. When you allow yourself space to relax and recharge, you’re being strategic. You make better decisions, foster creativity, and perform at a higher level. Moreover, you also like your life more!
Here’s the thing: Our energy is like a bank account. Every action is a withdrawal, and without deposits, you risk going broke. Strategic rest isn’t slacking, it’s investing. By practicing intentional laziness, you can channel your energy to the right investments for you. So in 2025, perhaps it’s less hustle and more honing. Be precise about what gets your energy.
If you weaponize a little more laziness, watch how a well-placed 20 percent effort delivers returns that outpace a scattered 100 percent.
Susie Moore is a British life coach, author, and host of the top-rated podcast Let It Be Easy. She’s a sought-after expert for media outlets and has been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Business Insider, Oprah, The Wall Street Journal, and more. Sign up for her 6 journal prompts to Coach Yourself to Success in 6 Days.
