--- title: Slacker’s Guide to Productivity: 6 Ways to Goof Off and Get More Done description: I’ve posted about how people at the top of their field are relentlessly productive. But you can’t sprint for miles. There’s plenty of research showing... canonical: https://time.com/87784/slackers-productivity/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-05T14:21:53.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:02.473Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Slacker’s Guide to Productivity: 6 Ways to Goof Off and Get More Done og:description: I’ve posted about how people at the top of their field are relentlessly productive. But you can’t sprint for miles. There’s plenty of research showing... og:url: https://time.com/87784/slackers-productivity/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Slacker’s Guide to Productivity: 6 Ways to Goof Off and Get More Done twitter:description: I’ve posted about how people at the top of their field are relentlessly productive. But you can’t sprint for miles. There’s plenty of research showing... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Slacker’s Guide to Productivity: 6 Ways to Goof Off and Get More Done by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker May 5, 2014 2:21 PM UTC by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker May 5, 2014 2:21 PM UTC I’ve posted about how people at the top of their field are [relentlessly productive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/genius-work-habits/). But you can’t sprint for miles. **There’s plenty of research showing that being a touch lazy might be beneficial at times.** **Here are six research-backed ways to get more done in less time by taking it easy.** ## 1) Work Less **Working too hard for too long makes you less productive.** Yes, pulling 60-hour weeks is impressive. But pull them for more than 2 months and you accomplish less than if you had only been working 40-hour weeks. Via [Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMKOO6S/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BMKOO6S&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): (The best system for time management is [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/time-management-skills/).) ## 2) Go Home **If you’re doing creative work, research says you’ll be more productive at home** [**than in the office**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/where-is-the-best-place-to-get-creative-work/)**:** (More on what boosts creativity [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/creative-thinking-exercises/).) ## 3) Take A Nap **Naps rejuvenate you and increase learning.** Some of the most successful people of all time were dedicated nappers. Via Daniel Coyle’s [The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034553025X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=034553025X&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): What you can learn about good sleep from astronauts is [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/sleep-astronauts/). ## 4) Procrastinate **Yes, that’s right,** [**procrastination can be a** **_good_** **thing**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/procrastination-productive/)**.** Dr. John Perry, author of [The Art of Procrastination](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761171673/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761171673&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), explains a good method for leveraging your laziness: A similar tip is described by Piers Steel, author of [The Procrastination Equation](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CDTQ1O/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005CDTQ1O&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): Dr. Steel says it’s based on sound principles of behavioral psychology: (Here’s more on “[positive procrastination](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/chronic-procrastination/).”) ## 5) Go On Vacation **For up to a month after a vacation you’re** [**more productive at work**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/07/how-long-do-you-benefit-from-a-vacation-what/)**:** (Here’s how to [improve your vacations](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/are-there-easy-ways-to-improve-your-next-vaca/).) ## 6) Hang Out With Friends Easily distracted? **Having friends around can make you more productive, even if they’re not helping you.** Via [Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307946959/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307946959&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [Productivity Ninja: 5 Powerful Tips For Getting More Stuff Done](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/productivity-ninja/) [Stay Focused: 5 Ways To Increase Your Attention Span](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/stay-focused/) [Work Smarter Not Harder: 17 Great Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/work-smarter-not-harder/) _This piece originally appeared on_[_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/87784/slackers-productivity/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/87784/slackers-productivity/"},"headline":"Slacker’s Guide to Productivity: 6 Ways to Goof Off and Get More Done","datePublished":"2014-05-05T14:21:53.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:02.473Z","description":"I’ve posted about how people at the top of their field are relentlessly productive. But you can’t sprint for miles. 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