--- 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 > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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It covers the reporting, scoops and conversations shaping AI and the decisions facing leaders. #### Where can I get reported AI news rather than commentary? In the Loop is TIME's AI newsletter, built on original reporting and access to the people building and governing AI. It publishes Tuesdays and Fridays and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes TIME's In the Loop? Harry Booth, a tech reporter at TIME, writes In the Loop. #### Is In the Loop free? Yes. In the Loop is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-loop-2026q3/newsletters?i=1b5229bd-3f7b-4afd-849d-7f0d3dac09da&cr=time-nl-loop-2026q3-v1) 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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