be more organized!
lose that weight!
save money!
stick to a budget!!!!

Not me.

Nope.

I’m embracing mediocrity.  I’m setting low standards… and then not meeting them.  I’m deleting everything peppy, inspirational, or motivational from my inbox.

I’m giving myself permission to do nothing but watch Vampire Diaries all day.

You know why?

Because when you’re tired, drained, or overwhelmed, the worst possible thing you can do is try to whip yourself into a frenzy of productivity.

It always backfires.  That’s how you end up watching America’s Next Top Model at 2am amidst a pile of unfolded laundry, a beer in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other.

A frenzy of productivity when you’re running on empty is just another form of self-punishment. 

And we react to punishment like little kids do– we sulk, rebel, we throw our own favorite drawing in the trash.

If you’re shaking your head right now, doing lunges while your green smoothie whirs, and simultaneously updating your Quickbooks while you visualize world peace, then– good for you.

No, really, that’s great.  We mortals only hate you a little TINY bit.

But if you’re coming into the new year like me, with a huge pile of unread email, an even bigger pile of Christmas presents that need new homes, and pine needles in every crack and crevice of your soul, then I suggest that you do the most counter-intuitive thing in the world.

Do nothing.

Lie on the couch.
Rest.
Lounge.
Pick up a frivolous book, or even better, a magazine.

Just telling yourself that you CAN –that it’s allowed– will create this little space of relief inside you.  You might find that you can while away a whole day in this aimless manner.  And then tomorrow, you’ll feel better.

But sometimes it works very differently.  Mostly what we are craving is that little space of relief inside ourselves.  We believe that the lists and organizing and budgeting will give us that relief, and sometimes indeed they do.  But if you go straight to the relief, you’ll be surprised at how much energy it will give you.

Here is how it worked for me today.  It’s been a hectic few weeks, so I gave myself full permission to lie on the couch all day long and watch really dumb tv.  Yes!  Joy!  I was as smug as a kid skipping school and I happily snuggled into my pillows.

Except that after about 45 minutes I got bored, so I tried to nap.  Mmm, the sun felt good on my back.

Then suddenly I sort of thought I might want to sit down and write you lovely people.  I stretched, yawned, and sauntered over to my computer in a strange amused glow.  I figured I’d write a couple of sentences and then go lie down again.  But since I know I don’t HAVE to write this, I could TOTALLY go lie down at any moment, I’m actually quite enjoying myself.

And now that I’m wrapping this up, I sort of feel like maybe I want to go run that errand I’ve been avoiding all week.  And somewhere in there I threw a load of laundry in.

Weird.

I accidentally got some things done precisely because I told myself I didn’t have to.  But if I had tried to dive into my inbox or whip out a big list of to-dos first thing this morning, I can guarantee that I would be in a Christmas cookie coma right now, numbing out on facebook.

The Way Of Sloth is easier.  It feels better.  And it  just might help you get back on track faster.