I read an interesting piece today in the book, The Millionaire Course: A Visionary Plan for Creating the Life of Your Dreams, by author Marc Allen. In this particular section of Allen’s book, he explains the concept of laziness as an important key to great achievement. This concept truly opened my eyes and changed my belief system, and because of this I’ve decided to share this information with you.

I personally disliked idle time. My thought process was that there was ALWAYS something I could do to get a step closer to achieving that goal or to better myself in some way. Even when all of the day’s tasks were completed, I’d sit at my desk and find something to do – like busy work.. WHY? Remember back in high school when you’d have a substitute teacher for the day and they would give you “busy work”? As kids, we all understood back then how truly pointless that was – we would rather just hang out, turn our brains off for a bit and enjoy the free time. What the heck happened? How did I forget about the joy and wonders of relaxing?

According to Allen, many of us “forget” because we become products of our Type-A educational system and workaholic culture. We’re conditioned to believe we should always be doing something. As a result, we leap out of bed in the morning and immediately start doing things. We’re always wound up, always in high gear. However, Allen explains that one of the most important keys to success is to embrace your laziness!

“Counterbalance your activity with a good healthy dose of relaxation, rejuvenation, laziness and even (yes!) wasting time… Our lives, our world, the whole Universe is an endless movement of great polarities. Winter follows summer. Night follows day… Most of us are very good with the active side of the polarity, but neglect – or at least don’t fully appreciate – the part of the polarity of life that includes loafing, relaxing, recharging, meditating, and resting.”

Allen’s Homework Project: Find more time for daydreaming, loafing, sleeping and doing those that are such an enjoyable waste of time – whatever that may be for you.

Doing NOTHING will bring more energy and focus to the times you’re doing SOMETHING. There are times to work towards your goals and there are times to completely let them go – not to forget about them, but to recharge, revitalize, and renew. We should all heed Marc Allen’s advice. After all, it was this concept, along with others listed in The Millionaire Course, that helped him go from having “literally no money” to becoming a self-made millionaire.

Remind yourself to:

• Take breaks
• Stretch
• Talk to yourself
• Take a walk
• Listen to music
• Meditate
• Stare at the clouds
• DO NOTHING!!

Then when you’re ready to move ahead, you will do it with much more energy, clarity, and effectiveness!