Productivity

I’ve been contemplating the nature of cognitive space—specifically, how our contemporary patterns of engagement have transformed our relationship with unstructured thinking time. Many of us instinctively reach for our devices at the first hint of unoccupied moments, filling potential mental openness with scrolling, consumption, and external stimulation. This pattern suggests a collective shift in how we perceive the value of simply being alone with our thoughts.

Our brains are remarkable habit-forming machines. What begins as a conscious choice quickly becomes an automatic behavior—sometimes before we even realize a pattern has formed. Even more fascinating is how malleable these patterns can be. While dismantling deeply entrenched habits (like nicotine addiction) presents serious challenges, many everyday habits prove more flexible than we might expect.

We’re taught from an early age that hard work leads to rewards and success. This wisdom has merit, but what if I told you that laziness—yes, laziness—might be equally virtuous? When most of us think about laziness, we picture someone sprawled on the couch binge-watching Netflix, lost in video games, or perhaps hurkle-durkling in bed well past a reasonable hour. We’ve been conditioned to view laziness as productivity’s enemy—the antithesis of work, responsibilities, and self-improvement.