Happy National Lazy Day!
Yes, this is indeed a designated holiday encouraging pure laziness. For those unfamiliar, the typical traditions of National Lazy Day include remaining pajamaed throughout the day, catching up on your favorite TV shows, thoroughly enjoying some cheat-day meals and snacks, heavy procrastination, and avoiding anything of a strenuous nature.
Other traditions include napping in a hammock, poolside tanning, online shopping, and some light social media scrolling. All of which should be done in close proximity to your favorite beverage.
Celebrating National Lazy Day
All kidding aside, the real intention of National Lazy Day is to remind everyone of decompression, relaxation, and rest — or more precisely, stress relief. Excess stress is detrimental to our wellbeing. And while there is a huge sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from finishing important tasks and progressing further toward our goals, allocating time to recuperate is critical to our overall physical and mental health.
One of the most important aspects of any rest day is to make the most out of it. While it may sound a bit counterintuitive, some pre-laziness planning is vital to having a truly successful lazy day. As a self-proclaimed expert, I have put tons of time and effort into researching this topic. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that pulling off a perfect lazy day is an art form. Here are a few pro tips to help you fully enjoy a well-deserved day of curated relaxation.
1. Skip that wake-up call
First, give yourself a break, and take the opportunity to sleep in. If we’re going to have a proper lazy day, a blaring alarm has no business interrupting a serene morning and a little extra sleep. Even the night before can be extra relaxing just knowing that you have the oh-so-blissful feeling of no alarm to jolt you awake.
Allow your body to wake up naturally. Getting a healthy amount of sleep is critical for restoring your mind and body, and a lack of sleep can sometimes lead to health problems. So do yourself a favor, and start off your lazy day by getting more of your 40 winks.
2. Set the menu the night before
First things first. Let’s talk about some cheat-day indulgence.
The cheat-day menu is one of the most important aspects of a well-executed lazy day. But a cheat day doesn’t mean eating anything and everything. For even the most disciplined dieters, an occasional cheat day can work wonders for the sustainability of reaching your wellness goals.
The spread for a perfect lazy day should be carefully selected to include only your favorites. This ensures maximum enjoyment, but it also deters mindless eating and overindulgence. Plus, whether it’s pizza, tacos, french fries, or milkshakes, picking out the menu is so much fun!
After some trial and error, I have found that picking out select meals and doing some reasonable proportioning enhances the enjoyment and works to alleviate the guilt of going overboard. Quality over quantity is the key.
Don’t feel like cooking? No worries. Pull up that delivery app, and let the indulgence come to you!
3. Go full-on bookworm
As many of my fellow bibliophiles know, there are few things as fulfilling as engrossing yourself in a great book. There is something magical about the synergy between a well-told story and your own imagination.
While TV binging is one of the staples of a lazy day, one advantage of a book over a TV show is mobility. A book can be enjoyed anywhere. The tub, pool deck, and hot tub are all book-friendly environments that are less than ideal for TV, even with a tablet or laptop. There is also the pure satisfaction of finishing a compelling book — a far more enjoyable feeling than the dread of running out of episodes of your favorite show.
Need a few book recommendations? Here are some absolute page turners perfect for your summer reading list.
4. Enjoy a proper pampering
This may require a bit of creativity based on what sort of pampering you like. Maybe it’s an uninterrupted soak in the tub, a day at the spa with all your favorite treatments, or a relaxing massage. Either way, it’s really about treating yourself.
Want the spa experience without leaving home? You can actually make a pretty swanky spa at home.
One idea that works for me is splurging on something I’ve really had my eye on for a while. Slick new headphones, a comfy new hoodie, new summer sunglasses, or even a music subscription to finally do away with those annoying ads. Again, this one is all about preference.
For those of us who need a little help to relax, try our nutrient-rich elixir, Ionix® Supreme. This blend of herbs and adaptogens works wonders to help reduce the negative effects of stress using the natural power of ashwagandha.†
Bonus points on all of these if you can spread the love. After all, it’s always more fun to enjoy a lazy day with a friend or loved one. Whatever you decide to do (or not do) on your lazy day, go ahead and enjoy it! You deserve it!
†This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
