How to Not Be Lazy: 5 Low-Effort Productivity Hacks for When You’re Completely Unmotivated

If you’re tired of productivity advice that requires a complete personality overhaul, Bria Jones has your back. On Because I Love You, Jones dives into simple, lazy-girl-approved productivity hacks that actually work, especially if you’re chronically unmotivated or already exhausted by the idea of a 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. routine and waking up at dawn to journal and meditate. 

Jones, a new mom who’s selective about how she spends her energy, focuses on what she calls “ADHD-friendly tips” that help you reclaim your time without burning out. Her goal isn’t to pack more into the day, but to live more fully and be present with the people she loves. “My goal is to get my life back,” Jones says. “To be able to live on your own terms is truly the biggest flex of all.”

Here are her lazy-girl-approved productivity hacks that actually work. 

Productivity Hacks That Will Allow You to Get Back Your Time

1. Adopt the one-minute habit that changes everything.

Instead of a complicated morning routine, Jones swears by starting your day off with the simplest task. “Get the momentum going at the beginning of your day, that way it trickles down into the rest of your day,” she says. 

Her go-to is making the bed. “What I like about making my bed first thing in the morning is that it sets the tone,” she explains. “When I go in my room and I see the bed is made, I’m less likely to take a nap, and it boosts my energy and my mood.”

Your environment affects your productivity more than you realize. “In my room specifically, having my bed made is really important to setting the tone of my environment and getting my brain in the space to do other things,” Jones adds.

2. Let in an instant energy boost.

Forget complicated wake-up routines—Jones keeps it simple by immediately opening the curtains and blinds when she gets up. This signals to her brain that, “We are up, we are awake, and it’s time to get stuff done,” she explains.

Jones also encourages getting outside first thing in the morning. “When you feel awake, you are able to get more done and think more creatively,” she says. “You need adequate sleep, and you also need to be on a schedule. So open up those windows and blinds first thing in the morning.”

3. The time-saving hack you’re not using: Schedule your messages. 

Yes, you can schedule emails and text messages. It’s normal to not respond to someone’s message in the late hours of the night or early morning hours. What usually happens, however, is you forget to respond. Jones suggests scheduling messages as the ultimate time-saving, productivity hack.

“I love scheduling messages for later,” she says. “I like to work on the weekends, so it’s easy to schedule a message for Monday, and not bother people outside of work hours.”

4. The weirdly effective focus trick: wearing shoes.

Jones wears tennis shoes in the house when she wants to get things done. The psychological shift is real: Wearing shoes puts you in the mental mindset that you have somewhere to be and something to do. “It’s really hard for me to be tired and sleepy when I have my shoes on,” she says. “I figured that out about myself, and maybe everyone will be different. But just try it out and see how much more you get done with your shoes on.” 

5. Incorporate a daily power hour of cleaning. 

For Jones, a messy environment equals a messy mind. Because chaos creates a lot of anxiety for Jones, she’s incorporated a daily power hour of cleaning. Whether it’s a quick vacuum, washing dishes, or tidying the living room, this is one of Jones’ favorite productivity hacks. She sets aside dedicated time for whatever needs to be done. “It makes it so that nothing gets overwhelming, and the chores don’t pile up,” she says. “I find it to be therapeutic and a meditative thing I can do to zone out a little. I like to clean and have that autonomy over my space.”

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