This morning, I watched three episodes of a favorite series.

I know. Not exactly the confession you'd expect from someone who studies happiness. But here's the thing: I have this morning routine I love. I wake up, make tea, write in my journal, read, exercise, tidy up. It's structured. It's productive. It makes every minute count.

But this morning, I wasn't feeling it. So I pressed play and let myself off the hook for two hours.

And it was wonderful.

The Pleasure Paradox

When people find out I study happiness, they ask: Does being happy just mean indulging all the time? Should I eat every donut, sleep until noon, and scroll TikTok for hours?

The short answer is no. Research shows that pure pleasure-seeking—what psychologists call hedonic happiness—feels great in the moment but doesn't last. That initial boost gradually fades as we adapt to it, becoming our "new normal." That's why I don’t recommend these behaviors as a path to lasting wellbeing.

But here's where it gets interesting.

When Type A Meets Type Zzz

Some of us are wired differently. We're Type A. We make lists. We plan our vacations down to the minute. We turn every hour into a mini-project, even our free time.

I’m totally like this!

Even my morning routine—which has nothing to do with my job—can feel like productivity in disguise. Every hour produces something: an insight, pages read, a cleaner apartment.

For people like me, occasionally doing something "lazy" isn't about indulging pleasure. It's about breaking a pattern that's quietly wearing us down.

The Science of Strategic Breaks

Your body runs on cycles you probably don't notice. Every 90 to 120 minutes throughout the day, you experience what's called an ultradian rhythm—a natural energy peak followed by a 20-minute dip where focus tanks and fatigue creeps in.

Most of us push through these dips. We grab coffee, force ourselves to power through, and wonder why we feel so depleted by mid-afternoon.

But research tells a different story. In a study with employees at twelve Wachovia banks in New Jersey, workers who were encouraged to take breaks during these natural dips—a 20-minute walk, a power nap, even just switching to a completely different activity—reported feeling more engaged and satisfied with their work. They also brought in 13% more revenue from loans and 20% more from deposits compared to colleagues who didn't take breaks.

The breaks weren't about laziness. They were about recovery. And recovery leads to better performance in the long run.

Breaks as a Form of Renewal

Here's what I'm learning: Taking breaks from constant productivity isn't the opposite of happiness. For Type A people, it might be part of the path to even greater success.

When you step off the productivity treadmill for a couple of hours, you're not just resting. You're creating space for your body and mind to recalibrate. You're preventing burnout. You're remembering that not every minute needs to produce something.

And maybe, just maybe, you're giving yourself permission to slow down enough to actually enjoy the moment—learning how to “savor”—which research tells us is essential for sustained well-being.

Your Turn: Permission to Break the Pattern

I want you to try something this week: Pick a few hours—maybe Saturday morning, maybe Wednesday evening—and do something you'd label as "lazy" or "unproductive." Watch that movie. Take an aimless walk. Lie on the couch and stare at the ceiling.

Here's the key: Don't apologize for it. Don't justify it. Just notice how it feels to step off the productivity treadmill for a bit.

You might be surprised at what happens next. You might feel more energized when you return to your work. You might sleep better. You might even discover that doing nothing was exactly what you needed to keep doing everything else well.

And if you need TV recommendations? I've got plenty.

Talk soon,
Sonja

​
​Research Behind This Newsletter:

On hedonic adaptation and why pleasure-seeking doesn't create lasting happiness:

• Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). The myths of happiness. Penguin Press.
• Chancellor, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). Money for happiness: The hedonic benefits of thrift. In M. Tatzel (Ed.), Consumption and Well-Being in the Material World (pp. 13-47). Dordrecht: Springer.

On ultradian rhythms and the benefits of strategic breaks at work:

• Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). The myths of happiness, Chapter 4. Penguin Press.

On savoring and the importance of slowing down to enjoy positive experiences:

• Bryant, F. B., & Veroff, J. (2007). Savoring: A new model of positive experience. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Multiple studies cited in Chancellor & Lyubomirsky (2014), including Bryant (1989, 2003), Bryant et al. (2005), and Jose et al. (2012).