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Editor's Note: Gabrielle Judge, aka Anti Work Girlboss, writes exclusively for Entrepreneur+ but offers this article free to our readers. Subscribe today to access her next and latest articles to help you make more money and work less.
You've probably heard about the current “lazy girl job” trend. I'm the one who started it.
I've gotten mixed reactions from the media, some say it's a bad thing. But the reason I actually took a lazy girl job was because I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Let me explain.
“Lazy girl jobs” are not a secret list of jobs that promise minimal work for high pay. In fact, there are hardly any rules dictating what is and isn’t a “lazy girl job.” The only definition I really have is a job that allows you the autonomy you desire.
Related: This Simple Money Formula Helped Me Escape My 9-5 Job and Achieve Financial Freedom
For some, that might mean running a small business, working as a desk assistant, or working in the gig economy. It's about taking control of your work-life balance. Work culture has changed so much since the pandemic. Everyone has experienced what remote work feels like, being able to manage your schedule however you want and no longer facing the pressure of commuting or being physically present. Remote work has been a great gift that has shown us how autonomous our lives can be.
As strange as it may sound, I found a job that allowed me to be lazy so I could become an entrepreneur.
This is how I started
My first job out of college was in the technology industry. At the time, it felt like I had found my dream job – good pay, nice office, etc. My job title was technology consultant and the duties were vague.
This was a breeding ground for projects outside of my job description, an arbitrary career lattice I could aspire to, and an employer-backed private equity firm that changed direction every quarter. They loved how much I loved my work, and they never said no to me taking on more responsibility without a raise or promotion. I was confident I would be super successful. That was abruptly ended when I suffered a concussion and could no longer use my brain in the way that working 40+ hours would have helped me.
During the healing process of that concussion, I did something really scary. I decided to quit and get a “lazy girl's job” – during the so-called “Era of Great Resignation” in 2021 and 2022.
Another way of looking at it was that I was being underemployed – I was working in a job that I had more qualifications for than was required. I didn't yet have the fun and cute nickname for it. I wasn't enjoying it at all and was quite scary for me at the time. I felt like I was taking a step back and not “moving forward” like I expected to do with every career decision for the rest of my life.
Related topics: More and more companies are retaining their employees – and vice versa. Here's how you can benefit from this job market.
I took my first lazy girl job because I was drawn to creating content. TikTok was gaining traction at the time and I built a community by posting about my career on the app. Throughout my teens and early twenties, I had many side hustles and part-time jobs and was able to share my experiences with my followers.
So I spent two hours a day at my “lazy job.” I worked at Wix and found my job to be pretty pointless in terms of the company's goals. I loved this job because it allowed me to focus my energy on becoming a content creator and educator.
I was never fired. I was happy with my bosses and the work environment. I really had no complaints. I just knew that wasn't my plan for the next 40 years, and for some reason, the longer I stayed true to my business goals while maintaining my reputation at my job, the more I trusted myself.
Fast forward a year and a half. I had more followers than my employer. My content became a distraction at work. Meeting my daily quota of just two hours was a challenge, so I started quitting my job. It was difficult to make it through my two weeks. Everything I knew about work and financial security was put to the test. During my first month on my own, I made ten times my normal salary. I felt like I could finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that I had made the right decision.
My advice to anyone considering moving to a “lazy girl’s workplace”
When I coined the term “lazy girl job,” my goal was to help young people become more confident. The biggest thing that held me back from jumping straight into self-employment was that, for some reason, I just didn't believe in myself. I want young people to feel more confident about taking on an “easier job” and a work environment that allows them a better work-life balance. Ultimately, you will have enough space and clarity to find your true genius.
My “lazy girl job” was a stable safety net that didn't drain my sanity or waste my time. If you want to become an entrepreneur, I recommend finding a job that provides you with a steady income but gives you more autonomy to work on the things you're passionate about.
However, there are more reasons to take a lazy girl job than just becoming an entrepreneur. It's okay to take the pedal to the metal on your career at any time and for whatever reason. We're all just trying to get ahead and worrying about what rung lies ahead of us on the endless career ladder to climb.
Related topics: Why the hectic entrepreneur mentality is unhealthy
On my platform, I talk a lot about being “anti-work.” That doesn’t mean I don’t like working—I do. It means decentralizing the corporate definition of work.
Successful work doesn't have to mean mindlessly agreeing to every learning opportunity that comes your way in the name of continuing education. Maybe the project you agree to is just unnecessary work from a few links in the chain of command created to justify that person's existence. Maybe that project doesn't add any real value to the company or your career, and you're wasting time trying to complete it.
It's OK to stop and slow down today so you can eventually speed up tomorrow. Or maybe speed up in a few years, or maybe never. “Lazy Girl Jobs” was a huge social experiment for me. It was intentionally polarizing and meant to make a statement about the lack of productivity I see in the workplace today. I also forgot to mention – it doesn't just affect women either!
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