What does the rise of ‘lazy girl jobs’ say about our attitude towards work right now?
When you’ve got a stack of deadlines you’re pushing to meet, a never-ending pile of emails demanding a response, and your boss in your ear giving you grief about yet another task you’ve got to do, it’s understandable you may want to jack it all in for something simpler. After all, why work hard when you can hardly work at all – without any additional agg?
Our collective sense of CBA is leading some of us to seek new employment opportunities in different industries. Some roles may have fewer deadlines, offer more flexibility yet still come with a reasonable salary. Interest in these so-called ‘lazy girl jobs’ continues to grow, with videos tagged ‘lazy girl jobs’ amassing over 40 million views on TikTok and counting.
So what are lazy girl jobs, and what does their ongoing prevelance say about our feelings towards the world of work right now? Cosmopolitan UK spoke to career experts and psychotherapists about the phenomenon – and what could be fuelling it.
What is a lazy girl job?
The term ‘lazy girl job’ was coined by Gen Z TikToker Gabriella Judge, who posts on the platform as @antiworkgirlboss. In a video that went viral last year, Judge told viewers that there’s more to life than what you do as a career, and instead of working yourself into the ground for a big salary, it can be more beneficial to have a job that offers good wages with lots of flexibility.
“Lazy girl jobs are roles that offer good pay, a comfortable work-life balance and can often be done remotely,” explains Natalie Matalon, Chief People Officer at The Stepstone Group. “They provide individuals with time they desire to focus on other elements of their life, which are more meaningful to them. It is certainly not restricted to any gender and appeals to individuals seeking a low-stress, low anxiety lifestyle while earning a decent income.”
What industries have ‘lazy girl jobs’?
A job that pays well but requires you to do very little seems almost like a dream, right? Well, there are some roles that offer flexibility on top of a good salary.
“Working as a content writer or social media creator can be done from anywhere with flexible hours, just so long as you stick to deadlines and meet the quality outputs expected,” Matalon explains. “Similarly, working in the B2B sector is more likely to offer flexible working compared to those in manufacturing and a consumer-facing sector such as retail or hospitality.”
Amanda Augustine, careers expert for TopCV, adds “virtual assistant”, “transcriptionist”, “data entry”, “translator”, “online tutor” and “graphic designer” to the list of so-called ‘lazy girl jobs’.
“However, some – though not all – of these jobs require degrees to qualify for the position,” she tells Cosmopolitan UK.
Matalon adds that calling these jobs “lazy” is somewhat of a misnomer: “They instead prioritise flexibility and work-life balance.”
What are the pros and cons of a lazy girl job?
It’s understandable that more of us may be turning to low-octane work, particularly with stress-related health problems such as burnout on the rise; a study by Mental Health UK found one in five working adults needed to take time off work in the past year due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress.
And for millennials and Gen Z, having a clear balance between work and leisure time is paramount, explains Matalon.
“The work-life balance that comes with having a ‘lazy girl job’ allows one to maintain clear boundaries and helps to prioritise passions outside of work, as well as general downtime,” she says. “Some roles may even let you set your own work hours so whether you prefer to be up at the crack of dawn or a night owl, you can choose a schedule that fits your lifestyle.”
However, that doesn’t mean this way of work is suitable for everyone – if you’re ambitious and want to be more of a career climber, a ‘lazy girl job’ may not be best placed for you.
“While becoming a business leader isn’t the goal for everyone, it’s important that your job offers career progression as well as a work life balance,” Matalon continues. “Additionally, professional development and growth often comes from observing coworkers that do things extremely well and learning from them. The opportunities to learn from others, and be champions by others, may look different in these roles and could sometimes get lost.”
What does the ‘lazy girl job’ trend say about us?
The popularity of lazy girl jobs comes in stark contrast to the ‘rise and grind, girlboss’ culture that proliferated the 2010s. So what’s changed?
Well, we can’t ignore the glaring impact of the coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns – a study found that one in five of us have since re-evaluated our priorities post-pandemic and look to have a better work/life balance. It’s little suprise that this triggered the ‘Great Resignation’ in 2022, where it’s thought 4.5 million of us quit our jobs,
“A strong trend within Gen Z is the movement towards jobs that offer something more than a salary and a corporate ladder, and this has also resulted in a greater acceptance of non-work priorities (in other words, the idea that jobs could take a secondary priority to other elements of life, which are considered to be more meaningful),” explains psychotherapist and careers expert Eloise Skinner. “There's also a possible push-back against the millennial 'hustle-culture', 'girl boss' mentality, and a re-evaluation of work as just one component of a successful life.”
The ongoing financial crisis may also be playing a part in our overarching lack of ambition. With inflation having reached record highs, the price of food and bills are becoming increasingly unaffordable. The Office of National Statistics found wages today are back at the level they were in 2005 – effectively, workers in the UK have gone nearly two decades without any real pay rise. Housing is also increasingly expensive – private rents have risen by 9% just last year alone, and property is at its most expensive since 1876.
Effectively, Skinner says, we’ve found out the adage we’re taught when we’re younger – the harder you work, the more you’ll get – has proven to be unture.
“The idea that hard work results in a comfortable, supportive lifestyle has been somewhat invalidated,” she says. “After all, if our hard work goes towards a greater corporate system which often doesn't benefit us economically, it's logical to question why we'd bother working harder than necessary.”
Can we turn our current roles into lazy girl jobs?
As nice as it would be to jack in our current jobs for something simpler and softer, for many of us, it simply isn’t an option. However, as Matalon says, there are ways of making our current careers more manageable.
“If you’re finding yourself suffering from burnout, it’s important to set boundaries and understand it’s perfectly fine to say no,” she says. “Frequently taking on additional responsibilities can negatively impact the quality of your actual work, which doesn’t help anyone. If you have chosen the right employer, there should be established psychological safety for you to articulate what your challenges are and the support you require to be successful.”
Skinner recommends we perform a ‘life audit’ if we find ourselves really struggling: “Take a moment with a journal, sheet of paper, or your notes app, and write down all the core priorities in your life. Include everything from relationships, to work, to fitness goals, to long-term plans.
“Then, see if you can identify the main factors you want from your life. From there, you can compare your current career to your overall life priorities. Ask: in what way does my current career support my goals? Does it make it financially possible for me to pursue the other things I love (in which case, it might be worth keeping the job, or at least staying in the same industry or area of practice)? Or is my job not providing me with the tangible rewards that make it worth doing?
“Once you get the factors written down, it's often much easier to make a clear, rational analysis, rather than being driven by impulse, emotion or exhaustion.”
Skinner adds that all jobs, regardless if they’re lazy or not, can have difficult elements, and that we need to take “time to reflect” before we rush into new work.
“Keep thinking about it, and exploring options, and prioritise rest and self-care - and then make the decision at a later time, where you feel you're more supported on a personal / emotional level.”
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