The “Lazy Girl Job” Is the Key to the Work-Life Balance You’re Looking For

Gabrielle Judge, a career influencer known as The Anti Work Girlboss, was in a situation more than a few people can probably relate to. At her previous job, colleagues were being laid off, she was stepping in to do their work, and she realized doing more work wasn’t resulting in a raise or a promotion. “I was doing all the work without getting the benefits,” says Judge.

She noticed companies weren’t even incentivized to reward those employees who are doing it all. “Most people in corporate America are wearing seven different hats. Why would the employer promote them when that means they’ll lose the BOGO deal they were getting?” she points out.

That’s how she came to the “lazy girl job.” Judge put in her two weeks — with another job lined up, she makes sure to note — and jumped in to a role where she could focus on learning healthy boundaries and reframing work culture.

A “lazy girl job” is one that allows for flexibility and doesn’t claim all your time. You can sign off at a reasonable hour, work remotely, and have time for a life outside of work, while still earning a comfortable salary. 

When Judge put in her notice at her previous role, she didn’t want to quit work altogether. She just wanted to find a job that matched her needs, rather than making herself match a job’s wants. The stability of a full-time job and a 9-5 salary was appealing — but the extreme hours and clawing at a never-ending ladder was not. You could say it’s a return to what work was before hustle culture set in.

Of course, there is criticism of the trend. People have called out drawbacks to full-time remote work, from less team synergy to reduced feedback, and they’ve wondered whether this kind of job offers security if you aren’t doing much work. Others have questioned whether “lazy” is really the right word for a term that is really about drawing stronger work-life boundaries. 

But Judge says that’s the point. “People don’t understand that I came up with the name ‘lazy girl job.’ They think it’s misogynistic, but it’s me calling out the criticism of being lazy in comparison to hustle culture,” she explains. She says there aren’t drawbacks to having a “lazy girl job” when you approach it as achieving balance rather than avoiding work altogether. 

“I went in with the mindset of finding work-life balance — still using my degree and paying my bills, but also having time to do my side hustle, find a meaningful relationship, get sober, and prioritize great friends,” says Judge. She went into a customer success manager job where she transparently communicated with her new boss that she was worried about taking on additional, non-compensated work. Having a “lazy girl job” is not actually being lazy or not doing your job well — it’s about not working overtime only to benefit the company.

Joy Pittman, creator of HR for the Culture, is a supporter of the “lazy girl job.” According to Pittman, “Who doesn’t want to blend a bit of chill with their career grind?” She doesn’t see this kind of job as counter to having ambition.

She notes that a “lazy girl job” can give you more mental space. “You can be even more productive when you’re ‘on.’ Less burnout, more brilliance,” explains Pittman, who also says these jobs can remind you of your worth and talents. 

Here are four ways you can search for your own “lazy girl job“ — which might just re-energize your inspiration and your career. 

Pittman recommends looking for job listings that say things like: flexible hours, remote work, work from home, project-based, or no experience necessary. 

“For project-based jobs, it’s often like a to-do list. Once you’re done, you’re free to binge-watch that new series. Flexible hours means you get to be the boss of your own clock. And no experience necessary could be the doorway to trying something new without the heavy preparation,” says Pittman.

“Look for learning opportunities and, even while taking it easy, you’re leveling up your skills,” says Pittman. That can also look like taking a “lazy girl job” somewhere where you’ll meet the right people or you’ll gain transferable skills that you can take with you. There’s a lot you can learn without working more than 40 hours a week.

Your “lazy girl job” could be outside of your current industry. Pittman says, “These jobs can be wild cards, teaching you about industries you’d never have dabbled in otherwise. Career paths have many lanes, and sometimes the scenic route is the most enriching.”

Don’t underestimate the power of a leisurely job in an industry you’ve never set foot in. You could find your next great passion.

All jobs can be demanding, but there are some roles that may be more likely to only require a set number of hours a week. Consider searches for data entry, virtual assistant, transcriptionist, or administrative assistant. 

Whatever the role, Pittman adds, “Trying different things can help shape your future choices and sometimes a pause gives you the vision you need for your next big leap.” Or, it could set you up for a career trajectory where you discover work-life balance is what matters most.