This post provides a summary of the workshop. You can read a full version of the blog post in the Project Lazy website.
By Katrien Devolder and Shristi Shakya
Alt-text: Writer Nicola Sayers leads the workshop from the front of a bright meeting room. Attendees sit around U-shaped tables, listening and taking notes. Flip charts in front of the room show words associated with ‘Productive’ and ‘Lazy’.
Caption: Writer Nicola Sayers leading the workshop.
What does it mean to be ‘lazy’ or ‘productive’? Who defines these concepts? And how do expectations about productivity shape the way we see ourselves and others?
These questions were at the heart of a creative writing workshop held on 22 April 2026 as part of Project Lazy.
Led by writer Nicola Sayers and project lead Professor Katrien Devolder from the Uehiro Oxford Institute, the workshop invited participants to reflect on how laziness and productivity are experienced, felt, imposed and, at times, resisted in everyday life.
Through creative writing and storytelling exercises, participants explored assumptions and values that shape how we think about work, productivity and worth. They shared personal experiences, listened to one another’s stories, and engaged in thoughtful, respectful dialogue.
The discussions highlighted a variety, and even contradictory ways of understanding the concept of laziness and productivity. For instance, productive could be associated with fulfilment and achievement, but also with pressure, competition, and even aggression. Lazy could evoke guilt and judgment, but also softness, rest, pleasure, and resistance.
Read more about the workshop and the thoughtful discussions here.
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Project Lazy is an open and evolving research initiative examining what we mean by ‘lazy’ and reflecting on the social and ethical norms that shape our thinking about laziness. We invite everyone to contribute their insights and experiences as the project develops. Project Lazy invites everyone to contribute their insights and experiences as the project develops. You can find more information on the Project Lazy website, subscribe to the newsletter and follow them on Instagram to receive updates.