The Best Job Options for “Lazy” People

You love relaxing in cafes or bookstores, taking vacations, or spending time with your pets, friends, or even by yourself. Maybe you just love staying at home. You’ve tried to find jobs that allow you to telecommute, but these might require tight deadlines, video or phone conferences, or too much stress to manage for the lifestyle you want.

Maybe you have been called lazy by your parents or teachers. There is nothing wrong with wanting a different work-life balance than most people, but in the hectic, modern world, it can be hard to find employment that allows you to be the person you want to be. Even searching for this type of work is taxing when you would rather sit back and enjoy the fruits of your minimal labor.

Fortunately, some jobs in 2022 can accommodate your flexible lifestyle or the hobbies you want to pursue. You have to be smart and engaged in your work, but these jobs for “lazy” people are also in professions that are in demand. You can set your own pace, find regular work, and continue enjoying life.

Whether you consider yourself lazy, or you simply disagree that 40 hours is a reasonable workweek, you can still find a great job that makes you happy. Sometimes, this incorporates fun activities you were doing already. In other cases, it means taking the skills you have and turning that into a career that allows you to set your own hours.

Below are the five best jobs in 2022 for people who want a more relaxing occupation.

1. Expert or coach: Even if you’re lazy, the chances are good that you have found some ways of managing your life, time, eating habits, or even wardrobe that would blow someone else’s mind. You can turn this into a career as an expert in your field, a life coach, or even a career coach.
   
   While this means you do have to reach out, network, submit some proposals, and find clients, you can set your own hours. Would you rather take Wednesday and Thursday off, and are okay with working a few hours on Saturday to send some networking emails? Figure out what you are an expert in and start reaching out to those who clearly need your help.
   
   As you start your own business, you can set your own rates. Depending on how many clients you work with and what you are an expert in, you can make as little as $10 per hour when you start out or up to $150 per hour if you have a niche skill set.
   
   
2. Dog walker or pet sitter: There’s not much that’s lazy about walking a few miles a day, driving to someone’s house, and making sure their animals are cared for. If you love animals and want to set your own work hours, both pet sitting and dog walking are great options.
   
   Would you like playing in the park with a nice labrador retriever? Taking a stroll with a couple of corgis? Throwing a catnip mouse for a kitten? These jobs are low impact, allowing you to work with specific clients who, if you keep their cats and dogs happy, are likely to hire you again.
   
   You don’t need a veterinary degree, but you may want to take a pet CPR class. It can also be wise to learn how to administer pills or injections to animals.
   
   The average dog walker makes about $15 per hour, while pet sitters start out around $20 per hour or day, with $70 to $80 for overnight work being the baseline. If you have specific training with animals or licenses like pet CPR, you can charge more.
   
   
3. Video game tester: Software needs regular testing for bugs at many stages of development, and this includes video games. You might be playing video games already during your free time. If you have strong opinions about what makes a good game, what happens when errors occur, and how some games are ported between systems, you can use that passion to make a difference in the gaming industry without leaving your couch. Entry-level testing jobs might require you to go to an office and work certain hours, but these are often part-time positions.
   
   You could make minimum wage if you are an entry-level tester and work through a company, but you can also make a solid middle-class income. Look for wages listed in testing job posts. The average video game tester makes $30,000 to $50,000 per year if they work full time.
   
   
4. Mystery shopper: Maybe your favorite hobby is shopping, getting spa treatments, or enjoying coffee on the town. Why waste time when you could turn these luxuries into a job? Mystery shoppers give honest reviews of the quality of products and services to the companies that hire them, so you must have opinions about stores you just spent time in.
   
   You will have to go to places the company sends you to rather than frequenting your favorite watering hole or shopping destination several times on the company’s dime, but you get to explore new options and report your findings. Plus, many mystery shoppers can set their own hours.
   
   While mystery shopping is typically very part-time work, one reporter made $14,000 in this field, so it could be a great way to supplement other part-time or seasonal income.
   
   
5. Critic: Whether you love theater, food, movies, clothes, games, TV, mobile apps, cocktails, coffee, or shoes, there’s a publication that wants your written opinion. While you may need to spend your own money upfront as you make a name for yourself as a writer, soon you might find that newspapers and online magazines will pay you for your write-ups of entertainment or luxuries all around your city. You must meet deadlines, but you can enjoy the activities you already like.
   
   Depending on which publication you work for, you could make $10 per post for short online reviews, or you could make up to $80,000 if you become a seasoned critic. Becoming well-known requires dedication and hard work, of course, but you can make a decent living as a writer from the comfort of your home.

Working a lot of hours does not mean you are working effectively. Many smart people find satisfying jobs with good incomes doing something they enjoy, and they do not work more than 30 hours a week. A lot of jobs can be done from home in whatever hours you are available.

Thanks to the rise of the gig economy, you can work several gigs instead of one full-time job, choose your hours, and still live well. Don’t listen to those who call you lazy. You’re working efficiently. Joblist offers many alternative opportunities to the traditional 9 to 5 jobs — from freelancing, to pet sitting, and much more. We will help you find a job that fits your personality!