Strategic Laziness: The Art of Switching Off

While reading Usain Bolt’s Faster than Lightning, I came across an idea I absolutely loved.

Strategic Laziness.

It sounds like an excuse to do less. But Bolt seemed to understand something quite profound about performance:

You don’t need to be “on” all the time.

At the 2008 Olympics, Bolt famously started celebrating before he had even crossed the finish line of the 100m final. His coach wasn’t impressed. He thought Bolt could have run an even faster world record.

But that relaxed, playful attitude may also have been part of what made Bolt so good. He danced in the call room. Joked around. Switched off between races.

And then, when it mattered, he switched on.

We often assume high performance means more intensity. More focus. More preparation. More thinking.

But sometimes, carrying the importance of a moment for too long can exhaust you before the moment even arrives.

Maybe the real skill isn’t just knowing how to switch on. It’s knowing when to switch off.