How to Be (Good) Lazy

Some days, it just can't be done. It. The "it" that plagues us daily:? Getting out of bed.

Fortunately, thanks to computers, which I understand are all the rage,? you can do good things without even getting up! Set your G-Chat status ?to "Working from Home" and be lazy — but be good-lazy. You can also ?do this at work when your boss is not watching. Here are some ideas.

1. Inspire people. Play Dear Abby: Set that G-Chat Status,? Twitter and Facebook to "... is giving advice today, questions welcome." ?You never know who might need a little chat. You can also make a list ?of people you think could use a little inspiration (who couldn't?) An? unemployed friend, a bummed out dumpee, whoever — tell them why ?they're special. Sometimes just hearing that someone appreciates you? is enough to get you going!

2. Click those "Click to Donate" buttons. It's no secret that? I'm a skeptic about Facebook Causes, but there are a number of buttons out there you just have to click to donate. Care2 has free click donations. So? you'd better click around.

3. Participate. Got a cause you believe in? Get on their? website and participate. Comment on their articles, chat in their ?forums ... Most dot-orgs make a little bit of money just for you ?clicking around their site. And when you participate, you not only ?educate yourself, but you help to build a community, and that's one ?heck of an achievement for a horizontal person. You can also write ?emails to government representatives. Seriously, a lot can be? accomplished from bed.

4. Make someone laugh. You know what to do. Share a funny? video or make something — write a funny story on your blog, or? assign yourself a silly project. Yesterday a friend sent me a musical? they made up called "Marvel & Hammerstein," an exciting cabaret where ?they had Marvel Comics characters performing various appropriate ?show tunes. I'm particularly fond of picturing Captain America singing ?"Edelweiss" and Wolverine with "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific. Now, clearly, my friend took a good little ?break from work yesterday (or perhaps didn't even show up), but he? managed to make his laziness productive and make us all laugh.

5. Shop. I'm not kidding. We're in a recession, and you've gotta ?buy stuff to pull us out of it! It's practically noble. Now, no need ?to break the bank or anything, but a lazy day is the perfect time to get that second laptop power cord you've been meaning to buy, or ?finally order the DVDs for The Mary Tyler Moore Show. You can also ?lie in bed and cover your bases for all the upcoming birthdays,? Mother's Days, Father's Days, and so on (we recommend starting here in? the Tonic Shop) — but it feels like? work, quit.

I am not condoning spending the whole day in bed here, I'm just ... No. ?No, that's exactly what I'm doing. We all have to have a lazy day now ?and then. Do it right, and you won't feel so guilty about it.

Just think of the crazy dreams you'll have when you alternate doing ?good with napping all day.

Be good-lazy. And best wishes to you.