I'm Not Lazy. I'm On Energy Saving Mode.

by Dancing Snail

Have you ever been so tired and unmotivated in life? Do you wake up every morning feeling mentally exhausted and you want to lie down all the time? If this sounds like you, you might be experiencing lethargy due to depression and you don’t need to be so hard on yourself.

You’re not alone. Dancing Snail, acclaimed illustrator of South Korea’s bestseller, I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, has felt the same way. At the height of her career, Dancing Snail battled with depression and lethargy for years. Through compelling essays of personal struggles paired with relatable illustrations, I’m Not Lazy. I’m On Energy Saving Mode is a revolutionary book that breaks the convention of hustle culture and recharges your weary heart when you feel like doing nothing.

This fast-paced world never seems to slow down, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't. I’m Not Lazy. I’m On Energy Saving Mode dares to change the narrative of hustle and grind culture. This book is sure to pick you up in the darkest days of your life and remind you that it’s okay to take a break and you’re not missing out on life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Asian Literature, Psychology, Art, Memoir

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[kutingtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me feel valid and accepted for the person I am today, no matter how much or less other people might perceive so. 💛

I really think that living in us are 2 sides of the same
coin- our worst enemy and our own best friend. We bring them wherever we go and use them both either to our own benefit or destruction. To know how to balance these highs and lows, good and bad is a skill I continue to learn in my life. 🩶

It made me appreciate my solitude, the calm joys of my daily life: listening to my favorite songs, quietly reading books, sunrise yoga, sunsets with a friend, the rain and a delicious cup of coffee. 🤎

This book also made me feel less guilty when I’m resting and not doing things because a big part of that goes back into the energy I give to myself and to the world. 🩵

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das war toll 🫶 Es ist eher ein Comic als ein normaler Roman.
Der Klappentext meines Buches ist übrigens komplett anders als die Goodreads Beschreibung. Ich dachte es würde in eine Comedy Richtung gehen. Das tut es nicht, die Themen sind ernst, aber dafür werden sie in vielen kleinen illustrierten Kapiteln toll erzählt

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading this book. It’s okay not to do anything I say. We do what we do to survive and it’s okay to be you.

[Chaimaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone struggle in life.

[Mirai · Rating 3 out of 5]

ไม่แปลกที่เราจะมีช่วงง่วงเหงาแหละเศร้าซึมบ้างอะไรบ้าง"

บางครั้ง เราใช้ชีวิตอย่างหนักจนเหนื่อยล้าเลยเกิดอาการง่วงเหงาเศร้าซึม ทำตัวเนือยๆ ไม่ร่าเริงเหมือนทุกครั้ง หรือพูดง่ายๆ ก็คือ มีอาการหมดพลัง ทำให้ไม่อยากทำอะไรทั้งนั้น

หนังสือพยายามบอกเราว่า การที่จู่ๆ เราหมดพลังจนไม่อยากทำอะไร หรือวันนึง เรากลายเป็นคนขี้เกียจขึ้นมา มันเป็นเรื่องปกติ เราไม่ได้เป็นอะไรที่แปลกไปหรอก จงอย่ารู้สึกแย่หรือรู้สึกผิิดกับตัวเองเลย คนเรามันมีเหนื่อยบ้างล้าบ้าง อยากอยู่เงียบๆ กับตัวเองบ้าง อยากนอนแบะกับเตียงโดยไม่ทำอะไรบ้าง เท่านั้นแหละ 5555

เล่มนี้เลยเป็นทั้งหนังสือปลอบโยนเราและมีทริคเล็กๆ น้อยๆ ให้เราหากิจกรรมหรือช่วงเวลาสั้นๆ ระหว่างวันเพื่อชาร์จพลังและเพิ่มกำลังใจให้ตัวเอง เป็นหนังสือน่ารักๆ มีเนื้อหาสลับกับภาพการ์ตูนในสัดส่วนที่พอๆ กัน อ่านเข้าใจง่าย และเอามาปรับใช้ก็ง่าย รู้สึกแฮปปี้ที่ได้อ่านเล่มนี้มากค่ะ :)

[Anna Petruk · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I'll admit, I'm a shallow person: I bought this book because of the relatable title and a cute cover. The author is an illustrator and has a popular Instagram blog where she posts these cartoons about mental health. She compiled that into a book (I seem to stumble into these a lot, or there are just a lot of these out there!) and added a bit of text to make it coherent.

It's a cross between self-help and memoir. She's not really qualified to instruct you on self-help, but neither does she open up deeply enough to make it a true memoir. It's this kind of influencer-y tone where they share personal experience, but there's an obvious distance and sense of being offered a curated angle.

The book wasn't bad. The stories were relatable, and the cartoon art was cute. But it felt sort of banal and shallow. The author sounded like what my next-door neighbor could have sounded. She didn't have anything new, profound, or practical to say, nor was she uniquely qualified to talk about it. It felt like a bunch of recycled trivialities. That's fine for a conversation with an acquaintance or for a random social media blog. But is it worth publishing as a book and buying in hardcover? For me, no. Would have preferred to skip it. What was her own addition was sometimes weird (like that advice to "blame others" lol, wtf)

[Jerawan Meesangnilverakul · Rating 5 out of 5]

ไม่ได้ขี้เกียจ แค่กำลังชาร์จพลัง ไม่ได้เป็นแค่หนังสือ แต่เล่มนี้เหมือนพูดความคิดของคนเป็นโรคซึมเศร้าระยะเริ่มต้นแบบเราได้
โรคซึมเศร้า ไม่ใช่แค่โรคที่ต้องการเรียกร้องความสนใจจากคนอื่น ไม่ใช่แค่โรคที่คนบางคนเป็นแล้วจะหายเลยเมื่อรักษาเหมือนอาการหวัด แต่เป็นโรคที่ถูกความว่างเปล่าเข้าครอบงำ ทำให้จิตใจเศร้าหมอง มองตัวเองด้อยค่า

ทุกๆบทของหนังสือเล่มนี้เหมือนอ่านความคิดของเราออก แล้วเขียนออกมาตามความรู้สึกที่เราคิด ที่เรารู้สึกจริงๆ
แต่ละบทเหมือนตอกหน้าเรา มันกินใจ และมันโดนทุกบท ถึงคำอธิบายจะงงไปบ้าง แต่พอสรุปออกมาก็มีใจความสำคัญที่ลึกซึ้ง
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทำให้เรารู้สึกว่า เราไม่ได้เดียวดายนี่หว่า เหมือนคนที่คิดเหมือนเรา รู้สึกเหมือนเรา
เหมือนไปดูดวงแล้วเจอหมอดูทายแม่นประมาณนั้นเลย

อย่างบทที่ชื่อมีใจความประมาณว่า "เราต้องสมบูรณ์แบบก่อนรึเปล่า ถึงจะมีคนอยากคบเรา" หรือ "เวลากลับบ้านหลังจากไปเที่ยวกับเพื่อน ถึงรู้สึกว้าเหว่" หรือ "พอทำงานเสร็จก็อ้างว้าง ไม่อยากทำอะไร ทั้งๆที่ตอนทำงานอยู่ อยากทำอย่างนู้นอย่างนี้"

เราเลยแบบ เฮ้ย ใช่ว่ะ เราเคยคิดแบบนี้ว่ะ มันโดน หนังสือนี่อ่านความคิดเราป่าววะ คนเขียนนี่คือตัวฉันในโลกขนานป่ะ
ชื่อแต่ละบทเหมือนตอบใจเราได้ครึ่งนึง เราไม่ได้อยู่เดี่ยวดายนะ มีคนแบบเราอยู่อีกนะ

ชอบการ์ตูนในเล่ม ชอบการที่ภาพบรรยายตัวตน บรรยายความคิดและความรู้สึกของเราได้
เราอาจจะไม่เข้าใจคำอธิบายในบางบท แต่โดยรวมหนังสือนี้คือหนังสือที่ตอบโจทย์ชีวิตเราในปัจจุบันได้มากที่สุด

ขอบคุณคุณนักเขียนที่ทำให้เราไม่รู้สึกเดี่ยวดาย

[nana🐱 · Rating 5 out of 5]

เกือบจะไม่ซื้อมาแล้ว แต่พออ่านดันชอบมากกว่าที่คิด ขอบคุณตัวเองที่ซื้อมานะ!! อ่านแล้วรู้สึกว่าไม่ได้มีแต่เราที่รู้สึกหมดพลังแบบนี้สินะ ตอนนี้รู้สึกไม่โดดเดี่ยวแปลกแยก แล้วมีพลังเพิ่มขึ้นมาหน่อยเลยแฮะ

[Sim ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

would recommend reading books with confirmation bias

[Yvonne Janot · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and unique book that is. You do need to read it with your empathy hat on but approached with an open mind it is insightful and not in the least judgy. Plus: I loved the cute illustrations!

[Anis Rizqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menurut saya sebenarnya buku ini judul terjemahannya agak kurang tepat mengingat kebiasaan kita yg suka sekali rebahan. Tapi mungkin the power of branding. Akan lebih tepat judulnya versi dalam bahasa inggris "energy saving mode" bagi saya tidaklah sama dengan "mager" definisinya. Memang kelihatan sepele tapi hanya sekilas membaca judul bisa menimbulkan multitafsir. Tapi beranjak ke isinya, isinya sangat cocok dibaca bagi usia2 muda apalagi yang baru memasuki 20 tahun, baru lulus sekolah menengah atas maupun bagi yang baru lulus kuliah. Buku ini ringan tapi seperti memberi kesan "tenang, ya memang seperti itulah rasanya di usia dan posisi kamu saat ini.. sebagian besar orang lain juga mengalami hal serupa kok". Penulisnya illustrator jadi illustrasi dalam buku ini menarik sekali, dan isinya seputar kehidupan sehari-hari sebagai warga negara. Jadi topiknya nggak berat banget, terkesan ringan! Mungkin sangat recommended bagi yg sedang ingin membaca buku self-improv tetapi yang mudah sekali dipahami :)
Happy reading 🤜🤛

[Tiina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ma ei tea, mis mind selliste põnevate pealkirjadega Lõuna-Koreast pärit eneseabiraamatute/biograafiate juurde tõmbab, aga kui ma seda poes nägin, ei suutnud jälle rahakotile ei öelda. Selle raamatu autor Dancing Snail on minu lugemisest varem läbi käinud illustraatorina, kelle looming kaunistab näiteks sellist raamatut nagu "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki"

Mis mulle selle raamatu juures meeldis oli see, kuidas kõik soovitused ja nõuanded, kuidas eluraskustega toime tulla, olid esitatud väikeste ampsudena. Pool lugudest olid esitatud koomiksitena, mis tegi samuti lugemise lihtsamaks. Nii et sellest teosest võiks abi leida eelkõige need, kellel on tõesti väga raske leida teed oma depressioonist välja.

Sisu poolest polnud samas selles midagi erilist (kui välja arvata võluvad ja samas lihtsad illustratsioonid!), kõik selline juba teada-tuntud toimetulekuteema. Aga vahel on tore asju üle korrata ning mällu kinnistada, nii et ei kahetse selle lugemist.

[Khanaya P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini cocok untuk kita yang berada di titik hampa, overthingking, dan kehilangan minat melakukan aktivitas apapun. Buku ini menceritakan kisah penulis beserta solusi yg dia ambil, dan dikemas dengan ilustrasi-ilustrasi yang lucu dan menarik. Bahasa dalam buku ini ringan & mudah dipahami, tetapi isi dari buku ini ngena! ✨
Tiap aku membaca bagian dari buku ini aku selalu merasa relatable dengan kehidupanku, "Wow! Aku banget!". Mungkin kalian juga akan sama. Begitu mempraktekkan apa yang ada di buku ini, yah aku merasa kalau hidupku jauh lebih ringan daripada sebelumnya. Overall ini sama seperti buku self improvement yang lain, berpengaruh atau tidaknya tergantung bagaimana kita mempraktikkannya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.

Cheers! ❤️

[Michael]

I try self-help books from time to time. I never take to them. It's a "me-not-you" thing, I guess.

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As adults, because we know that everyone has their problems, we don't lean on anyone when we need support and instead brave it on our own. When we're not okay, we wear a 'social smile' to hide the fact that we're crying on the inside."

This book comes perfect with the coming year's end.
I love how this non-fiction is not just heavy on text.
Most non-fiction that talk about life, anxiety, depression and all are full of texts that give advice, solutions, explanations and facts.

However, for this read, the combination of illustrations, short chapters and easy know-how feels a bit lighter and relatable.

It's a good coffee table to have on the side when you need a little pick me up or motivation when you're feeling down.


"The only constant in life is change. Just because one thing doesn't go according to plan, it's not the end of the world. Even if we don't know the right answer, sometimes, it's okay to just give something a go."

[Padiecakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the other apop books I've read, this book is full of reminders I know I need to hear. This is better because the illustrations make things more memorable. It's very comforting but it won't leave me in my comfort zone. Some experiences of Dancing Snail being socially drained made me feel so heard. Made me feel not alone in how tired I get sometimes that I think it's not a matter of introversion anymore, and that there's something massively wrong with me, but no. I'm just on "energy saving mode" :)

[Sweena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really a fan of self help books but I picked this up because I was curious. I really liked the little animations and the structure of this self help book. I feel like it was also the right time to pick this up because I've been asking myself the same questions. When you feel like everything is against you, it's nice to know that you're not alone and that's exactly what reading this book did. Made me feel like I'm not alone. It's comforting.

[Agung Wicaksono · Rating 4 out of 5]

This charming little book flips the script on productivity culture, reminding us that lounging on the sofa binge-watching TV or scrolling through social media isn't laziness; it's energy-saving mode, a vital way to recharge in a society obsessed with output.

Drawing from her own battles with depression and lethargy, Dancing Snail offers compassionate insights on topics like loneliness, adulting, overthinking, and those inevitable slumps. What sets this apart from other self-help books is its light touch: short chapters, relatable illustrations, and zero heavy-handed lectures. It's not packed with dense advice, solutions, or facts like many non-fiction titles on anxiety and mental health. Instead, it's a gentle companion, perfect for flipping through on a coffee table when you need a quick pick-me-up. I loved how it feels written by someone who's still in the trenches, not preaching from a place of "I've conquered it all."

Her words hit home, like this one: "As adults, because we know that everyone has their problems, we don't lean on anyone when we need support and instead brave it on our own. When we're not okay, we wear a 'social smile' to hide the fact that we're crying on the inside."

Or another gem: "The only constant in life is change. Just because one thing doesn't go according to plan, it's not the end of the world. Even if we don't know the right answer, sometimes, it's okay to just give something a go."

The illustrations add a whimsical, empathetic vibe, making tough feelings more approachable. It's refreshing to read advice that's unconventional and genuine, like envying the "cheerful innocence" of friends while dealing with "black marks on my heart." And with the year's end approaching, it feels timely.

That said, it's not flawless. There are a few minor editing hiccups: some typos, awkward phrasing that might stem from translation, and spots where the dialogue and captions in illustrations could be formatted better for clarity. Nothing deal-breaking, but it occasionally pulls you out of the flow.

[Apollos Michio · Rating 3 out of 5]

- This book shares the same k-healing vibes as Baek Sehee’s I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, Kim Suhyun’s I Decided to Live as Me, and other books like Marigold Mind Laundry by Yun Jung-eun ❤️‍🩹
- So, the overall reassuring and comforting message of prioritising oneself in a prevailing culture of workism and efficiency is not new to me but may be a good reminder to readers suffering from anxiety, stress, and guilt 😌
- For me, though, I find greater comfort in religion as a panacea for my struggles and times of adversity, as it makes me see how insignificant the problems I face are in the grand scheme of things, which I believe can be helpful for the author as well 🙏
- Bible verses like “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV) and “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬) come to my mind while reading this book, and I wish, somehow, to assure the author with them ✝️
- But I’m glad the author finds meaning in spreading messages of compassion and patience to her readers, and with ample cute illustrations at that! ✍️

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flipping through I’m Not Lazy, I’m on Energy Saving Mode feels less like reading a book and more like scrolling through the inside of someone’s mind on a tired Sunday. The drawings are messy in a deliberate way, like doodles on a notebook margin and that rawness works. It feels closer to exhaustion than polish.

What I appreciated is that Dancing Snail doesn’t package self care as perfection. Instead, the pages lean into awkwardness, procrastination and those little guilty pleasures we rarely admit count as survival. It’s not a manual, not a pep talk, just a reminder that slowing down doesn’t mean failing.

At the same time, the book sometimes repeats its point without adding much new, which made me feel like I was circling the same thought instead of moving forward. That’s why I landed at 3.5. It resonates, but it’s more of a gentle background hum than something that fully recharges you.

Still, I’d keep it on a shelf for the days when words feel too heavy and you just need a page or two that says, “Hey, it’s okay. Just exist today.”

[bunny ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! ⭐️

lol took me a whole while bc this is a book i could come back to from time to time and i had no intention of finishing it right away. tho i would say i didn’t read much of it last 2023 and read more this 2024 so i’d say it’s my sophomore bestie.

i resonated with a lot of the advices here… especially since we generally get more burned out during our sophomore-junior year in uni. so this rlly was just the perfect companion.

honestly i rlly love my experience with the 2 apop books ive read so far. i bought another this december & i hope it becomes my junior year bestie 🥹 much love — happy end of the year, book besties!

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would’ve worked a lot better as a little hardback coffee table book to dip in an out of, but it lost something reading the ebook on my phone all formatted wrong, so I’d definitely say get a physical if you’re gonna give it a go. Nothing in there felt particularly revolutionary but there’s some validation to be found in it with sweet sentiments and gorgeous illustrations, so I think it’d make a lovely little gift.

[Takealookinsideabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful read this was! It's been a long, long while since I've read something so inspiring and relatable!

I even got my tabs out and annotated and highlighted my copy which is a rarity for me. There was so many quotes from this that I loved and I cant wait to share this book and shout about it with friends and family!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Jahnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how the perspective progressed as the chapters added up. I especially like the chapters about being introverted, getting drained from your social battery, being content as a homebody, and just generally resting, conserving, and balancing energies.

[Alice P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not only is it meh, but also the author shows a fundamental misunderstanding of quantum mechanics. Pity.

[Aaterfoedelse. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was too personal for me. My favourite genre is "slice of life", so I couldn't be objective.

[Rumaisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute illustrations, nothing massively profound but still validating i guess?

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt so seen by this author

[Ritika Ghoshal]

Hired a ghost writer to write my autobiography.

[akissforcatullus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow your heart… however you do that.