💤 The Lazy Analyst’s Workflow

How to Save Hours and Still Deliver Better Insights

Most analysts confuse busyness with productivity.
They write long SQL queries.
Tweak dashboards no one opens.
Spend hours cleaning data.

And still — their reports often get ignored.

The fix?
Be a little “lazy.”
Not careless. Efficient.

🧠 The Problem

Too much energy goes into the wrong tasks:

  • Manual cleanup

  • Endless formatting

  • Chasing “perfect” dashboards

The result: burnout and forgotten reports.

✅ The 5-Step Lazy Workflow

Step 1: Reuse Before You Write
Save and reuse queries, visuals, and functions.
👉 Example: a Notion SQL “cheat sheet” that covers 60% of requests.

Step 2: Automate the Boring Stuff
Use Power Query, Python, or AI tools to clean and format.
👉 Example: a 3-hour Excel cleanup became a 12-second refresh.

Step 3: Start With the Decision
Always ask: What decision will this support?
👉 Example: A sales report focused only on product profitability. No extra noise.

Step 4: Use Templates
Keep 2–3 report/dashboard templates ready.
👉 Example: a Power BI template with pre-styled filters and KPI cards.

Step 5: Pre-Answer Questions
Add short notes that explain anomalies.
👉 Example: “Profit drop in March due to discount campaign.” Saved 3 meetings.

🧘 Bonus: Use AI as Your Assistant

AI can:

  • Rewrite SQL

  • Summarize CSVs

  • Suggest KPIs

  • Explain DAX in plain English

Less overhead. More focus on business logic.

💥 Results

  • 6–10 hours saved weekly

  • Faster reports with fewer revisions

  • Stakeholders who trust your insights

  • More thinking, less firefighting

📣 Final Thought

Lazy ≠ careless.
Lazy = smart systems.

Next time someone calls your workflow lazy — smile.
You know better.

👉 You’re not lazy. You’re efficient.

📊 What’s your best time-saving trick? Reply and share.

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