As the world grows busier and busier, so does the popularity of an animal that, at first glance, appears to do nothing: The sloth.

Sloths live in Central and South America, hanging from the treetops of cecropia trees and eating leaves. With an extremely slow metabolism, sloths either have to eat more or do less. The sloth evolved to do less, moving so slowly that its fur becomes an ecosystem within itself, growing tasty moss and providing a habitat for flies.

There are two different types of sloth: two-toed and three-toed. Two-toed sloths are the most common, especially in the United States, because their dietary requirements are more flexible than that of the three-toed sloth, which eats only cecropia leaves, a tree native to the Andean region of South America.

The only zoo that has a three-toed sloth in the United States is the Dallas World Aquarium, but two-toed sloths can be found in zoos all over the country, including the Detroit Zoo and Ann Arbor’s Creature Conservancy.

So what is it about sloths that make them the object of our fascination?

Sure, they’re cute, but is it possible that in our busy lives we envy the sloth? That we admire the sloth’s indifference to the problems of the world, and how they spend their days hanging from trees and eating leaves?

Probably not that last part. But there are lessons we can learn by harnessing the power of the sloth that might just make us happier people.

Here are four simple steps to harness the power of the sloth:

• Be part of something bigger.

Sloths are an important part of their ecosystem. Their fur grows backward, giving algae and insects a home. Sloths also leave their trees to bury their excrement at the base, helping to fertilize the tree.

You can harness the power of the sloth by contributing to your ecosystem and the other organism within. Please don’t grow algae on you back, though. Instead, think of a way you can make somebody’s job easier, or their day just a little better. After all, you aren’t isolated. You’re part of a community of other individuals. Imagine if they all kept each other in mind.

• Quiet is cool.

Sloths evade predators using their camouflage and slow speeds, but they try not to be noticed in the first place. Sloths make almost no noise. In fact, only the females make noise, a shrill whistle to attract mates.

You can harness the power of the sloth by thinking carefully before you speak. Don’t be the first person to speak, be the person who says the most important thing. If you first listen, you have more information and knowledge to base your statement on.

• Smile.

Have you ever noticed that sloths always seem to be smiling? Doesn’t it make them look friendly and nice? Have you ever been angry at a sloth?

You can harness the power of the sloth by smiling. People will like you much more if they think you look happy. Even if you aren’t.

• Take your time.

When was the last time you saw a sloth in a hurry? Never? I thought so. Sloths have really slow metabolism, so their moves are calculated to expend the least amount of energy as possible.

You can harness the power of the sloth by focusing on the quality of your work, not the quantity. By taking your time, you’ll produce better results. Also, teachers love when you take your time on projects and tests, because you typically do better. Just make sure not to confuse activity with achievement. Like the sloth, make sure that your activities are calculated to produce the best results.