Have you found yourself hitting the snooze button too often, pushing the unfolded laundry to create space to sleep on the bed, or staring at yesterday’s dishes fermenting in the sink? Everyone feels lazy sometimes, and should even embrace it from time to time. But if laziness has become the default setting, it’s time to re-evaluate.
Psychologists say that laziness is the inability to exert effort (despite wanting to on some level). It can be fueled by various factors, such as loss of motivation, learned habits, and mental health issues.
Is there a way to get back on track? Absolutely. Here’s how you can regain your energy and stop feeling lazy all the time.
1. Find Motivation
Answering your “why” is one of the greatest ways to get things done- no matter what task is at hand. Understand why you want to accomplish your tasks and remind yourself of the benefits of staying motivated (i.e. a clean house, a happy family, less stress, etc.).
2. Set Specific Goals
Defining clear, achievable objectives will give you direction and motivation. Make your goals realistic and achievable. Aiming to remodel a house in a day will frustrate you, but setting up a long-term goals with detailed steps to get there will help you visualize how you’ll actually get there.
3. Create a Schedule
It’s hard to do anything when the day’s activities come at you like an avalanche. To maintain balance and productivity, allocate time for all the important daily activities, including work, leisure, and self-care.
4. Eliminate Distractions
Today’s world has enough things to divert anyone’s attention from the important things. To maintain focus, identify and remove or minimize distractions, such as social media or unnecessary notifications.
5. Cultivate Positivity
The mind is a strong tool; if it tells you you can’t, you won’t. Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations to boost motivation and productivity. Telling yourself each day that you’re lazy will only perpetuate the cycle. Try trading that story for something like, “Today, I will achieve great things.”
6. Get Enough Sleep
You will be surprised what a little snooze can do to your energy levels and motivation. Ensure you’re well-rested to maintain energy levels and cognitive function, reducing the likelihood of laziness. This means getting to bed on time!
7. Prioritize Tasks
Sometimes, there is so much to do that we end up doing nothing. To prevent feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list, focus on completing high-priority tasks first. Taking it one task at a time and prioritizing can help you feel like you’re actually making progress rather than wanting to give up.
8. Break Tasks into Smaller Chunks
It’s difficult to do much when tasks look insurmountable. Large tasks often result in procrastination; however, dividing them into smaller parts renders them more manageable. Give it a try!
9. Reward Yourself
Giving rewards to others for accomplished tasks helps, but we often forget that we, too, need these rewards. Establish rewards for completing tasks or reaching milestones to incentivize yourself.
10. Practice Self-care
Going on and on doing things you don’t like or enjoy can take a toll on you. Take breaks when needed, engage in activities you enjoy, and prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Your mind will feel clearer and more focused when you need it.
11. Seek Accountability
Share your goals with others or work with an accountability partner to help you stay committed and on track. Knowing your work and progress will be checked by someone else will help you push yourself to do it.
12. Identify and Break Bad Habits
You can’t treat a problem without diagnosing it. Identify habits that contribute to laziness, such as excessive screen time or negative self-talk, and work on replacing them with healthier alternatives.
13. Practice Self-discipline
Self-discipline is not always easy, but it’s necessary and beneficial. Train yourself to stick to your schedule and resist the temptation to procrastinate. Plus, when you stick with it long enough and gain all the benefits from staying on track, you’ll build habits that start making it easier and automated to continue forward.
14. Stay Organized
An untidy space makes working on anything, whether in an office or home, even harder. Keep your workspace and home tidy, and create systems for managing tasks and information to reduce clutter and improve efficiency.
15. Seek Support
Laziness may indicate a deeper underlying psychological problem and loved ones can help us overcome it. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from friends, family, or professionals if you’re struggling to overcome laziness on your own.
12 Traits of Unsuccessful People Who Never Do Anything with Their Lives
Scared of lagging behind or staying in the same position? Well, let’s talk about it! In this article, we’ll find 12 common traits of unsuccessful people who never do anything with their lives so that you won’t be one of them.
12 Traits of Unsuccessful People Who Never Do Anything with Their Lives
12 Things Highly Successful People Prioritize Every Single Day
Pursuing success is a common aspiration, but it doesn’t materialize on its own. Success results from numerous small habits gradually evolving into a lifestyle, propelling us toward our goals.
12 Things Highly Successful People Prioritize Every Single Day
22 Junky Things You’re Saving That You Should Throw Out Now
Are you one of those people who have difficulty throwing things out? Let’s face it: we all save things thinking we might need them someday. But often, that day never comes, and the clutter keeps adding up.
22 Junky Things You’re Saving That You Should Throw Out Now
I’m a Language and Literary Studies (Honors) graduate with 11 years of experience in magazine and blog writing and content creation. I’m passionate about storytelling for change and believe in the power of words to make a difference. My writing is thought-provoking, accessible, and engaging, focusing on the Psychology of human behavior, complex social issues, personal experiences, and the latest trends. I’m a wife and a Mom of three.
