How can I stop being so lazy?

Thank you for reaching out and for submitting your question. I am sorry that you are experiencing such difficulty in life and having to face some challenges which are feeling very overwhelming to you.

There are a lot of people who struggle with laziness. It is common and normal for everyone to have times when they simply just don’t want to do something – or anything. However, when those moments become more frequent, and when they become quite disruptive to our functioning and our lives, then there is potentially a lot more going on.

And an important first thing to consider is what is really going on. Look at laziness as a symptom of a larger issue rather than being the actual problem itself. What is causing you to have such a hard time getting anything done? It will be valuable and necessary to take stock in order to discover what is really at the root of this problem. This can entail assessing your physical health, your overall lifestyle, your daily routine, and your psychological well-being?

There are a variety of reasons why this might be happening.

In some cases, we might feel stuck and bored. When our routine and life becomes monotonous then our brain begins to check out so to speak. We lose the desire the keep engaging as we begin to become overcome with what feels hopelessly boring. We start to lose motivation and become uninterested in doing much of anything. Breaking this pattern can involve adding in some new and novel pleasure each day. We can try adding in some more fun, some more things we will look forward to and be excited about. They don’t have to be big things. Something small will suffice.

Often, we can become paralyzed when we have too many choices and too many things vying for our focus. Too many options leads to us doing nothing. We get overly stressed out. We cannot make a decision and so we decide to do nothing. In such cases it could be time to really pull back and begin to simplify things. We can focus on what is really most important and decide on what is a priority.

Then, too, there is the concern of burnout. The work we find ourselves doing might sound great and pay well and all the things. However, it could be a less than ideal match for us personally. Not every job is a good match for each person. A poor fit can ultimately take a toll on our mood and energy. Work can also drain us if we have too much to complete or are working too many hours. If we do not have a good work-life balance we will end up struggling.

Chronic stress can play a role. There has just been too much to do for far too long. You just become too exhausted. We are designed to be able to handle short bursts of stress. But when the stress becomes chronic and never ending, we are not well equipped to manage this and thus we can become physically and emotionally exhausted. We find we begin to languish. 

It can sometimes involve a fear of conflict. It is easier to avoid possible conflict and so we do – meaning we pull back and do nothing. It can entail a fear of success or a fear of failure.

There is also the possibility of depression. This common condition can result in sadness, but also tends to cause you to lose interest in things you once enjoyed. It can cause you to withdraw from social relationships. You feel tired and fatigued. You do not have an interest in doing anything – be it a hobby, or chores or work.

In order to properly overcome the problem, you need to get a better understanding of what precisely is happening for you in particular. As you can see, there are multiple reasons why this could be happening. And each would require a different approach in order to overcome it.

A therapist could be a help in terms of working with you to identify what exactly is going on. The therapist can ask you questions and help you figure out what things may need to be addressed. Once you have a deeper understanding of the issue, then the therapist can partner with you to come up with a plan. Together you can devise some strategies that you can implement to help you begin to move forward. Having a support there to be at your side and to guide you can be a great help.

Also, it might be helpful to consider whether or not you may have an underlying medical condition. If you are finding you are struggling with a lot of fatigue, or perhaps brain fog, or some other symptoms, it can be helpful to ensure you are not actually dealing with some physical ailment. Additionally, you want to make sure you are taking care of your overall health. This means making sure you are getting enough sleep, that you are eating plenty of nutritious foods, and that you are getting in some movement. In terms of exercise, it can be especially helpful to get outside to ensure you get some sun and fresh air. Taking a casual walk with a friend at a local park might be a great option. You get in some exercise, have some support from a friend, and get some sun.  This alone can be very helpful in boosting mood and energy levels.

If this has been an ongoing issue and continues to be problematic then it could be time to seek out some professional support. You do not need to figure this out alone. A professional can help you identify the source of the problem and can help you come up with some solutions.