“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” ~Benjamin Disraeli
Although laziness is common and a natural part of life, it has the potential to completely consume us.
I personally have times where laziness causes me to feel trapped. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to shake it off. I feel tired, fall asleep constantly during the day, sit around a lot and feel unable to be active, avoid doing anything productive, and put on hold things that I want to accomplish.
I believe there are two kinds of laziness. First, there’s the kind where you have been working your butt off for weeks and finally, after all your hard work, all you want to do is be lazy and do nothing.
But then there’s the kind of laziness where you struggle to find motivation. Every time you think of something you would like to do or achieve, you cannot find the energy or drive to work toward it. This is the kind of laziness that I am talking about.
Being lazy is actually quite draining and depressing. I know because I regularly find myself feeling so lethargic that even the simplest task seems like a challenge. I’m sure I’m not alone in this struggle.
I have found five effective ways to overcome my laziness that I want to share with you so you can win your personal battle too.
1. Focus on just a few things at a time.
We often create a big list of things that we want to do and achieve. Focusing on two or three things at a time will allow you to feel less overwhelmed. Instead, you will feel motivated, as your goals will now seem so much more achievable.
Out of the two sets of six-month goals below, which set gets you more motivated?
Learn to play guitar, do well at work, and get fit.
Learn to play guitar, do well at work, get fit, build big muscles, get better at singing, get top marks at school, learn how to draw better, and write a book.
When I see the second list, I feel overwhelmed. When my life looks a bit like this, I usually don’t know where to start or if I can succeed at anything I’ve set out to do.
People feel motivated when they feel they have a good chance of success.
This has been a big learning curve for me. When success seems like it is just around the corner, suddenly I get an amazing rush of energy where I feel liberated and excited to achieve bigger things.
Set yourself two or three easy to achieve goals at a time and you will notice that you will naturally gain inspiration and motivation.
2. Exercise.
Exercise is the simplest way to overcome laziness. A lot of the time, we feel lazy because completing a task seems too difficult. With exercising, you don’t have to figure anything out. You just have to make that one big decision to literally start moving your body (jump up and down, go for a run, or start doing lunges in your living room).
This has been a big revelation for me. Sometimes I get so fed up with feeling lazy and lethargic that I literally just start running. I have learned that if you can overcome physical laziness, your mind will naturally follow.
You will find that you will become more willing to think about complicated things, such as working on a project or doing something that you have been avoiding. Exercise will help you break through that barrier of inertia and will help you feel motivated and more willing to put in effort.
3. Allow yourself time to relax and do the things you enjoy.
Sound’s ironic, doesn’t it? Overcoming laziness by relaxing! But it works.
Often, we become lazy because a task seems too difficult. By relaxing and doing the things we enjoy, we allow ourselves to feel satisfied. When we are satisfied, we are more willing to take on bigger tasks and achieve bigger things.
By relaxing and enjoying yourself, you also allow yourself to think about things, reflect, and feel inspired.
For example, I often feel uninspired to write articles. I get a mental block. Writing and researching becomes an overwhelming task, so I retreat to laziness. I completely block out anything that requires hard work.
I have learned that as I relax and do things I enjoy, my mind is encouraged to reflect again. It is not scared of becoming overwhelmed because it knows that I am not going to push it to do something productive if it does not want to.
This is how I gain inspiration again. When I relax, I suddenly find myself thinking of all these great ideas and I regain inspiration and motivation.
4. Get organized.
Your physical surroundings have a big impact on how you feel. If your house is a mess, you are likely to feel even more overwhelmed—both because clutter creates a sense of chaos and because having to clean your house adds to your giant list of things to do in a ridiculously short amount of time.
Clean your house and organize your physical surroundings and you will naturally feel motivated to be more productive and active.
You will be making life simpler and easier to manage.
Once you’ve organized your home, you may feel motivated to get organized in other areas of your life and tackle tasks you’ve neglected.
As I mentioned earlier, laziness is often our attempt to avoid difficult or unpleasant tasks. Ironically, once you start tackling them, it will all feel less difficult and overwhelming and you’ll likely feel a lot less tense.
5. Be aware of and monitor your internal dialogue.
Our internal dialogue (the way we speak to ourselves) has such a big impact on how we feel and what we do.
Anthony Robins, world famous motivational speaker, explains that if we want to feel ecstatic, all we need to do is adopt a point of view that creates that emotion.
For example, picturing in your mind the things that make you feel that way, change the tone and content of your internal dialogue and change your posture and breathing to create that state in your body.
This has become my personal motto, and I am genuinely amazed at how much more positive I feel just by choosing to have a positive outlook.
Every time I have a negative thought, such as “today is going to be a long, hard day at work,” I immediately challenge that thought by telling myself something like this: “I have so much to be grateful for and today is going to be fun and enjoyable!”
I then make a choice to get rid of my slouchy posture and tell myself that I have lots of energy.
Just thinking that way makes me feel excited and gives me a big boost of energy.
I once learned that we have over 50,000 thoughts a day. Even if only 10% of them are negative, it equals a total of 5,000 negative thoughts a day. When I heard this, I realized that we have way too many negative thoughts and it helped make sense of why so many of us struggle to feel motivated.
Being aware of and monitoring your internal dialogue is so important, and will inevitably impact on how lazy you feel and how easy it will be for you to overcome that laziness.
These methods have helped me incredibly and continue to help me everyday. I am sure that if you apply them too, you will experience a big boost of energy and motivation in your daily life.
About Chantalle Blikman
Chantalle Gerber is a writer and co-founder of Want2discover. Visit her website for more great articles on self-improvement and how to live a fulfilling and happy life. Be sure to download a copy of her Free Ebook: 15 Simple Steps Towards Happiness and Success.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
Thanks for your article Chantalle, it’s very recognizable!
What I found to be very helpful is to write down 2 or 3 things that I have to do each day. Easy to remember and usually easy to accomplish.
Also I make a list of all the small, less important things I want to do. Every time I have a little bit of time, I try to cross one thing of that list. That way it is not as stressful and I get more things accomplished.
Thanks for sharing this list. Relaxing and doing something you enjoy when you get stuck is something new I have been trying. In the past, I would try to push myself to work harder and get nowhere. I am finding that if I take a break and do something I enjoy, I can come back refreshed and energized.
Hi Chantalle, thank you for sharing your tips! My favorite one is “be aware of and monitor your internal dialogue”. This concept has changed my whole entire life. We choose how we want to see things. The energy we give off is the energy we attract. This is also a concept that is taught in mindfulness. For example, say I have a lot of dishes to wash. Instead of being bitter that I have to wash the dishes, I am grateful I have two hands. Say I have to walk a far distance. Instead of being irritated, I can choose to be grateful that I have two feet. There are a million blessings we each have, we just have to be in the moment and be aware of the blessings. The more we are, the happier we are. We make our own lives better or worse just with our own perceptions. It is amazing how powerful our thoughts are. It’s even more amazing that the power is in our own hands.
Well written Chantalle, Every life incident could be looked as half full or half empty. If we look it as half full, it is a positive thought.
I’ve been depressed and lazy for months. My cat was dying and then did die and I didn’t know what to do with myself. It was affecting everything. My thoughts and actions not only towards me, but others as well. I was mad at myself for wasting time yet again on the couch last night watching horrible tv and decided to paint in my house. Just a little vanity in my bathroom that has been driving me crazy. It looks so much better and completely changed my mood! I can tell that today other people can feel my happiness and I feel so much better today than I have in months. I let my sadness and the negative thoughts overcome me. But once I decided to not be lazy, and actually do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time…I felt 100% better.
nice tips these really are true to me … sometimes thx for it
I’m going to start off by saying that I’m not responding just to your article; I’m responding to the general feel of articles on this site, but yours is the one that’s prompting me to respond. I think this site (and you as well) probably do provide a lot of inspiration for normal people dealing with normal stuff. I’m bothered, though, by the use of words like “depressing” because that’s not really what you’re talking about. I agree with your idea about the smaller goal being more motivating and more doable…as a person with major depression, though, the idea of “learn to play guitar” as being doable is surreal. My idea of a goal is more like “brush my teeth.” And sometimes I don’t reach it. I guess what it comes down to is wanting the world to “get it” and really understand what a debilitating, crippling illness depression is. Too many people read these kinds of articles and then extrapolate to “if only the depressed person would do this stuff, everything would be fine.” It’s not true. I’m not saying these things can’t help, but seriously…sometimes brushing your teeth is a major achievement, equivalent to climbing a mountain for other people. Depression is a struggle every single day just to exist. One of the most difficult parts dealing with it is the well meant advice about setting goals and trying just a little bit harder because it doesn’t contain the understanding that if a truly depressed person got dressed today, he/she probably put in more effort than a regular person did by going to work all day.
Sorry for the loss of your cat. <3 It's good you did something. It's okay to be sad. Be aware of your emotions and feel through them. That's the healthiest way to deal with them. Keeping your mind occupied will always give you a better mood. Even little changes you make, like the vanity you painted, make a great impact. I really don't like watching TV. I feel like we are watching other people live and are stopping ourselves from living. There are so many things we can be doing; reading, taking a walk, expressing ourselves through art, etc. Things that are good for our souls and make us happier. Take care <3
That makes total sense. Depression isn’t something you can just shake off. It’s real.
I love this! Your website is also a great source of inspiration for me too! Totally bookmarking. Thank you for sharing
Great post, Chantelle! The funny thing that has been so true in my life is that when I get writer’s block what helps me is picking up a book and kicking back for a little while. I always get lots of ideas from reading something else because I’m not putting any pressure on myself to create. Then I can use those ideas when I return to my writing. I would also recommend always focusing on why you do what you do. I set up habits for myself so that the first thing I do when I want to give up or my internal dialogue is “this isn’t going to work out” is that I think about why I want to do this in the first place. That always sets me on the right track!
I have come to the same conclusions as some of the points presented in this list. The first one seem to me to be a big problem a lot of people struggle with. What I would like to try, which I haven’t given an honest shot, is exercise.
Hello Rob, glad to hear that you agree with my article. You should definitely try exercise. It’s very effective!
Hi Laura. Thats definitely a good idea, reminding yourself why you want something to get motivated again. I will make a point of doing that myself next time I want to give up on something! Also, its good to hear that you can relate to my article.
Hi Krutika. Glad you could identify with my tips. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Swan. Its great to hear that you have found a way to overcome your negative thoughts and constant sadness. Being positive takes a lot of effort so it makes sense that when we decide not to be lazy, we will also be more willing to challenge our thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
Hi there. I love the examples you gave. It is amazing at how much our thoughts and way of thinking can influence our life…and like you said…its even more amazing that its in our own hands! I think that you would love the book “Unlimited Power” by Anthony Robins (if you haven’t already read it). Its all about how powerful our internal dialogue is. In fact, it was my inspiration for that section of my article. Thanks for lovely comment!
HI Karla. It’s definitely something worth keeping up…its always so effective for me. Thanks for your comment.
Never heard of it. Will check it out. Thank you. =)
Hi Judith. That seems like a great idea…making a separate list of smaller things you want to achieve and then knocking them off slowly overtime.That way you don’t get overwhelmed by a huge list but still have the opportunity to do some of the smaller things if you feel you have time. I will have to try this myself. Thanks!
I love how you point so so well made by the fact that the author replies to most all the post but ignores yours.. hang in there, I know the frustration you feel.
This was really helpful; thank you sharing…now just need to try & be more mindful of this on a day-to-day basis! :P.
Sheri..I can totally understand where you are coming are since I struggle with bi-polar on a day-to-day basis! “Being lazy is actually quite draining and depressing…I know because I
regularly find myself feeling so lethargic that even the simplest task
seems like a challenge.” The word, DEPRESSING caught my attention as well since I know the difficulty of most people around you not realizing the seriousness of depression & anxieties…and often confusing it with being lazy &/or making excuses; but I’m sure it was prob the last thing on Chantelle’s mind when she wrote it just like when we notice a spelling mistake/grammatical error in what may otherwise be a great piece of writing!
Hi Sheri. I did respond to your comment yesterday but for some reason it has not shown up. I realize that a lot of people underestimate or think they understand what depression or other struggles feel like. I can imagine how frustrating it can be for you and I am sorry if my article has reinforced this feeling. When I referred to the word depressed, I used that word intentionally because I felt that it had meaning to me. I may not experience major depression and I did not attempt to address major depression in my article because I am no expert. What I do know is that when I used the words “laziness can be quite draining and depressing” I meant it. Like I said, there are times where even the most simple tasks seem like a challenge (very much like what you explained in your comment – like brushing your teeth). What I experience is personal to me and I don’t feel that I should have to tell my life story to prove that I can identify with the word depression. I understand that your comment was not only prompted by my article alone and I do understand how you might feel like people just don’t “get it”. I do not claim to understand the depth of what you experience. I am simply trying to offer my advice on what I do know and hopefully some people can relate to it and find it useful in their life.
An inspiring article. This really hits home. I look forward to using these concepts. Thank you for sharing.
Cathy the Bagg Lady
These are all great tips. I always feel better mentally when I have exercised but admit its the easiest thing for me to avoid when I am feeling lazy. I hope you will stop by and share with my readers at our #SmallVictoriesSunday #linky that is open now. Link up to 3 inspiring posts!
http://momssmallvictories.com/small-victories-sunday-linky-16-one-mice-away-mommy-cleans/
This is such a great article that I really needed to read at this present moment … Thankyou!
This is great to read when I have been feeling particularly lazy recently! Some things to think about.
http://hollysparkle.blogspot.co.uk
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopSparkleMotion
Thank you, I’m also really lazy and the last point really helped me to realize something. Like you articles!
http://www.uncharted-me.blogspot.cz
Thanks for these great tips, sometimes it’s true that tasks can feel overwhelming! It’s great to find advice that can really make a difference for everyone ^__^
Regards,
Miss Eliza WonDerland
http://www.misselizawonderland.com/
Having had a couple of episodes of Depression in my life, I know it’s a completely different animal than being depressed (and thus I like to capitalize the D, to highlight the difference). But the thing that resonated for me in this article is that feeling of being trapped by laziness.
Chantalle, I found it really thought-provoking that you posit that the laziness can cause the depressed feelings rather than the other way around. I’ve been pondering it since reading this article yesterday and I think that causal relationship can flow both ways. Sometimes, whether depressed or going through Depression I appear to be lazy but it’s really more accurate to say it’s hard for me to care about anything. And other times I get depressed because I feel trapped inside my laziness and can’t get the momentum going to break through the inertia. I feel like your article is addressing this second relationship.
Anyway, I loved the article and I am printing it for future reference to remind me how to break free when I am feeling trapped.
Obviously you are struggling with major depression, Sherri, and that is not what this article is about. Feeling depressed because you’ve been feeling lazy is something totally different than BEING depressed. I think the author knows that major depression is not going to just go away by learning a new skill. This article is not for those with major depression…it’s geared for those of us who have been feeling “blah” and need a little encouragement to get going again. I think you’re reading way too much into what the author is trying to say. I have struggled with major depression and I know darn well these light hearted kind of articles are not going to help me dig myself out of the big, black hole. Perhaps you would find more appropriate articles on sites like Psychology today. Best of luck to you…depression sucks!
She didn’t ignore her post
Hi Ms.Chantalle,
I’m just realise that focused so many things to do can become the reason that laziness happened. Because I’m a perfectionist and still learn to change that habit like, “do everythings good, or not doing that things”.
And when I try to be good, things that I do will become more and make me exhausted.
In the end, laziness attack me and I become not doing anything =_=
So Thank you for sharing your tips.. ^^
Hi Yessi.
Thanks for your comment! I can be a bit of a perfectionist myself so I can totally relate. It can be exhausting when you are trying to be good at something. And it can be hard to get motivated in the first place because you realize that anything you decide to do is going to be hard work. You’re not alone!
Hi Raven.
Thanks for your comment. You have some interesting thoughts going on. I would have to agree that my article refers more to your second example too. I’m glad that my article is helpful for you. Those 5 tips help me every time I feel trapped inside my laziness.
Thanks for sharing!
Step one, there shouldnt be much stuff to read, we’re talking about lazy people, lazy to read long paragraphs.
Hi Chantalle Gerber good to see your site I like it, in night I was just playing with my tab and I found your site. When I just want to avoid laziness the best way to do just download your childhood songs or your memorial songs in your cell phone or on your tablet and set as a alarm at 5:00 am in the morning to wake up and definitely when you feel these songs through your Hart you will definitely stand like a athlete and do something for you.
Before this I was nothing but when I try this method I do lots of improvements in my health well as my wealth also and this is true.
Can I give you a ‘LIKE’? Thank you so much…
Hi Chantalle.
I’m an undergraduate Physics student. I think I’ve been studying really hard for about last 2 years. When I feel really motivated – I’m an introvert myself, most of the time I’ve got my motivations by my own self – I can stuck my nose in Maths or Physics book for a day and sometimes I don’t get sleep for few days, writing equations tirelessly, and this can happen for months. But there’s time where I feel so lazy to “calculate” anything and I feel like all I want to do is just laying in my bed or reading my novels or watching movies (honestly, I’m not sure if it’s laziness or I just want to get rid of those Maths & Physics books for a while). And amazingly this can happen for days and even weeks. Whenever I think about this, I feel like my life is unbalance and I imagine myself trapped in between my dream to be a Physicist and the things that I wanted to experience just like everyone else. What should I do?
hi Chantalle Gerber,thanks for the examples you gave,this is attract me .i likes that quotes…with happiness we will do something..but without happiness we will do something for our happiness…that’s good ..i can’t understand someone from this.. example sometime i have full body pain. that time i can’t do anything.. because may be tired or lazy..that time what do i do?? please give some energetic message to me..
I just want you to know that your article has inspired me to really break through this…especially the comment about depressed feelings as a result of laziness.
I work two jobs and live in an apartment alone with my pets. I often feel so worn out by the end of the week that it’s hard to find the energy to do anything, even things I know need to be done. There are critical things around the home I know I won’t feel better until I do — like organize my closet space, which is an inaccessible mess– but it doesn’t seem like I’m even home long enough to do them.
Also, THANK YOU for addressing the short list…I try to make lists so I can visualize what I still need to do, but I find myself becoming so overwhelmed by everything that I can’t even start. And therein lies the problem… because the end result of sitting on the couch and browsing Facebook after a long day only makes me feel dull and useless at the expense of productivity.
Awesome thanks for the tips
Hi Chantelle, I am someone who is really good at what I do and I love what I do. I enjoyed a lot of success and I’m only 24. Also, I’m a perfectionist; never taken the easy way out.
Then something happened (not sure what it is) and I got lazy. So lazy that I don’t even talk to my inner self. But I can’t take the easy way out either. Don’t even know how to do it. So I don’t do anything at all. I just find excuses.
Exercise Hands down is the best Solution. All other ideas are just hacks/workarounds for lazy people.
If you wanna beat boredom, Laziness, Depression , You have to start moving hard. Points 1,3,4,5 will not work Long time if you are Staying still or watching TV or drinking beer.
why are you struggling
Awesome post… Thank you for sharing your tips..
Can’t even read it. *Yawwwwns*
thanks!! very practical tips!!
hi
my dream is to start business
but iam so Lazy. every time i will thinking somethink
please help me