How Can You Stop Being Lazy and Unmotivated? 5 Life-Changing Facts
To stop being lazy and feeling unmotivated you need to identify which factors put your brain in this mental state – but also what in your life is worth working hard for. So that the prospect of having what you want gives you the strength to fight laziness and the lack of motivation.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we get a commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.
Disclaimer: This article has been written solely to provide practical advice to those struggling to lead a more productive life and should not be used as a substitute for professional help under any circumstances.
What Causes Laziness And Lack Of Motivation?
Laziness and lack of motivation are not always synonymous, although they tend to go together. Laziness can be just tiredness or a direct response to boredom. Lack of motivation, on the other hand, is usually a response to a lack of passion, goals, or dreams to pursue.
Laziness and lack of motivation can also be symptoms of general discontent with one’s life, mental illness, or even undiagnosed ADHD.
What Are The Signs of Laziness?
Laziness can show up in many different ways depending on the person. But common signs of laziness include:
- Constant tiredness that prevents you from starting things, i.e., housework, new projects, or studies and work
- General lack of motivation
- Feeling guilty about never doing anything productive or fulfilling
- Lack of organization in the most used spaces, i.e., bedroom, house, office, desk, etc.
- You only have passive hobbies, i.e., binge-watching series, movies, anime, etc.
How Do I Become Less Lazy And Active?
The first thing to do to become less lazy is to identify what is putting you in this state of mind. Maybe you’re stuck in a vicious circle where you never do anything productive because you never start doing anything productive. You know how it is when you tell yourself: “tomorrow I’ll take the first step!”. However, you always leave tomorrow for, well, tomorrow.
Do you feel guilty about it? Yes, I know.
But maybe, in your case specifically, you need professional advice. So use this article to self-explore your behavior, but never as a substitute for professional help!
Let’s now check out 5 life-changing facts about what could be getting you stuck in the laziness trap.
5 Life-Changing Facts to Help You Stop Being Lazy and Unmotivated
Whenever you feel unmotivated and unable to stop being lazy all day long, answer this question: Is there anything that you really want? I’m not talking about something you would like to have. Instead, I’m talking about something that you feel like you need. And if you don’t get it, your life will be forever meaningless.
If so, then you already have what it takes to combat the external factors that are pushing you into this lazy state of being.
Check out these 5 hard truths. If they make you feel guilty, be honest with yourself! Identifying the problem and having the courage to take the first step are the first steps to stop being lazy and unmotivated.
1. Every Single Step Matters When You’re Trying to Stop Being Lazy and Unmotivated
I don’t know what you’ve been through. But I do know that even the smallest steps toward your goals and dreams matter when it comes to reducing your suffering.
For instance, let’s pretend that you worked the whole day. Plus, you also finished the housework, such as cleaning, cooking, or taking care of the kids.
What do you do now?
This is your spare time, so you need to choose wisely. How about watching your favorite show? Or even playing video games? After all, you need to have some fun.
Right?
But what if none of those activities help improve your life in the slightest? Come to think of it.
What if you get, say, two hours a day to do whatever you want? Would you choose to have some fun or do something important instead?
I know it sounds crazy at first. After all, you’re going to be tired and all.
But the truth is, 2 free hours per day for 5 days/week equals 10 hours/week to do whatever you have to do to achieve your goals.
Have you ever thought about how much you would have accomplished at the end of a month if you stopped being lazy, and, conversely, started doing what really matters?
I’m not saying that it’s easy to adapt to this. Chances are, you’ll feel lonely and overwhelmed in the beginning. But I swear it’ll be worth it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to write a book, start a blog that makes money, start an online store, or whatever. The more you work on it, the more you get used to it.
If you have trouble being motivated and can’t get rid of that annoying laziness, you need to convince yourself you are stronger than you have been lately. Until accomplishing things becomes a habit.
“But how the hell do I do that?!” you ask, incredulously.
By tricking your own mind. See item #2:
2. You Must Educate Your Brain That Stop Being Lazy Is Rewarding
Your brain is already used to your procrastination habits. So you must educate it that it’s not the way to go.
Think about it: What if your brain is sabotaging you because it’s used to make you do things that aren’t good for you?
Sometimes you are stuck in this lazy state simply out of habit. As you always do this, your brain understands that this is the way. That’s why the first step is always the hardest. Because it’s the first step that breaks the vicious cycle of bad habits.
Here’s a tip to trick your brain to break the cycle: tell yourself you’ll receive a reward after finishing what you have to do.
This can be anything relaxing or anything that makes you happy. You can eat your favorite dessert. You can watch the next episode of your favorite series or anime. Or maybe you just want to go for a walk.
Whatever it is, it has to be something you really want. Because it will make your brain understand that good things happen when you stop being lazy and become productive.
After all, what can be more motivating than knowing the reward that awaits you later?
3. Turning Off Your Phone Notifications Is a Must to Stop Being Lazy and Unmotivated
You really don’t know what happens inside your brain when you get a notification from a social media app.
The thing is, any external stimulus affects your focus and subsequently your motivation. And that is the intention of social networks. After all, these apps are designed to keep their users within their platforms as long as possible. That’s how they make money.
It’s bad for you, particularly, however. Because browsing through social media is a passive pastime. That is, you just sit in the armchair receiving mass information in the most passive way possible.
Have you ever noticed how that 10-minute stop to check what’s happening on your social media easily consumes almost an hour of your time without you realizing it?
Over time, your brain gets lazy as it gets used to not having to put any effort to be entertained or rewarded.
Never forget that your motivation is fragile. Therefore, it requires maintenance.
That is, if you want to keep motivated and get rid of laziness, don’t let social media apps dictate your behavior. Don’t fall into the trap of living on social media and not doing anything productive in real life.
Turn off notifications on all social media apps so that no one will get in your way.
4. The Lack Of Motivation and Inaptitude to Stop Being Lazy Might Mean You Suffer From FOMO
FOMO stands for Fear Of Missing Out. FOMO is particularly related to the overuse of social networks.
An enlightening article published on The Motion Machine explains how and why the feeling of FOMO is created when we spend too much time on social media:
When most people share things on social media, they naturally share things that make it look like they are living an awesome and exciting life. They share photos of themselves out partying with friends, going to fancy restaurants and weddings, or doing exciting things like traveling and skydiving.
Also:
If you go through most people’s social media, you’d think they are living their best life. And that’s what creates the feeling of FOMO (“fear of missing out”) in other people, who feel their lives can’t compare to all the positive things they see other people doing on social media.
I know it might sound a bit radical for some but, the truth is, if you want to feel more motivated and get rid of laziness, you must give social media a break.
Even more extroverted people and/or those who can work with music or TV playing in the background, while also replying to texts every once in a while, should take a step away from social media.
Nobody is free from FOMO — doesn’t matter if an extrovert, introvert, or ambivert.
If you’re going to feel anxious all day because of a social media app notification you woke up to, then you probably won’t be as productive as you should be. Not to mention all the times you feel like you’ve failed in life while browsing the social media feed because your life isn’t as perfect as others’.
You know yourself better than anyone else: you know that social media is screwing up your mental health. That’s why you can’t stop feeling unmotivated all the time.
“Why would I want to make an effort to stop being lazy if my life will never as amazing as an influencer’s anyway?”, you think sometimes.
That is bad. See what social media does to you? You don’t see any reason to stop being lazy because other people’s supposed perfect life makes you feel inferior.
As soon as you notice it’s happening to you, you should get rid of it as fast as you can.
Try to do this little by little. Start by cutting social media from a single day of the week, even though during that day your whole body itches to see if your coworker has already posted another picture of the perfect Sunday lunch she had at her husband’s brother-in-law’s cousin’s house.
If you are actually addicted to social media, this is going to be hard. But do resist as much as you can. Instead, turn off your smartphone and do anything that gets your attention and helps you avoid thinking about social media. Use this newly-found free time to take care of yourself, start a journal, cook, try to learn something new, anything. Just make sure you’re not miserably procrastinating around the corners. Remember that you are trying to stop being lazy and feeling unmotivated.
Repeat this process for as long as necessary: days, weeks, months. You’ll find that, after a while, your body and mind will thank you for the well-being that getting rid of anxiety and FOMO caused by social media causes you.
Without the influence of the false perfect life expectancy that social media creates, it’s much simpler to be motivated to avoid laziness and work hard to achieve your dreams.
5. If You Can Procrastinate All Day Long and Don’t Need to Stop Being Lazy — You’re Lucky
Or perhaps you’re not. Maybe you’re having a hard time and facing struggles I couldn’t even think about. But let’s pretend that there’s someone who helps you pay the bills and stuff. What if this person stops supporting you?
Perhaps you don’t want to think about it. I understand you. Trust me, I hate thinking about negative things. On the other hand, I want to convince you that you need to do what has to be done, one way or another.
Stop procrastinating because your life could be way more complicated tomorrow. And you need to be ready to face it.
How do you do so? That’s the way: put on a happy, upbeat song, so you can get rid of the laziness. And start getting things done. Take control of this giant creature called life. It’s unstable and unfair — but can also be beautiful and rewarding. It all depends on how determined you are to pursue your goals and dreams.
And if you are a lazy person, I can guarantee you that you’ll miss out on the best things in life, like reaching your true potential and feeling proud of yourself.
Now, if the only chore you’re having a hard time finishing right now is homework, know that this is good training for the tasks you’ll have to do later in life.
Plus, while it’s uncomfortable to think about some of the things I just said above, it is important to do so.
How to Not Be Lazy At Home
The comfort of home is one of the biggest traps of laziness. Ways to combat laziness indoors include:
- Turn on the sound with a song that lifts your spirits
- Practice hobbies that stimulate your brain like reading, learning to play an instrument, embroidering, learning a new language, etc.
- Avoid extremely passive practices that steal your attention, such as using social media or streaming services
- Promise yourself a reward at the end of the day.
How To Stop Being Lazy to Study
Keeping your desk organized, listening to the instrumental soundtrack of your favorite TV shows and games, keeping objects that reflect your personality on top of your desk, as well as promising yourself a reward after study time are good strategies to drive laziness away when studying.
FAQ
Why Do I Feel So Unmotivated to Do Anything?
A very dull routine could be taking your motivation away. Trying to break the routine to take a trip, even a quick trip, or reconnecting with things you used to enjoy can bring new perspectives, dreams, or goals to life. Which, as a result, will bring your motivation back.
Is Laziness a Mental Illness?
Laziness may just be a response to a dull routine, boredom, tiredness, or lack of motivation. In these cases, a break from the routine to practice self-care can take the laziness away.
In some cases, however, laziness can be a symptom of a mental disorder such as depression or ADHD.
What Is The Main Cause of Laziness?
Laziness does not have a single cause. Several factors affect a person’s lazy habits. However, the excess of distractions that the hyper-connected life brings, the lack of self-confidence, and tiredness as well as a bad diet, are cited as frequent reasons for laziness.
Can Laziness Be Cured?
Laziness does not always appear in the form of illness, so it cannot always be “cured”. In cases where laziness is a symptom of depression or other mental illnesses, only a professional in the field can recommend the appropriate cure for each individual.
On the other hand, for those struggling with laziness due to the pitfalls of modern life, a change in habits is necessary. For example, exercising, getting motivated with a new dream or goal, or even changing your diet can be the way to get rid of laziness.
Final Thoughts
Remember happiness is just around the corner. But you need to stop being lazy, roll up your leaves, and move to get there!
We have to believe it. We have to keep the faith. So if you’ve tried everything I just wrote above, yet you still can’t make an effort to overcome laziness, then try this last trick: think about a day when you felt really happy. Take some minutes to think about what made you so happy, so perhaps you’ll be able to remember how you felt back then.
It was great, wasn’t it?
Well, that’s exactly how you’ll feel when you see your work finished. Especially if you work hard on it: the feeling of accomplishment is truly satisfying.
Plus, as I’ve said many times before, what if this can totally change your life for the better just by stopping being lazy and starting rolling up your sleeves?
If it’s entirely up to you. You’re the only one who can make this favor for yourself.
And don’t even think about binge-watching your favorite anime instead of working on your dream, okay? 😉
Sharing is caring! Share on Pinterest!
If this article was helpful to you, would you consider sharing it on Pinterest? This helps others who may also benefit from this information, as well as helping us to spread the word about this quality content that we always strive to create for you. Thank you!
Originally posted on November 30, 2021. Last updated on December 7, 2023.
Read Next
Virtual Address and PO Box: crucial differences that remote workers need to know
7 Reasons You Can Never Be Productive At Home
