Are you really lazy or is it something much deeper?
Do you worry that you are becoming a chronic procrastinator?
While you may pawn off your lack of success or being where you want to be by merely stating that, “I’m just so lazy about doing __________.” But sometimes the truth is much more revealing than that. Have you thought about why you procrastinate more than you’d like?
Maybe Your Laziness Is Really Perfectionism in Disguise
For years, I would “drag my feet” and not want to get started on certain projects. I was always waiting for the perfect day of the week. Or when everything around me was going perfectly. The truth is there really is no perfect day on the calendar—every day comes with its own unique challenges. I have to be the one to rise above challenges and try to manage my time around them.
The biggest thing for me was just being able to get up and say, “Well, I’m just going to get started. Good, bad or ugly—I’m doing this. I can always go back and tweak, redo or fix. I’m just going to get started so I can finish.”
Maybe you can relate to this or maybe your procrastination is something other than perfectionism.
Maybe Your Laziness Is Really Fear
Maybe you are worried about what will happen if you fail at an endeavor. What will others say? How will you “save face”?
I hear this from coaching clients all the time. I merely tell them to try it and see. Maybe if the project fails, you will find something better fitted. Sometimes you have to fail at a few things to be able to finally find what you want in life. Some of the greatest inventions in history were a result of an invention failing to do one thing, but solving another unrelated problem. Remember the Post-Its story or the liquid paper story?
Be open to serendipity and being able to switch paths when you see the leading.
Maybe Your Laziness Is Really a Feeling of Being Overwhelmed
This is not hard to feel this way sometimes with so many demands put on us in our careers and daily lives. However, it is okay to ask for help. It is also okay to take a project and break it down into several smaller projects as well. Plan out the project in a way that keeps it moving forward, but not at an unrealistic pace.
When the project starts to feel overwhelming to you, know when to say when. Got it?
Maybe Your Laziness is Really A Lack of Confidence
This can happen when you’ve tried things in the past, and they did NOT work out as planned. It is easy to sit back and expect history to repeat itself. However, it is even more noble to go ahead and create your own history or outcome. So, rise up and conquer those obstacles and self-doubts. Realize that if that is what you want, then you owe it to yourself to give it your best try ever.
Part of goal setting is to believe you can achieve the goal. Even if it takes practice, time, coaching, reassessing, and a few other things—you can achieve your goal!
Maybe Your Laziness is Really Not Being in Touch With Your True Authenticity
We’ve all had to do work sometimes, which really didn’t do much more for us than pay the bills. It certainly didn’t align with our own unique skill and talents. It was just something we did until something better came along. It was boring, demeaning, low-paying, and stressful or any combination of that. You really need something that motivates you.
We knew every day that it was not what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. Don’t let it destroy you. Try to move on and try to find something better or create a better income stream or opportunity for yourself. If you don’t know how, there are people that can help (hint, hint, yours truly).
In Conclusion
So, there you have it! Now, go and uncover your own real reasons for laziness. More importantly, stop them from undermining your success and powerful purpose.
As always, I’d love to hear from you. What have you discovered about your “laziness” and how are you working through it? Feel free to leave a comment below.
I still haven’t figured out which one I am.
Wonderful post, Leisa Good! Apart from fear, perfectionism, self-confidence, true authentication; I will be glad to tell you that people get lazy because they’re wanted to be and they are just lazy! Good to be here!
Procrastination is the thief of opportunity..This article is an eye opener.. If we truly know the cause of our laziness,we can take care of this root cause and remove laziness from our dictionary
I am willing to bet on lack of confidence since it happened to me and so to the rest of us. I think its fine though because to me being lazy is not an issue. Staying lazy is definitely.
I think mine is borne out of fear and lack of confidence. The good thing is that I’m trying to change all of that because I gain nothing from being lazy.
I might have to attribute mine to denial of truth. I don’t just to believe I’m lazy but I am. I need to work on that.
I think I procrastinate my projects because of the fear to fail. You arr right I should try and see if things workout or not instead of staying scared in the confort zone.
There are definitely many underlying reasons for laziness. I think one of the biggest ones that you touched on was fear. I often find if I’m fearful to get up in the morning or socialize, it hinders my ability to be proactive. I think the best way to overcome this is to have days to yourself to unwind and then get up and get right back into the swing of things. Keeping a healthy rhythm is very important.
I guess my laziness comes from lack of self confidence. As a child before, I was always being compared to other children, leaving my confidence away.
Liesa Good, your posts on your blog are so clear, straight to the point and so helpful. Thanks for your daily posts. Laziness is something you choose for yourself if you so desire it.
Great article Leisa! I know for me I am not a lazy person by nature, so when I do experience a drain of energy, then it’s usually related to me not being interested (or challenged) in what I am doing.
@Reg – I hear this all the time as a coach. Find something work-wise that will get you out of bed in the mornings.
My laziness is actually lack of confidence in myself, in this time I have meditated on it, the worst enemy is oneself, because you sabotage yourself putting off everything, without realizing that you are wasting a lot of time through it.
Thanks for commenting, Maria Castillo. A lot of my clients struggle with a lack of confidence or self-sabotage. I always ask them, “What is the worst thing that can happen?” Then plan for that. Also, a lack of confidence can be caused with fear of the unknown or misinformation. So, seek out those who have done what you want to do.
Self-sabotage? You may feel that you don’t deserve success or what you are after. However, we all do. Understand that and focus on that. Also, have a backup plan. Even though you deserve success, it still takes planning and practice. Setbacks are wrapped in clues and teachable moments.
Thanks for commenting.