Do you often label yourself as “lazy” when you’re not in the mood to work or stuck in inaction? Do you ever ask yourself, “why am I so lazy?” Well, you’re not alone. From a therapist’s perspective, “lazy” is a reductionistic and oversimplified term applied to a general lack of motivation or will. The shame and guilt associated with laziness and procrastination often prevent us from seeking help to address the feeling. By exploring several different root causes for “laziness,” we can better identify goals and find solutions to feel more motivated and productive in our lives. This blog will explore laziness, why we procrastinate, the grind, and how to deal with burnout.
What is “Feeling Lazy?”
Feeling lazy is simply experiencing a feeling, which you notice and feel in your body. However, laziness is not one of our core emotions. Rather, the feeling of laziness is better described as a collection of symptoms associated with a lack of motivation or will to act. You might notice your body feeling heavy or weighed down, or a general lethargy and “fogginess.” There might be a lower amount of energy than your baseline level. You may notice increased thoughts that are resistant and unmotivated, or even making excuses or rationalizing your inaction. You might also consider yourself “lazy” when you simply lack interest or are bored by a task, which is human. As you can see, these symptoms encompass a wide range of experiences, often captured by the simple word: lazy.
Emotional Avoidance
Oftentimes, we avoid tasks that may bring up unpleasant emotions or symptoms of anxiety–it makes sense! However, this continued avoidance sets us up for a vicious cycle of procrastination. Ongoing procrastination can induce a feeling of shame as if something is inherently “wrong” with you for always being “lazy” and finding it difficult to complete tasks. We must pay attention to procrastination, beginning with noticing patterns and identifying triggers to your procrastination behavior. By simply identifying, labeling, and allowing yourself to feel the core emotion you may be avoiding, the task becomes more approachable. Procrastination can feel like an unchangeable core trait, however in reality, it is a behavioral pattern that can be modified and improved so you can feel empowered and motivated to take action.
Burnout
The somatic symptoms often associated with laziness echo those associated with the more accurate term burnout. Job pressures, financial stressors, or challenging relationships can cause burnout, characterized by feelings of heaviness, lethargy, and other physical symptoms. “The grind” culture makes us vulnerable to burnout. Dealing with burnout is no simple task, especially when attempting to strike the elusive ‘work/life balance’ in a busy urban setting like New York City. Though a challenging task, noticing your burnout allows you to take stock of where you currently direct your energy, and where to create boundaries so you have the energy to take care of and prioritize your own needs. If this is your experience, you are not lazy–in fact, you need to focus on resting and restoring your mental and physical health in order to cope with burnout.
Depressed Mood
You may conflate feeling lazy with feeling depressed, but a depressed mood more accurately describes a persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. People often associate this persistent feeling with fatigue, lack of interest and pleasure, decreased concentration, and disturbances in sleep patterns. While society loads the term “lazy” with shame and guilt to isolate you, describing yourself as depressed enables you to receive the compassion and care necessary for healing. By framing this feeling as a depressed mood, you also allow yourself to recognize that this is a matter of mental health, not a core characteristic of being a “lazy person.” A good place to start when you’ve identified a depressed mood is with self-soothing and self-care. Ultimately, working with a psychotherapist and/or psychiatrist can provide a clearer path to improve your depressed mood and feel empowered to take action in life.
"The Grind" of Hustle Culture
Finally, hustle culture’s pressures and expectations could bind up your feelings of laziness. “The grind” of hustle culture is an intense focus on productivity, ambition, and success, often pressuring employees to prioritize work. These expectations are often labeled as toxic and harmful to your wellbeing. Simply put, these capitalistic values may not align with your personal values. Regardless, you may need to exist in such an environment, especially in NYC where many jobs are fast-paced and high-stress. By locating the “problem” as an external, cultural pressure (“the grind”), rather than assigning the “character flaw of being lazy,” you create space for compassion and your own values.
The idea that we are “lazy” is far too reductionistic to explain the far more complex reality of our feelings. “Feeling lazy” is not merely a lack of motivation or willpower. “Feeling lazy” encompasses a spectrum of emotions and symptoms, from emotional avoidance and procrastination to burnout or a depressed mood, with the additional external factors of pressures like hustle culture. Understanding the root causes of “feeling lazy” empowers us to take proactive steps to address them. By shedding the guilt and shame associated with the term “lazy” and approaching our inaction with empathy and self-compassion, we can pave the way for personal growth, enhanced motivation, and a more fulfilling life.
Are you interested in exploring burnout and procrastination in psychotherapy? Reach out to myTherapyNYC to find out which of our therapists would be a good fit for you!
How are you coping with procrastination and burnout? Join in the conversation in the comments below!
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