You Aren’t Lazy: Exploring a Lack of Motivation

Ever feel like you are out of it? Feel as you are procrastinating or just not sure what it is that’s happening here?

There are many reasons a person may lack forward momentum. ( I like those words…FORWARD MOMENTUM😊)

Some KEY POINTS

• Laziness is not a helpful descriptor for the difficulties we experience with getting started on tasks.
• Perfectionism, loneliness, low mood, fatigue and low energy often play a part. 
• Understanding what is keeping you from doing things is key to being able to address the problem.

Laziness. It’s a word tossed around quite a bit. Why didn’t your neighbor cut their lawn? They’re lazy. Why is Carol’s car a mess? She’s lazy. Why haven’t you finished your term papers yet? You’re lazy. 

Okay. Wait.

What even is laziness? Not wanting to do something? If your neighbor didn’t mow their lawn because they’ve been ill, are they lazy? What if Carol hasn’t cleaned her car because she’s working two jobs and using it as a sort of home away from home sometimes? Lazy?

1. Low Mood

Don’t feel like it? Maybe you don’t feel like much of anything. If you find it difficult to enjoy even the good things, it can be difficult to do the chores of life. 

What You Can Do

If your low mood has been a one-off thing lasting less than two weeks, it might make sense first to take a step back. What’s bringing you down? Do you need time to grieve something, or is something missing from your life? Sometimes sadness is our mind’s way of letting us know something isn’t right. If it has been more than two weeks and there is no clear reason for your sadness, it may be worthwhile to reach out to a medical professional, such as your doctor. It could also be meaningful to seek counseling. 

2. Lost Motivation/Sense of Direction

Maybe there doesn’t seem to be a point to what you are trying to do. You go to work every day at a job that has lost its glimmer. You’ve lost sight of your values and goals. You feel adrift.

What You Can Do

Knowing where you are headed, and what values you have is essential for life to feel meaningful. It’s very normal to lose sight of these things at times. This may be a good time to reach outside yourself. Talking with a friend, mentor, teacher, spiritual leader, or therapist can help you remember what matters to you. Journaling (this is me…I love to journal) on what matters to you, writing about what legacy(not sure what will happen to my journals when I die🙃 but by then what does it matter?…) you hope to leave, and/or doing things you enjoyed when you were younger are also ways to get back to you. I do journaling without thinking about it. And anyway…my kids may benefit and learn something from my journey 🙏🏽😇🙏🏽 ~♥️debie