Suffering from "chronic laziness"?

Alexis Rae Baker

Dear Lexis,

I seem to be suffering from chronic laziness lately. I’m not sure what the problem is, I know that I need to get several things done, but every time I think about it, I find myself bogged down and listless. Any advice?

Thanks,

          ~ Lazy

Dear Lazy,

I understand where you’re coming from and it’s a problem I have faced many times in my own life. I must say though, I don’t believe laziness is at all the proper word for this problem as it comes with so many negative connotations. Overwhelmed is generally the word I use. Why overwhelmed?

1. You don’t know how

One of the biggest reasons for perceived laziness is a lack of knowledge. We usually have a generally idea of what we want to accomplish but often times we don’t have any specific details.

For example, I have plans to write another book, but I still don’t know which ideas to include vs. exclude, how I’m going to organize it, or how I’m going to advertise it. So, while the idea is there, and while I’ve thought about it, the details are still up in the air.

When a project is so undefined, it’s hard to find the motivation to get to work because you don’t know where to start. So, if this is your situation the best option is to take some time to think and mind-map.

Meditation is your friend at this moment. Focus on the project and then sit still for a while and listen to the thoughts that arise in response. Your brain is an amazing tool and it can accomplish astounding things if you trust it.

If you don’t want to meditate though, get out a piece of paper, write what you want to accomplish in the middle, and start to brainstorm the necessary steps around it. Classic mind-map style.

With a plan in place, you’ll feel much more motivated to get started.  

2. It’s too much

Another potential reason for inaction boils down to too large of steps. We all have different focus levels, but if you’re anything like me, you may discover that anything beyond 15 minutes of work is enough to stall your efforts.

So, if this is your situation, break each step down as far as you need to in order to not feel overwhelmed. 5 or 10-minute increments are perfect if that’s what you need. If you can handle larger plans, feel free to go for longer, but if you need to go smaller, that’s fine too.

There’s no shame in feeling like you can’t handle much, you’ve got a lot going on in your life. Each project you take on is in addition to everything else going on around you. Be forgiving and let yourself handle this at your own pace.

3. Burnout

Another common cause for perceived laziness is pure burnout. If you have been feeling stressed, more emotional than usual, or exhausted, there’s a high chance your inactivity is due to burnout.

Take some time to relax and let yourself recover. Let the list of projects go for a little while and just focus on your well-being. Often, with enough rest, your desire to work on projects will reemerge. Meditation is great for this too.

Whatever is causing your inaction though, make sure you treat yourself with kindness. Self-judgment can be crippling too and it often spirals. You are already living a full life and you’re trying to be the best person you can be. It’s not always easy, so be gentle and soon enough you’ll discover your motivation.

Best of luck,

           ~ Lexis 

Alexis Baker writes from her home in Olympia.  Write to her at Lexis@theJOLTnews.com