How to Stop Being Lazy in 10 Easy Steps

Do you consider yourself a lazy person? You’re not alone. Many people feel that they are lazy because they think everyone else is super productive all the time and never procrastinates. But it’s very common to not be particularly productive and to push off things that you don’t want to do! That’s why it’s important to learn how to stop being lazy and start getting more things done.

Also, I just want to tell you that “being lazy” doesn’t mean that that’s just who you are and that there is nothing you can do about it. It’s not all that difficult to stop being lazy. Just follow these steps and you will slowly but surely learn a new, more productive way to live.

1. Figure out why you are lazy

It’s easy to think that you simply are lazy and that’s all there is to it. But procrastination is a very bad habit and you have to figure out what is the reason why you have a hard time getting things done. That way you can start fixing the problem.

Some common problems that might look like laziness on the surface include nutritional deficiencies, addiction, depression, having way too many things to do, negative self-talk, being a perfectionist, and simply having a habit of being lazy. All of these can be fixed.

For example, if you are addicted to an online game, it will be very hard to focus on something that you should do in the next two weeks when the app on your phone is telling you that you have quests to complete today. In this case, you might want to delete the game altogether.

If you suspect that your lack of energy is not normal, go see a doctor. And if you struggle with perfectionism, you have to start believing that focusing on making progress is in fact “perfection” because that is the only way that you will get any results.

2. Be clear about what you’re asking of yourself

Not knowing exactly what you’re supposed to do can make it hard to get anything done. That’s why you have to be very clear about what you are asking of yourself.

Use detailed to-do lists to know exactly what you have to do and to make your work a bit easier. Instead of telling yourself that you have to clean the whole house, list all the things you have to do. “Clean the kitchen window” or “organize the wardrobe” sounds much easier than cleaning the whole house and completing small tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment.

In other words, you have to break all of your to-dos into smaller, actionable tasks.

3. Don’t ask too much of yourself

Knowing that you have a hundred things to do and you’re already way behind is a daunting feeling. In that situation, you are naturally much more likely to take a break than to take action.

That’s why you have to be careful not to ask too much of yourself, especially when you are still learning to be more productive.

See if there is anything you can skip altogether or do in an easier way. This can make it much easier to get started.

4. Get rid of distractions

One of the biggest culprits of laziness is distractions. If your phone is constantly alerting you of new notifications, you have the TV on and you are in the middle of several little projects that don’t really matter, it can be hard to focus on what you actually have to get done.

Turn off all the notifications that you don’t really need and don’t have the TV or music on if that distracts you at all. Concentrating on your work will feel much easier when you don’t have to think about anything else.

5. Ask for help and cooperate

You don’t have to do everything alone. If you have a problem to solve or you feel like you can’t do everything by yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

It can also be a good idea to do things together just for fun. Instead of dividing household chores, why not do them together? Then you won’t feel as burdened and you’ll have more fun.

6. Reward yourself

If your goal is to stop being lazy but you’re having a hard time actually taking action and being productive, you can try giving yourself incentives.

Every time you complete a task (especially one you didn’t want to do), give yourself a small reward. A good reward is something simple that encourages you to do the task. You could promise yourself you can take an extra-long break after doing something particularly difficult or you could let yourself buy something you want after a productive week.

7. Work for short amounts at a time

One mistake people make when trying to stop being lazy is that they think they have to be productive all the time. You don’t need to be perfect, especially in the beginning.

You can set a timer for a short amount of time, for example for 20 minutes. This way you know that you’ll soon be off the hook, so it’s easier for you to get started. If you’re feeling very unproductive, you can set the timer for 5 minutes. The important thing is that you get started.

8. Don’t be afraid of the discomfort zone

Possibly the biggest reason that you are lazy is that you are afraid to be uncomfortable. It’s not particularly fun to do something really difficult or boring or something you don’t want to do. But being able to tolerate discomfort is what will take you forward.

You need to keep in mind that productivity is all about you simply buckling down and starting to work. There’s no magic behind it. The good news is that things often turn out to be easier than you first thought.

To stop being lazy, one thing you have to do is to acknowledge that sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. The more you do it, the easier it’ll become.

9. Set clear boundaries for yourself

Being lazy means that you are looking for comfort and you wish life was easier. That’s totally understandable, but at the same time, you know that life can’t always be easy. That’s why you have to set clear boundaries for yourself.

You can set yourself certain work hours or decide that you’ll only do certain activities after 6 pm. Or you could block certain websites that waste your time.

Be strict with yourself and don’t let yourself procrastinate and waste time.

10. Change slowly

Even if you are very serious about overcoming laziness and becoming more productive, you might still want to take things slowly. If you try to change yourself in one day, chances are you will fail and get discouraged really fast.

That’s why I want you to make a plan and take small steps every day to stop being lazy. If you do it right, you can be on top of things in a couple of months! And at that point, you definitely won’t want to fall back to your old habits because life is much easier and more enjoyable when you just do things in time.

What do you think makes you lazy? Do you feel like it’s really hard to stop being lazy? Share your thoughts in the comments and make sure to share this post!