How To Stop Being Lazy + FREE Printable Weekly To Do List

Here’s the news – no one was born super productive.

No one.

And no one was born lazy as well.

Have you seen a lazy toddler?

Or a super productive baby?

Neither have I.

“Okay Amber, where are you goin’ with this?…”

The fact that none of us were born lazy or productive means the only thing: you CAN get rid of laziness and you CAN become super productive because both of these behaviors are LEARNED throughout your life.

It’s not part of your character, it’s not who you are, it’s just a behavior pattern.

Or simply a state of mind that you’re in right now because of one or a few reasons.

Whenever people write to me about how to stop being lazy and get more done, I immediately notice a few main culprits that make these people lazy and lethargic.

And even though they often ask for a quick secret or magic antidote to laziness, I always tell them the things included in this post and suddenly they realize that laziness is not something they can’t change about themselves.

It’s not rocket science…

Not something you need “great will” for…

It is much, much simpler than you think.

In this article, I am going to tell you why you feel so lazy and how to stop being lazy once and for all.

Ready?

Let’s go.

 

How To Stop Being Lazy – For Good!

 

1. Get a Deeper Understanding Of Why You Are Lazy

 

The first step to learning how to stop being lazy is to understand why you tend to be lazy.

Mostly, this refers to having negative thinking patterns that prevent you from working on and achieving your goals.

These patterns can include:

• Setting up too complicated goals or deadlines;
• Believing you must excel and be perfect in everything you do;
• Indulging in harsh self-criticism;
• Ignoring the fact that you need a plan for action;
• Adopting a negative mindset before even starting;
• Not knowing where to start and not trying at all.

And sometimes, feeling lazy has nothing to do with habits – there might be a psychological reason for it.

If you’ve noticed that you’ve been feeling depressed or anxious lately, no wonder you haven’t had any energy or will to work on what needs to be done.

Depression and anxiety, or just psychological stress in general, can really drain you of all of your energy.

It can make even the simplest of tasks, like brushing your teeth, require a tremendous amount of effort.

If you find yourself in this position, talking to a therapist or a counselor should be your first step.

I know that it can be hard or intimidating to seek professional mental help, but if you feel like your laziness stems from your bad mood and sad thoughts, you probably won’t stop being lazy until you resolve these issues.

Sometimes even an hour with a professional can help you more than you can imagine, so don’t be afraid to seek the help you deserve!

 

2. Learn To Establish Simple And Achievable Goals

 

After you have thought through all the possible reasons you’re so prone to laziness, your next step in learning how to stop being lazy should be to start setting up realistic goals.

We usually get discouraged by huge tasks that need a lot of work, so when you’re planning out your tasks, always start by splitting them into many small, easily achievable goals.

Now imagine: you have to write a 2000-word essay.

Sounds daunting, right?

But what if your tasks were actually this:

• Think of a catchy title for my essay;
• Sort through the references you will use for your introduction;
• Brainstorm possible conclusions you may reach in your discussion…
• … and so forth;

Seems a lot more manageable now, doesn’t it?

That’s because there are so many small decisions to make when approaching a task like this that it can start feeling very overwhelming, and those feelings can make us procrastinate instead.

But by dividing the big task into small, singular goals, it doesn’t seem as intimidating anymore.

Moreover, remember that visualization is crucial.

Our minds will easily remember a goal written on a piece of paper or strategically placed on a board.

Having a daily planner can also help you become more productive.

So, if you want to learn how to stop being lazy, begin by splitting your big tasks into tiny ones.

It will make all the difference!

3. Stop Being Lazy By Asking Someone To Help

 

Sometimes laziness happens when we start to believe no one will hold us accountable if we don’t meet our deadlines, or that we won’t lose anything of significance if we don’t do what we need to do.

But in reality, you always lose something by skipping important tasks, and that’s quite a major reason why you need to start learning how to stop being lazy.

Not fulfilling important tasks might make you lose your peace of mind, your self-esteem, dignity, or simply the ability to be properly lazy because your lazy time will be ruined by thoughts about things you should be doing instead (oh, the paradox!).

Having someone constantly questioning and challenging your laziness can really help you learn how to stop being lazy, as well as help you be more productive.

Find someone you trust and ask them if they could be your accountability buddy.

Ask them to check up on you from time to time and assess if you are moving forward with your tasks and goals.

 

4. Manage Your Social Media / Internet Forum / Messenger Usage

 

We live in a world where spending endless hours scrolling through social media platforms or chatting with friends online is a daily habit for a lot of people.

The never-ending content that provides you with a ton of dopamine can really suck you in and make you forget (or help you avoid) your real-life issues.

Not only does that waste a ton of time because we just can’t seem to stop at the appropriate time, but it may also make you sad and depressed which, again, can be one of the most important reasons why people are lazy.

If you are trying to find out how to stop being lazy and be more productive, you might want to cut back on the amount of time you spend on social apps.

Modern phones now have various settings you can use that let you limit your usage of certain mobile apps.

In addition, many social media apps themselves have the time-limit functionality already built-in.

Alternatively, if you feel like these platforms are actually helpful for you, you can simply reset your accounts and start following those people that inspire you to become better and better.

If your social media accounts reflect your goals, it will become much easier to learn how to stop being lazy because you will be inspired by others who do the same.

 

5. Manage Your Rest Time

 

Did you know that one of the major physical causes of laziness is burnout?

If you work too much and feel exhausted after each workday, you might be working yourself to the point of burnout.

When you constantly push away relaxation and self-care time, your body and mind will force you into a slump to make up for it.

Burnout can also happen from studying too much, exercising too much, or having too much stress in your life.

To learn how to stop being lazy at home, you need to always remember that life is all about balance and it is rather crucial that your hard days are finished off with a well-deserved rest.

The easiest way to imagine this would be your phone – it can’t run forever without you charging it, right?

Some batteries have longer use times, some shorter, but at the end of the day, all of them run out of “juice”, leaving you without access to your phone.

The same principle can be applied to your energy levels and mental well-being.

No matter what they do, people are more productive when they feel happy and relaxed.

So instead of just “being lazy” on the couch, use your lazy time to have some basic self-care: do some gentle and slow yoga, meditate a little, sit in the sunshine, read a book…

In a nutshell – regularly do something that recharges your body & soul, and you might just learn how to stop being lazy on a daily basis.

 

6. Cherish Your Body

 

Speaking of the body!

Your laziness might be a sign that you are prone to neglecting your body.

Feeling sluggish can happen when we do not manage our energy supply correctly…

That’s right – it means we don’t eat properly, and we don’t sleep enough.

If you want to learn how to stop being lazy, focus on getting the right amount of sleep every night – it’s an extremely important part of rejuvenating your body.

Good sleep can also be a powerful secret to feeling energized, productive, and cheerful.

To keep your body properly fueled, always try to eat as healthy as possible.

Sleep is like a very high-quality spa for your body and mind – during sleep, various cells in your body repair themselves and flush out toxins, and your brain consolidates your memory.

In regards to food, it’s very basic stuff – the food you eat is broken down into energy for your cells.

The quality of your food reflects the quality of your energy – if your diet is not nutritious, you won’t be feeling your best.

If you’re struggling to figure out what to eat to feel energized, remember to not shy away from healthy carbs (like wholegrain cereals, bread, pasta, and fruits).

They are an excellent source of energy your body needs to be strong and energetic.

Also, your general body health plays a big role in your energy levels.

There might be some hormonal or similar issues that cannot be solved with food or sleep alone.

If you feel like you’ve been having chronically low energy levels or that you’re constantly fatigued, make a routine check-up with your healthcare provider.

There might be more to your body’s current condition than meets the eye!

So, if you want to learn how to stop being lazy, you should maintain three things – your sleep habits, your diet, and your general health.

 

7. Learn To Take Proper Breaks When You Work

 

A common mistake today is to work continuously throughout the working hours without taking a single break.

This can lead to a slump faster than you think!

When setting up your day’s schedule, you MUST add a couple of breaks in that will allow you to break away from the routine and boost your focus.

It was scientifically proven that short mental breaks can make you even more productive and prevent sluggishness.

So do yourself a favor and allow yourself to rest a little – it might be that secret last ingredient you need when learning how to stop being lazy!

 

I know, all of this does not sound like a super-secret-laziness-antidote…

But it’s a realistic, real-life plan on how to stop being lazy, develop better habits and stay continuously productive.

If you don’t believe me, I can’t do anything except urge you to try and see for yourself – by doing these simple things you CAN learn how to stop being lazy and improve your productivity.

… But you have to actually go through with them.

Does that sound hard?

It’s OK, you might want to start with a “Get Your Life Together” Day that helps you to create the perfect mood and motivation for changes.

It’s never too late to change.

More tips right here:

• 25 Ways To Get Unstuck In Your Life
• 5 Real-Life Productivity Hacks That Help You Get Things Done
• 5 Major Reasons Why You Feel So Tired All The Time

 

Free Weekly To-Do List Printable

 

To help you learn how to stop being lazy and start your journey to productivity, here’s a lovely, free weekly to-do printable that you can get right away:

Simply choose the size that fits your binder, planner, organizer, or simply the paper size you have:

Free Weekly To Do List Printable in size LETTER

Free Weekly To Do List Printable in size A4

*Personal use only.

I recommend printing several of them at once so you can use them continuously every week.

And that’s it!

I hope you enjoyed this little guide on how to stop being lazy.

Your life is in your hands – you shape it the way you want.

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