Another Day of Lethargy
As another day draws to a close, you find yourself reflecting on missed opportunities for productivity. Switching off the lights, you settle into bed with a mind full of tasks that remain undone.
A sense of self-justification creeps in as you think, “It’s alright. At least I indulged in a good number of TV shows, scrolled through memes, and shared amusing or frightful Snapchat videos. I even connected with more people and consumed my share of misleading news.”
Yet, guilt might tug at your conscience as you think of studies, projects, and chores left unattended. You feel the way my friend Anthony DeStefano puts it in his book, A Journey Guide to Life: “You just wish to pull the covers over your head and sleep for a century.” Or perhaps, you don’t feel guilty at all.
The Unyielding Truth
“Facts are stubborn things.” – John Adams
Ultimately, whether we acknowledge it or not, those unfinished tasks remain on our to-do lists! Our feelings are fleeting, yet our long-term aspirations persist relentlessly.
Deep down, we both recognize that continual idleness won’t help us achieve our dreams, and we also understand it’s unnecessary to succumb to laziness—no one should have to.
Strategies to Overcome Laziness
Join me on a brief exploration of 10 effective strategies to curb laziness and regain control of your life.
1. Be Kind to Yourself
Don’t dwell on the mistakes.
You’ve procrastinated and veered further away from your objectives than ever, and that’s something everyone experiences. Reclaiming that lost momentum will be challenging, but self-forgiveness is essential, especially with hard work still ahead.
2. Take the First Step
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
Progress is impossible without initial movement, but starting can be daunting when that inner voice screams “give up.” Avoid this by commencing with small actions and then gradually escalating.
The sink may overflow with dirty dishes, making the task seem daunting and overwhelming.
- Wash pots right after use and load up the dishwasher immediately after meals.
Procrastinating writing that term paper until the last minute leads to sleepless nights.
- Set a timer for 15 minutes on your phone and dedicate time to work on it twice daily for three weeks.
If you’ve never run consistently but wish to improve your fitness.
- Start with 15-minute jogs a few times a week.
3. Let Go of Perfectionism
Perfection is unattainable. No project you tackle will ever be “perfect.” The mindset around perfectionism wrongly leads us to believe that we can escape errors and critiques in our work.
This type of thinking can leave you feeling paralyzed or even lethargic. The true barrier isn’t making mistakes; it’s the belief that avoiding failure is worth sacrificing your goals.
Focus instead on completing your tasks and sharing your work. This shift allows you to cultivate a productive work ethic without excuses.
4. Visualization
“Seeing is believing.” – Unknown
People have goals they value, yet many fail to reach them. Start by mentally picturing yourself completing that term paper, exercising routinely, launching a successful venture, organizing your space, and crossing off tasks that contribute to both your short-term and long-term aspirations.
Icons like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan testify to the power of visualizing their winning moments. They repeatedly rehearse their peak performances, ensuring they are ready for critical moments when success matters.
This is How It Works
Find a quiet spot or play some music that helps you concentrate, and picture yourself tackling your to-do list with success.
Research indicates that neurons in our brains interpret images as if they are real. When you visualize, your brain begins to create pathways that prompt action towards those visualizations. By practicing this, you establish neural signals encouraging your body to follow through.
As everyday individuals wanting to achieve, we should embrace process visualization. This involves imagining each step necessary for studying, working, organizing, and so forth, leading to our goals.
Envision the necessary actions to achieve the desired outcomes, concentrating on each step rather than fixating on the final result.
5. Journaling for Enhanced Productivity
In his book, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg discusses the impact of “keystone habits.” He defines these as small changes or habits that individuals incorporate into their routines, often resulting in positive changes in other areas of their lives.
What a revelation! Just one “keystone” habit can significantly boost our productivity. Duhigg asserts that keeping a journal stands out as one of the most influential habits.
How to Implement It
If you resemble most Millennials or Generation Y individuals, you likely check your phone first thing in the morning. Studies show that the prefrontal cortex is at its most active and creative upon waking.
Instead of focusing on texts or web searches, grab your pen, tablet stylus, or any writing tool, and take a seat with your coffee to jot down your thoughts. Doing this daily enables you to release strong emotions and arrange your ideas.
Benefits of Journaling
Journaling is a proactive endeavor where you, as the writer, create the content. In contrast, scrolling through social media, news, and instant messages are passive activities, where you merely consume information.
Create journals that articulate your goals clearly and draft detailed plans for achieving them daily. By taking initiative, your list of accomplishments will grow as your to-do list minimizes.
6. Prioritize Self-Care
A lack of wellbeing can drain your motivation and productivity, leading to laziness.
Renowned author Tom Rath faced a daunting genetic condition in his childhood that led to widespread cancerous growths throughout his body.
Since that time, he has devoted significant hours to learning about proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, leading to a successful career and a healthy lifestyle that enhances his longevity.
The Benefits of Exercise
- Increased Happiness –Exercise can be invigorating! It releases endorphins that elicit feelings of joy and elation.
- Sharper Mind –Perhaps a Nobel Prize isn’t out of reach after all; studies indicate that cardiovascular exercise fosters new brain cell production.
- Improved Memory –Regular exercise boosts the production of brain cells involved in learning and memory retention.
And…
- MORE ACHIEVEMENTS!!! –Those who exercise regularly report higher productivity and greater energy levels compared to those who don’t.
The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise weekly. That’s a minimal commitment! Let’s sweat the laziness away!
The Advantages of Eating Well
Consuming an abundance of fruits and vegetables throughout the day contributes positively to physical and mental health.
A study featured in the July 2014 British Journal of Healthy Psychology shows the significant influence of nutrition on our daily lives. The findings suggest that a healthy diet correlates with increased happiness, focus, and creativity.
7. Focused Mindset
With our lives filled with countless opportunities, responsibilities, and deadlines, we inevitably incur what economists refer to as “opportunity costs” each day.
Every task you undertake, every meeting you attend, and each leisure activity chosen excludes other possibilities. Being overly agreeable or passive can lead to dissatisfaction as we watch our dreams go unfulfilled.
Business writer Seth Godin noted, “If you speak to anyone engaged in significant output, they are typically skilled at saying no.”
8. Prioritize Your MITs
Your most important tasks (MITs) should always come first. Adhering to this routine consistently is a major productivity enhancer. According to Pareto’s 80/20 principle:
- 20% of your tasks yield 80% of your results.
How This Works
Laziness and its close cousin, procrastination, often strike when we feel overwhelmed and unable to tackle our responsibilities. To simplify matters, focus on urgent tasks before lengthy commitments.
For instance, instead of spending an hour researching for a term paper, concentrate on completing that quiz you need to submit tomorrow first.
9. Organize Your Space
According to a study by U.S. News and World Report:
- Averagely, people spend a year of their lives searching for lost items.
Clear out your inbox by deleting unnecessary emails. Invest in filing boxes and folders to manage the mountainous paperwork. This will preserve your sanity and enable you to concentrate on what truly matters!
10. Leverage Time-Saving Technology
Since a significant portion of your waking hours is already dedicated to screens, make each moment count by utilizing software and apps designed for efficiency, such as scheduling tools like AnyTime Organizer Deluxe. Just sending yourself an email with your daily agenda, as suggested by Cal Newport, is another effective way to optimize your time.
Be mindful—online distractions lurk everywhere. As Seth Godin observes, “I’m not sure if engaging on Twitter or Facebook is a waste, but I know that I can’t do it well and also accomplish everything else I want to.”
Employing applications designed to block unproductive websites can help maintain your focus on essential tasks.
In Conclusion
Revel in your increased sense of achievement as laziness fades from your daily routine—remember to enjoy the journey.
One challenge with goals is that new ones emerge as soon as the old ones are reached. The cycle of setting and pursuing goals is continuous. Strive to find joy in the challenging road leading to your aspirations.
