I hear these refrains in my office frequently:
“I need to stop being so lazy.”
“I was just being lazy.”
“I’m a lazy person.”
They always make me pause. What exactly is laziness? Is it ever helpful to call yourself lazy? And what should you actually do when you feel lazy?
After years of listening, observing, and reflecting, I’ve come to three conclusions:
Laziness is almost always a symptom of deeper, more important “root causes.”
Labeling yourself as lazy is ineffective—it’s shame-based, it doesn’t lead to meaningful change, and it hides the true reason for your inaction.
Our culture tends to overvalue productivity and undervalue rest, even though rest is essential for both mind and body.
Laziness is Almost Always the Result of Deeper “Root Causes”
It’s not that laziness isn’t real—it’s just an incomplete descriptor. It tells us nothing about why we’re inactive, unmotivated, or avoiding something. Beneath the surface, there’s almost always a more specific reason for this passivity.
In fact, the brain is designed to conserve energy. We’re wired to seek comfort and take the path of least resistance—a principle known as Zipf’s “law of least effort.” From an evolutionary standpoint, that made perfect sense. Today, however, it can show up as procrastination, distraction, or what we call “laziness.”
But comfort-seeking isn’t the only factor leading to this lack of inertia. Inaction often stems from one (or several) of the following:
Fear of failure, judgment, or discomfort
Poor prioritization or unclear goals
Ineffective systems
Lack of perceived value or meaning in the task
Lack of pride or ownership
Lack of respect—for oneself, the process, or the person requesting the task
Avoidance of specific emotions (e.g., frustration, shame, boredom)
Genuine apathy or lack of stimulation
Feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start
Low motivation or depleted energy
Underlying mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD
When you identify the underlying reason behind avoidance or inaction, the path forward becomes clearer. The “intervention” isn’t about forcing discipline—it’s about addressing the cause.
Labeling Yourself as Lazy is Ineffective
“Lazy” is a fixed trait, a negative label coated in shame. Laziness is culturally frowned upon, so when you choose not to do something and your response is “I’m lazy,” you’ve created a fixed mindset—where you become what you’ve done, or in this case, what you haven’t done.
This not only begins a shame spiral but also leads to more inaction. Identifying as a “lazy person” is finite; it doesn’t leave room for growth or change.
We Overvalue Productivity and Undervalue Rest
Rest and recovery are crucial to the growth process. The era of No Days Off and Rest Is for the Weak is over. These ideas are antiquated, ineffective, and even harmful.
If you berate yourself for being “lazy” when you take a recovery day, you’re setting yourself up for overtraining, burnout, and injury. Instead of labeling yourself as lazy, remind yourself that you’re caring for and listening to your body and mind—and that rest is not the opposite of productivity. It’s a part of it.
Laziness is not a character flaw. It is more effective to view it as an incomplete descriptor, the result of deeper root causes, and a sign that you are talking to yourself in a shame-based way. This term is also a reminder to investigate the true causes of inaction, and engage with yourself in a more curious and compassionate way.