I have always observed that being lazy is a vicious cycle that slowly takes over our entire lives, and the only way to break free from it is to make a change that usually begins with repeatedly delaying a commitment. You eventually discover that most aspects of your life are delayed without realizing it, but why?
The reason is that laziness is merely a habit our brains have formed, yet how does this happen, and how can we fight the urge to be lazy? How can we stay on the path to achieving our goals rather than taking the route that leads to regret, neglect, and procrastination later on?
In essence, laziness means one needs more energy, but most people need to understand the type of energy we are talking about. Actually, we are talking about mental and physical energy because they are equally important and work in an integrated way, as I will explain now.
The four steps to eliminate laziness
Here are four steps to eliminate laziness:
1. Finding motivation
You need something specific to work on, such as a project, your own work, mastering a skill, etc., to boost your energy.
Twenty-four hours a day, everyone can choose what to occupy. When I talk about laziness, I mean postponing, evading, and doing only the most important things to you, so the first step is to identify what you want to do.
Doing insignificant things to fill time only and feel busy has no real value, so it is similar to lying down and not doing anything.
Ask yourself, What would I spend this time on if I had an extra hour every day that I had all the energy I needed? Whatever answer you come up with, let us call this activity “your favorite activity.”
2. Sense of urgency
Motivation alone is needed, and you might put off your work until another day if you feel a great urgency. I did not overcome laziness until I began to feel a real urgency to create my website, and now, after seven months, I have more than 100 articles on the site, and my love for writing is increasing daily.
So, how can you reinforce your sense of urgency?
Do a small imaginary exercise: Imagine that in one year, your life will change completely, not allowing you time to practice your favorite activity for two years, so if you want to practice an activity. Now is your chance. Otherwise, you will wait at least three years before starting.
This mindset enables you to achieve anything quickly, whether learning a language, playing the guitar, creating a website, etc.
3. Activity
Of course, you need some energy to focus on your favorite activity, and I will not dwell here on the benefits of eating healthy and exercising. We all know this beforehand. Instead, I will share active advice for me, and I recommend you try it and always remember it: "Not all hours of the day have the same value and importance."
I think, based on research and my personal experience, that the early morning hours may be more important than the evening hours, simply because in the morning your mind is clear and not preoccupied with the problems and data of life around you, so it is still in a state of calm, so this focus and productivity must be invested.
I had previously failed to do anything meaningful after work, and my mind was simply tired and distracted. So, take my advice and get up at 5 a.m. for a few days to see if you can complete your tasks more efficiently. You feel calmer, and the fact that you will not be interrupted is precious.
You may be worried about feeling tired, but let me tell you that if you can keep doing this for a few weeks, it will become a habit that makes you wake up refreshed more than you imagine; it's all about commitment.
4. Monitor results
At the beginning, I mentioned that laziness is a habit, so if we want to overcome it, we must replace it with a new, solid one. So, this step is the most critical. Monitor the results and take the time to think about how you are progressing.
You must not forget the thing you have tried that will change your life, so the way I suggest to keep your progress and avoid falling back into old habits is to take only two minutes each day to write down your answers to the following questions:
- When did you beat my laziness today?
- How could I do it? Thinking styles and circumstances.
- Have I ever neglected my goal and been lazy instead?
- Why did I do that? Thinking styles and circumstances.
In conclusion
Many of us can get back on track with these four steps. It is simple to fall into old habits again, so it is necessary to stick to these steps if you only start thinking about what happened until you stop progressing as much as you want. That is the best possible start.
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