Laziness is a nasty little affliction that afflicts everyone from time to time. Everyone wonders to themselves from time to time “How can I stop being so lazy?“.
Overcoming laziness, or the ability to do things that we do not want to do, is a crucial part of gaining success. Things simply have to get done and we have to do them or make sure they are done.
When we come to terms with this fact, that we will have to do unpleasant tasks to become successful, it makes it a whole lot easier to just ‘buckle down' and do the tasks we know we will have to do at some point anyway.
Success is the result of a few big tasks done and accomplished and a whole bunch of miniscule tasks done and accomplished. Today we are going to focus on how to get all those small tasks done that we just don't have the desire to do.
Lazy people let the small tasks go unfinished for far too long. Successful people make sure those small tasks get done as quick, painless and efficiently as possible. Here is successful people overcame laziness.
How to Stop Being Lazy in 8 Easy Steps
1) Get organized - The most important aspect of overcoming laziness is getting organized. So many times we want to do something productive but the clutter and the junk makes it seem impossible to get anything done and entices us to not even start our task.
A nice, clean and organized work space just invites us to do some work and be productive. A cluttered and trashed work space invites us to stay on the couch. Set aside a few hours to devote to organizing work stations - everything from your desk to your computer files to your favorites links on your web browser. Make everything as easy, seamless and efficient to find as possible.
2) Make a ‘to-do' list every evening before bed - It is imperative to write down our goals so we can visualize exactly what needs to be done. Every single night make a ‘to-do' list on a notebook or in microsft word and add 5-10 things that must be accomplished the next day. From small tasks like going to the bank to big tasks like finishing up gigantic projects. Everything that needs to be done needs to go on the ‘to-do' list. No task is too big or too little for the ‘to-do' list.
>> To get as organized as possible be sure to follow 30 Days of Discipline - The Bootcamp for Winners.
3) Complete your ‘to-do' list first thing in the morning - We all know that feeling of dread, of impending doom, when we know we have to do something but we don't want to do it. So we put it off and put it off and it just keeps eating at us, making it harder to do the task but still eating us up inside.
The only way to get rid of that feeling is to do unpleasant tasks very first thing in the morning and get them overwith. Do all tasks in the morning, starting with the hardest task and ending with the easiest task. After you have completed all your tasks for the day first thing in the morning you have your whole day free knowing you have taken care of business already.
4) Dress the part - A huge factor contributing to laziness is slothful or lazy dress. Wearing a pair of shorts and sandals does not make someone feel like working. On the other hand, wearing a nice button up shirt and a tie does make us feel productive. It makes you want to get stuff done.
Every single day you should dress like you are going to an important, high dollar meeting - even if you work from home, even if your company has a casual dress policy, even if you are feeling lazy and don't want to dress the part. You've got to dress for success because it gives you a successful, productive mindset. Always present the best you that is possible.
5) Be hyper-aware of the time - Starting and finishing our ‘to-do' list at the exact same time every morning is imperative. It's called habit and routine and it's what separate the lazy from the productive. When you have a routine and habit it is easy to get stuff done everyday. Having no routine it makes it very hard accomplish anything.
Start a routine, set specific times to start and accomplish your goals every single day and always be aware of the time. You never want your allotted end-time to come without finishing what you have started. Watching the clock forces you to work harder and faster to get everything done. We want a definite start time and a definite finish time to complete our ‘to-d0' list every morning.
6) Keep a notebook - Keeping a notebook on you is highly beneficial. One of the reasons is that ideas often come to us when we are driving down the street, walking down the road, sitting in a train or other places where we aren't prepared to act on the ideas. Keeping a notebook will let you jot down these ideas, upcoming ‘to-do' tasks and we can review our notebook each evening when completing our nightly ‘to-do' list.
7) Have a lazy Sunday - Being productive all week is a great feeling. After being productive it's ok to take one lazy day per week, and there is no better lazy day than Sunday. The business that matter aren't open on Sundays, most people don't take phonecalls or respond to e-mails on Sundays, and taking a lazy Sunday will let you rest and prepare for the most important day of the week - Monday.
8) Have someone else do the unpleasant tasks - Laziness is really just not doing things you don't want to do. Like calling customer service, or going to the post office and mailing a letter, or balancing the books, or calling back clients, or going to the bank, or calling the airline to change a departure.
When we want to do something nothing can stop us, when we don't want to do something the littlest snag can stop us. Having a personal assistant, co-worker, secretary, wife, girlfriend, or virtual assistant to do these things for us keeps us fresh for the real tasks that we need to accomplish.
It's the 80/20 rule: 20% of the things we do are the most important and matter the most and we enjoy doing them. 80% of the tasks we have to do are minutia that we don't like doing but have to be done. If someone else can do it - let them!
How to Stop Being Lazy - Tips to Remember
Organization is the very first step to overcoming laziness. When we've taken the time to get organized, which is usually the hard part, it's very easy to get things done with speed and fluidity thereafter.
Do the unpleasant tasks very first thing in the morning - That includes everything from going to the gym, to logging on to all your online accounts and changing your address, to finishing up the big project.
A ‘to-do' list is extremely important because it lets you visualize what needs to be done. Visualization is a key to success.
Dress for accomplishment because it gives you an accomplishment mindset. Wear nice clothing that A) makes you feel like being productive and B) makes other people think you are productive. You should hear “Whoa, looking good Mr. Fancy Pants!” very frequently.
The current time is your friend. Always be aware of the time and what you need to be doing at that very time - even if it's time for relaxation.
Enjoy a lazy Sunday - but don't let the laziness carry over to Monday. Monday is business time. Monday morning you should always hit the ground running full speed - and don't stop 'til it's Saturday night.
>> To get as organized as possible be sure to follow 30 Days of Discipline - The Bootcamp for Winners.
provide me with good ideas to stop my laziness. I am 74 years old and miss my professional life as a civil engineer!!!!!
I think that you could start by doing different things.
If you miss your life as a civil engineer you could try to work in your own projects or help those that could need your knowledge ad experience take advantage of it.
I hope that you find something that keep you busy, and help you make the best use of your time everyday.
I like the response although maybe it’s time to let go and find a new path. Enjoy retirement, travel, meet a new ho etc
Ellis, don’t feel bad, it can happen to the best of us. I think sometimes procrastination can be mixed up with laziness. You seem the type of person that wants to be productive but it takes everything out of you to get things done. (I’ve been there myself)
Something that helped me massively was a guide by Zach Browman called the ‘Find Your Focus;. He shows you tips and techniques that help you take action and get things done without much effort. I think the term he uses is blissful productivity, it just feels natural like it should.
You can find his online video and guide at: http://www.TheFocusTrick.com
Hope this helps!
“When we want to do something nothing can stop us, when we don’t want to do something the littlest snag can stop us. Having a personal assistant, co-worker, secretary, wife, girlfriend, or virtual assistant to do these things for us keeps us fresh for the real tasks that we need to accomplish.”
Lol wow lucky wife/girlfriend… How about adding a husband/boyfriend to that list, buddy. Women don’t generally like being lumped in with personal assistants and secretaries.
nah.
Perhaps Victor thinks that all men are lazy and arrogant. We don’t know if Victor is lazy, but he sure is arrogant and crap at maths. Exclude half your market through sexism is just poor economics, but then thinking that through was probably too much effort.
Frank, I’m American so I don’t do “maths” I do math. Where did you learn your economics, Barber college? Here’s a little Victor 101, if I exclude women then they aren’t my market now are they professor?
Holy Jesus, Mary and all the orphans Vic how do these dumbasses manage to breathe?
Sam your comments are one of the best man and leave Victor alone we need more sites like him. If I had something valuable to share in my life I would instantly open up a blog about masculinity and add my own spin to it.
Who is this Frank Jones fuck? Sounds like he needs a back alley ass stomping.
Hear hear ru (4 June) that is just what I was thinking! Most of the advice was excellent and motivating, but, being a woman, I will be unable to follow it as, according to paragrapH 8, I will be too busy with mundane tasks to lighten my husband’s load to get on with mine. And that IS what happens, so write a new article for women please!
I am a women and that is true I was a personal assistant for a realtor and I loved it! I also cleaned my boyfriend’s house and loved it! I also cooked a few times a week and made his lunches and loved it. Made me feel like a caring person.
I am burly 19 years old and I started getting lazy as fuck. I do go to college, haven’t worked for almost half year. I don’t know what to do. I feel like doing something productive everyday.
Look for jobs. Pick up a hobby or sport to stay active. Volunteer at local food shelves, animal shelters, etc. It’ll make you feel better about your self and really help some people who need the help. Go to church or retirement homes in your spare time. You might unexpectedly find a friend.
I am BURLY 19 years old as well and I am in college as well. What have we become, man?
I have just learnt a very big lesson from your post. Am very greatful.
I’m too lazy to read this.
how to like a comment here
Great article.
I believe procrastination is the single biggest culprit for laziness, it truly is the devil. No matter how much we want to do something productive, it’s like our mind will do anything to avoid it. A very frustrating feeling that I’m sure most people on here can relate to.
The trick is to remove the procrastination completely so that tasks feel natural and effortless. Easier said then done but it CAN be done. To anyone who can relate to this I highly recommend a guide by Zach Browman called ‘Find Your Focus’
You can find it at: http://www.TheFocusTrick.com
I like the list, but I have a suggestion. The “dress the part section” recommends wearing a tie, and the “have someone else do the unpleasant tasks” section suggests allowing one’s wife or girlfriend to take care of tedious matters. These two items combined make me feel like this list is meant for lazy men, and that women should be left to pick up the slack.
Saying that makes me feel like you are a lazy female and it’s creepy. Pleaze go away creep.
It’s clear you haven’t won any awards for intelletual achievement.
I apologize; my last comment was rude. I just haven’t heard a response like yours spoken in seriousness since I addressed a grade school bully.
I already told you politely to go away, so go away.
Actually, I liked What you’ve said about Laziness and i find it true because I think There are peope out there Who think about other things other than just TV or Video Games which means they Have dreams they want to make them true and they have also a great potential but their problem is laziness (the feeling of not wanting to do anything stressful or that need some hard work to acomplish ) so they choose to keep doing what they do each day which is TV and Video games for example. So i think your post is a good guide to these people in order to overcome laziness and become productive and achieve their dreams.
great post thankyou. do you think laziness and depression are all in the mind
Great post Vic,
I like all of the points you made on combating laziness. Will follow and share as well.
I noticed that you have somewhat of a female following and that would include frank jones. LOL.
My guess is that “poor vic” doesn’t have a wife/girlfriend… nor does the arrogant pick deserve one.
Cry more: https://instagram.com/p/488NQJPjav/?taken-by=boldanddetermined
You r so much right for writting ok
thanks be just n happy in time today
tnx vry much
I like this article very much. Thanks for post this article.
Thx
This post is clearly for men as it suggested you have a wife do things for you that you don’t want to do. If we’re going that route, how about we change that word to “spouse”? It is 2016 after all. Many women, myself included, are the primary breadwinners of their household.
You should hear “Whoa, looking good Mr. Fancy Pants!” very frequently.
This is so accurate, I had to let out a chuckle. I started dressing for success after following your 30 Day challenge, I’ll never go back to dressing like a bum. Thanks for the advice.
Beth says
Women who bitch about doing a favor for their boyfriend or husband don’t deserve to have one!!!!!!!
Ericka w/a ck says
LOL wow thats right……………. ._. >.< .-.
Vathana says
I think so xD lol