You’re not lazy. Here’s what’s really going on.

People might have told you that you’re lazy. Are you though?

Really, truly lazy.

I don’t think so.

Chances are when you’re reading this that you need to be protected from doing too much rather than doing too little.

My family has called me lazy in the past—which is hilarious because no one lazy will ever get burned out.

You might’ve been misunderstood like I was.

My family didn’t know how to deal with someone highly sensitive. Heck, I didn’t even know that I was more sensitive than the average person.

So I couldn’t articulate what was going on or why I needed a breather after being around so many people. When I said I needed to sit by myself and read a book that was seen as lazy at times. Everyone knew I loved reading so it seemed as if I was copping out.

But I can now see that that was the best way for me to refuel and be ready for more.

To be clear: you don’t need to be highly sensitive to prioritize listening to your body! (Though if you are, it helps to understand why some things drain you—especially in the workplace.)

People might be too quick to call you (or themselves) lazy—and given the hustle and ‘be productive’ culture I can see where that comes from.

But it’s never fun to hear.

All this to say that I don’t think you’re lazy. Most of us are programmed to do too much and push through. Perhaps that’s why there’s such a stigma on being lazy. But what if there’s something else going on?

What if feeling lazy was a signal?

I think when you’re feeling lazy, when you don’t feel like doing something, when it’s hard to drag your body off the couch or out of bed, when you just can’t seem to get motivated no matter what you do—it’s your body’s way of talking to you.

I think it’s either telling you to slow down or to pay attention.

Next time you don’t feel like doing something, I would like you to ask yourself these questions:

Could it be that my body needs rest? Or at minimum a break?

If you’re totally convinced that’s not it, then I’d like you to ponder these questions:

• Is this the right thing to be doing?
• Am I the one that should be doing it?
• Does it feel aligned?
• Is this the right moment to do it?
• Is there perhaps something else that demands my attention first?

Allowing yourself to ask these questions helps you take a step back from the situation and see what is needed. Whether that’s a power nap, a walk outside, eat some food, a new perspective or something else entirely.

Sometimes I forget

Last week I was having a day like that. I just wasn’t feeling it. As a result, I wasn’t very productive. Everything took longer than it usually does.

You’d think I would know better by now. But I’m only human. 😉

I should’ve just grabbed a book and sat in the sun, gone for a long walk, or taken an extra nap.

Because when I’m not feeling it, my body is usually busy doing something else. It’s either processing something or integrating Insights—which is very likely given that I’ve just returned from a 10-day retreat and training in Mexico.

Or my body is simply catching up. Which is equally likely given that intense retreat, my jetlag and the heatwave we’ve just had, combined with catching up on work.

You don’t need to know

Truth is I don’t even need to know why I feel slow or not like doing anything. It’s rare for me to feel uninspired or not motivated to work, so when I do feel it, I know I should pay attention. Even though I forget at times—especially when my to-do list is a mile long and I fall into the trap of thinking that staying busy equals productivity.

So I don’t even need to know why I feel ‘lazy’. I just need to remember to listen to my body and trust it.

I recommend you do the same next time when you’re not feeling motivated or—dare I say— lazy.

It’s not an invitation to power through but to take a step back and relax. To rest and allow your system to recharge and rejuvenate so that you are refreshed and motivated the next day.

Reframing rest

Sadly, most of us have been programmed to see rest as lazy and unproductive. A client mentioned that she had a lazy afternoon because she had ‘only been reading.’ A novel no less. She looked a little guilty admitting that.

My response: “That’s great! I love that you took time for self-care and prioritized rest.”

Her mouth dropped open.

She had never seen reading as rest and self-care—as taking time to recharge. It was a total reframe and shifted how she looked at taking time to read.

Instead of feeling guilty for being lazy she now felt excited that she’d prioritized self-care. Something we had been working on because she’s a perfectionist who feels responsible for way too much.
These insights make me so happy. Not just for my client and her health and well-being. But because I believe this ripples through to more people. To her boyfriend and other people she loves.

Next time you’re feeling lazy I hope you remember this post. Ask yourself whether you might need to take a step back and take some strategic rest to increase not just your productivity but your health. 🙂

Iris van Ooyen guides people home to themselves. As a life transformation mentor with 20+ years of experience, she offers hope with a compass—helping you find your way back to who you truly are when life’s demands have made you lose touch with yourself. She’s the author of Radiant: How to Have All the Energy You Need to Live a Life You Love. When you feel life should be more than this, contact Iris to come home to yourself—and love your life again. 

Follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Image by Alexa