Laziness can be caused by a number of things, for instance, a lack of motivation, no clear direction or interests, or even a feeling of overwhelm. There is also our evolutionary trait. We are hardwired to preserve our energy and lay low.
A lack of motivation is often caused because you don't honestly believe in yourself and your abilities. When you're filled with self-doubts, it's difficult to start a task or project because you've already decided it won't turn out well and you want to avoid that eventual failure.
Laziness can occur periodically and is believed to be more of a mental state, deliberate act or personal choice. Some experts theorize that laziness is a personality trait or character deficit, while others believe laziness is a behavioral sign of an underlying concern.
Psychology. Laziness may reflect a lack of self-esteem, a lack of positive recognition by others, a lack of discipline stemming from low self-confidence, or a lack of interest in the activity or belief in its efficacy.
Apparent laziness can also be a sign of avolition. Avolition is a severe lack of motivation that makes completing any type of task challenging or almost impossible. It's sometimes a sign of depression and other conditions such as schizophrenia.
Anxiety Can Appear to be Laziness
When someone struggles with anxiety, they typically want to do well. For those of you who know someone who has difficulty with anxiety, you also know they often avoid what makes them anxious. The feelings of anxiety are so overwhelming, it shuts them down.
The following factors can contribute to fatigue, either alone or in combination: Psychological and psychosocial – stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical – anemia, diabetes, glandular fever, and cancer. Physiological – pregnancy, breast-feeding, inadequate sleep, and excessive exercise.
Having a lazy day gives your brain a break and your body a chance to recover. It also reduces stress which could help you make more productive in your non-lazy days. It is also an easy way to prevent burnout and being susceptible to chronic diseases.
It could be you have an underlying mental health issue or mental disorder that needs attention. Depression is the most common mental health issue that has low motivation as a symptom. The onset of low motivation is for many long-term depression sufferers a sign they are falling into another cycle.
Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can affect motivation and ambition. Everyone experiences these conditions differently, but people with these conditions often lack the emotional energy to pursue their goals.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that sedentary behaviors start to develop at the ripe old age of 7. The researchers studied 400 kids with activity trackers and learned that every single one experienced a drop-off in activity well before they reached their first decade.
With laziness, you might feel low energy
You may feel tired throughout the day and unmotivated to do anything. Feeling tired can come from burnout or stress. If you're burnt out at work or school, you may often find yourself wanting to sleep or relax since you're overexerted physically and mentally.
And, as we all know, those times of laziness led to some of the most important technological advances in history. Laziness is not always a weakness; sometimes it can be a strength. We can do great things and live successful lives if we accept our lazy times and use them to our advantage.
Hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness. There are many different causes, the most common in our society being inadequate sleep. This may be due to shiftwork, family demands (such as a new baby), study or social life. Other causes include sleep disorders, medication, and medical and psychiatric illnesses.
“An individual with high-functioning anxiety may appear calm on the outside but feel very anxious internally,” explains Dr. Borland. “These individuals may try to mask their symptoms by taking control of the situation.”
With so many things vying for our attention these days, it's no wonder we might sometimes feel paralysed by choices. When we are faced with too many options, we can actually start to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. This can make us feel lazy and unmotivated to make any decisions at all.
Low motivation can be a common symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. You can practice self-help and self-care as much as you can, but you may find that seeking professional help is more helpful for your emotions.
Losing interest or pleasure in activities or people that once gave you enjoyment, may be due to overworking, relationship problems or being in a temporary rut. However, a loss of interest in many things or people, that is ongoing, can sometimes be a sign you have a mental health condition.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines apathy as a "lack of motivation or goal-directed behavior and indifference to one's surroundings." It defines avolition as "failure to engage in goal-directed behavior."
ADHD & Laziness Are Not the Same
After all, it's a hyperactivity disorder. If people are hyper, how are they lazy? The truth is that people with ADHD often come across as lazy because their minds move too fast. Before getting an ADHD diagnosis, people with this problem have trouble focusing.
Lazy parenting includes being uninterested in spending time and energy with kids, giving kids devices to shut them up, not being willing to listen to kids because they are too lazy to deal with uncomfortable feelings and tantrums, etc.
Laziness is not a personality disorder. It's just a habit. Lazy thinking and lazy behavior, like any other habits, can be broken. Laziness isn't something we're born with.
As muscles shrink, they lose strength and flexibility and become fatigued more easily, and you may find you are less coordinated or have trouble balancing. The more sedentary you are, the quicker these changes take place so it's important to keep active as you age.