I Thought I Was Lazy, Until I Realized This Was the Real Problem
Why Discipline Isn't Your Problem and What Really Holds You Back
I used to call myself lazy.
Every time I skipped a workout, ignored a task, or binge-watched YouTube instead of doing deep work, I whispered it in my head: You’re just lazy.
But I wasn’t.
And if you’re reading this thinking the same thing about yourself, you’re probably not lazy either.
Here’s what was really going on:
The Label Was the Problem
Calling yourself lazy feels like an identity.
It’s fixed. Final. Like there’s nothing you can do about it. But laziness is usually a mask for something else.
You’re not lazy.
You’re stuck.
You’re confused.
You’re overwhelmed.
And when your brain doesn’t know what to do next or can’t see a clear outcome, it shuts down.
So instead of calling yourself names, ask:
What’s unclear about this task? What feels heavy about starting?
Start there. That one question alone can remove half the weight.
Most “Laziness” is Just Poor Energy Management
Picture this:
You sleep at 1 a.m., wake up at 8 a.m., skip breakfast, scroll your phone before starting work, and expect to feel like a machine.
Not going to happen.
Your body fuels your brain. When your sleep, nutrition, and dopamine levels are all off, no amount of motivational YouTube will save you.
Here’s what to do:
Sleep 7–8 hours, and no screens 1 hour before bed.
Avoid instant noodles, junk food, and sugary drinks as breakfast.
Cut dopamine overload: less scrolling, more focus.
Change your inputs, and your outputs will follow.
You’re not lazy. You’re depleted.
The Task is Too Big (So Your Brain Says “Nope”)
Big goals sound good on paper.
“Write a book.”
“Start a business.”
“Lose 20 pounds.”
But your brain doesn’t operate in big goals.
It needs small, immediate actions.
Instead of “Write my article,” try “Open Google Docs and write the first sentence.”
Instead of “Get in shape,” try “Put on my shoes and walk around the block.”
Here’s a simple rule:
If the next step takes more than 2 minutes to start, break it down again.
One push-up. One sentence. One message.
That’s all it takes to start.
You Don’t Have a System (Just Good Intentions)
If you rely on motivation, you’ll lose.
Motivation is a mood.
What you need is a system: something that runs even when you don’t feel like it.
Try this template:
Trigger: After I brush my teeth…
Routine: I sit down and write for 15 minutes.
Reward: Then I can check my phone or make coffee.
Stack it onto something you already do.
And use a tracker. Just a simple box to tick off each day.
Momentum loves visibility.
You’re Emotionally Avoiding Something
Sometimes what looks like laziness is emotional avoidance.
You don’t want to start because you’re scared of failure. Or success. Or judgment. Or being exposed. You say you’ll “do it later,” but really you’re afraid of what will happen if you actually try.
Here’s a mindset shift:
It’s okay to suck at first. It’s not okay to stay stuck.
Let yourself start badly. Hit publish anyway. Share your draft. Make the video.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s acting anyway.
Action Creates Energy, Not the Other Way Around
You don’t wait to feel motivated. You act until you feel it.
This is how I started writing again:
I opened my laptop. Wrote one sentence. Then another. Then a paragraph.
Thirty minutes later, I was deep in flow.
Don’t expect momentum to show up like a package at your door. You build it.
Every action is a vote for who you’re becoming.
So vote today. Start small.
You Are Not Lazy. You Just Need a Better System
If you feel stuck:
Get sleep, food, and sunlight right.
Break goals down into 2-minute actions.
Stack your habits with triggers and rewards.
Act through fear. Let it suck. That’s fine.
Start. Even without motivation.
This works.
Not overnight. But over time.
You’re not broken. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not lazy.
You’re just one tiny action away from turning the whole day around.
Go do it.
Now.