Are you struggling to get your work done? Are you trying to figure out whether you are depressed or lazy?
Check out four things that confirm you are probably not lazy.
KEY POINTS: Laziness is often a symptom of something more significant, like depression or anxiety, and it should not be something we judge harshly. When we take a closer look, the concept of laziness can be very revealing. Laziness might even be a myth that our culture perpetuates. Mental health advocacy means understanding that words like "lazy" can be very impactful. We should consider their place in our vocabulary. Understanding the root of your laziness and even embracing it can lead to more self-care and stronger mental health.
Iโve always been a disciplined person. I was an academic achiever from the early days of Spelling Bee wins. However, there are certain areas of my life in which I admit that I am โlazy.โ I donโt flourish when it comes to laundry. So I hire someone to help me in those areas. Sometimes, though, it still bothers me to think that there is โlazinessโ in me. In our culture, โlazyโ is a very dirty term.
Why is laziness such a frowned-upon trait? Is it even a trait at all, or is it the symptom of something else, likeย anxiety,ย depression, or mental illness?
In this discussion, I will examine the myth of laziness and why you should askโam I depressed or lazy?
The Key Differences Between Depression And Laziness
Depression and laziness have a lot in common, which is why many people are mislabeled as lazy. The reason the โL-wordโ often goes with depression is that it is a common symptom of depression and mental illness.
Depression and laziness both affectย motivation,ย concentration, energy levels, and the quality of work produced. The difference is that depression affects oneโs mental health and mood, while lazy people are just unmotivated by things outside their control because they lack self-awareness or insight into what motivates them.
How Do You Know If Youโre Depressed Versus Lazy?
How do you know if youโre lazy? In my personal experience, depression feels very dark. You will notice that it is difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Not because youโre so relaxed and enjoying your cozy time, but because youโre sad, dejected, and feeling hopeless.
Laziness is more of a situational experience. Some days you may feel lazy because youโre tired from a busy week. On the other hand, depression can last for weeks or months regardless of how much rest you get.
True Laziness Might Be A Myth.
I would argue that true laziness as a moral failure or a temperament is a myth.
Sure, we all have days where we are voluntarily and blissfully lazy. When we take a day off, for example. Being lazy is an act of self-care. The space to watch television, order your favorite food, and enjoy a moment to breathe without the maniacal pace of life as aย corporate employeeย is absolutely necessary.
Also, read 11 Tips To Overcome Procrastination
Reasons Why You Might Struggle With Laziness
From my perspective as a life coach, laziness is a reflection that a personโs health and wellness are in need of examination.
1. You may have issues with value linking.
I recently learned of the principles ofย value linking,ย and I wished I had learned them sooner. Value linking refers to whether you feel that a task aligns with your own values.
At work, weโre often assigned tasks that seem mindless or useless. If you get tripped up by value linking, you would probably have a hard time completing an important task for your bossโeven if itโs a top priority and due tomorrowโif you think the task has no value.
Most of us have the capability to suspend our thoughts around value linking enough to work on projects assigned to us by our superiors. However, some people find it nearly impossible to do work that has little perceived value.
If youโre a value-linking person, itโs important to speak to your boss about this. Make sure you ask about why a project or task is so important.
Dig in deep until you can really align to the overarching value of a task so you can finally get it done. Otherwise, youโll reject getting started and continue toย procrastinateย and earn the label โlazy.โ
2. Youโre addicted to social media.
No judgment. I have lost hours to mindlessly scrolling Instagram myself. Social media addiction is a documented issue. Realize that your social scrolling is contributing to your mental health in either a positive or negative way.
Focus on reducing your time spent on social media. In years, we will be so distressed to see the long-term effects of apps like Instagram on our mental health.
One tip that helps: I like to delete my social media apps on the weekends and after hours. It might take extra time to reinstall them, but it helps me to keep from mindlessly hopping back on. Theyโre just too addictive!
Also, consider muting and unfollowing accounts that make you feel bad about yourself.
Also, read 11 Tips To Overcome Procrastination
3. You may be struggling with substance abuse.
Laziness and depression could be symptoms of aย substance abuseย problem. Self-medicating can appear to be laziness (showing up late, missing appointments,ย ghostingย friends), but itโs actually an addiction problem.
In fact, one growing type of addiction isย Adderall, aย medicationย meant to help those with ADHD. Often, people abuse Adderall to combat laziness because it provides energy and intense focus; however, Adderall addiction can eventually lead to a person feeling depressed.
4. Youโre lazy because you haveย too muchย to do.
When you work remotely, you are inundated with work from every angle. Your computer. Your phone. Your Apple watch pings you when your Zoom meeting is starting. Itโs too much.
Iโve noticed many of my clients respond to this experience of overwhelm with what looks like laziness. They hide. They pull the covers over their head and use their avoidance and unresponsiveness as a way of saying, โIโm overwhelmed.โ
How To Encourage People With Depression And Mental Health Problems
One of the best ways to completely deflate and degrade someone with depression is to call them lazy. Language has power. When you see someone being lazy at work, pause and consider how to inspire them.
Consider swapping out the word โlazyโ from your vocabulary altogether. As I mentioned, lazy has such a negative connotation and can bring up harmful feelings. Encourage employees and colleagues to schedule downtime into their calendars. Sometimes I call it โthinking timeโ or moments of space. It might look like laziness, but itโs actually the most replenishing time you can put on your agenda.
Also, read 5 Ways Gratitude Improves Our Mental Health
Depressed Or Just LazyโBoth Are Perfectly Fine
Laziness and depression are both parts of life. Neither is good or bad. Letโs all work to relieve ourselves and each other of the intense judgment of these two human experiences.
Are you depressed or lazy? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Please share this article with anyone who you may think will find it valuable and helpful.
Written by:Brynn Johnson Originally appeared on:Psychology Today Republished with permission
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