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How to Recognize If You’re a Lazy Person (And What to Do About It)

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Hello, my beautiful sisters.

Let’s get real today—are you actually lazy, or is something deeper going on?

You might have caught yourself thinking:
💭 “Why can’t I just get things done?”
💭 “I keep procrastinating—I must just be lazy.”
💭 “I know what I need to do, but I can’t bring myself to do it.”

And maybe you’ve even felt guilty because everyone around you seems to be grinding, working hard, and staying disciplined—and you’re just stuck.

But before you label yourself as lazy, let’s pause.

Because laziness isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes, it’s a sign of something deeper—burnout, fear, self-doubt, or simply not having the right strategy to move forward.

So today, we’re breaking it all down:
The real signs of laziness.
How to know if something deeper is holding you back.
What to do if you’re stuck in a lazy rut.

Let’s get into it.


What Is Laziness—Really?

🔹 Laziness is the consistent avoidance of effort, even when you have the energy and ability to take action.
🔹 It’s choosing comfort over progress every time—knowing what you need to do but deciding not to do it.
🔹 It’s resisting effort, not because you’re tired, overwhelmed, or unsure—but because you’d rather avoid discomfort altogether.

🚨 Reality Check: If you’re avoiding action because of fear, burnout, self-doubt, or exhaustionyou’re not lazy, you’re struggling with something deeper.


How to Recognize If You’re Actually Lazy (Or If Something Else Is Holding You Back)

1. You Always Choose Comfort Over Progress

🚨 Sign of Laziness:

  • You know what needs to be done, but you consistently avoid it for easier, more comfortable activities.
  • You’d rather binge-watch TV, scroll social media, or sleep than work toward your goals.
  • You don’t even try to push yourself—you just stay where it’s comfortable.

🛑 Not Laziness If:

  • You feel tired, overwhelmed, or unmotivated because you’re burned out.
  • You feel stuck because you’re unsure where to start.

What to Do Instead:

  • Set one small goal every day and make yourself do it. (Progress over perfection.)
  • Remind yourself: Comfort doesn’t create change.

2. You Procrastinate Everything (Even Things That Matter to You)

🚨 Sign of Laziness:

  • You constantly push tasks off for no real reason.
  • You wait until the absolute last minute for everything.
  • You avoid tasks even when you have the time and energy to do them.

🛑 Not Laziness If:

  • You procrastinate because of fear of failure (“What if I mess up?”).
  • You feel mentally drained and struggle with focus.

What to Do Instead:

  • Break tasks into tiny steps. (Instead of “write my resume,” start with “write one sentence.”)
  • Set a 5-minute rule: Tell yourself you only have to do something for 5 minutes—once you start, you’ll likely keep going.

3. You Make Excuses Instead of Taking Responsibility

🚨 Sign of Laziness:

  • You blame circumstances, other people, or bad luck for why you’re not taking action.
  • You always have a reason why you can’t start something.
  • You refuse to take ownership of your own progress.

🛑 Not Laziness If:

  • You struggle with self-doubt (“I don’t think I can do this.”).
  • You’ve failed before, and now you’re afraid to try again.

What to Do Instead:

  • Flip the script: Instead of “I can’t because…” say, “I will figure out how to…”
  • Own your choices: Ask yourself, “What small thing can I do today to take control?”

4. You’re Always “Too Tired” (But Still Have Energy for Fun Things)

🚨 Sign of Laziness:

  • You say you’re too tired to work out, start a project, or be productive.
  • But you somehow have plenty of energy for Netflix, scrolling social media, or hanging out with friends.
  • You convince yourself you need “rest”—but really, you’re avoiding effort.

🛑 Not Laziness If:

  • You’re genuinely mentally or physically exhausted.
  • You feel emotionally drained from stress or burnout.

What to Do Instead:

  • Be honest: Are you really tired, or just avoiding discomfort?
  • Move your body: Even a 5-minute walk can boost energy and motivation.
  • Set a “do it anyway” rule: Even if you’re tired, commit to at least one small action.

5. You Want Change, But You’re Not Willing to Work for It

🚨 Sign of Laziness:

  • You talk about your goals, but never take action.
  • You daydream about success, but refuse to put in the work.
  • You expect things to happen for you without effort.

🛑 Not Laziness If:

  • You feel stuck in self-doubt (“What if I try and fail?”).
  • You’ve failed before and now fear trying again.

What to Do Instead:

  • Stop overthinking. Action builds confidence—not the other way around.
  • Do ONE thing today toward your goal. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s messy.

What to Do If You Recognize Lazy Habits in Yourself

Sis, if you see yourself in some of these lazy habits, don’t panic.

The truth? Everyone struggles with laziness sometimes.

But here’s the difference between staying stuck and breaking free:

Recognizing the habit and deciding to change it.
Pushing yourself to take action, even when you don’t feel like it.
Choosing discipline over comfort—one small step at a time.


Encouragement to Take Action

Sis, you are not lazy—you are capable.
You are not stuck—you are in control.
You are not behind—you are exactly where you need to be to take your next step.

Laziness is a habit, not an identity. And habits can be changed.

💡 You do not have to feel motivated to take action. You just have to start.

💡 You do not have to do everything at once. Just one step at a time.

💡 You do not have to wait for the “right time.” The time is NOW.


Uplifting Call to Action

💡 Choose ONE small thing to do today—even if you don’t feel like it.
💡 Interrupt a lazy habit—replace it with an action that moves you forward.
💡 Remind yourself: You are capable of more than you think.

Sis, you have everything you need inside you to create the life you want.

Now go prove it to yourself.


Author

  • Shelia Huggins Photo for Black Girl Heal Blog

    Shelia Huggins is a 20+ year attorney who has helped clients with their business and personal legal challenges. She blogs at Black Girl Heal to provide insight and practical strategies for those seeking to heal the struggles of their wallets, mindsets, and lives. Known as "Ms Legalista" on YouTube, she is passionate about helping people find their path and achieve the personal success they've been looking for.

    View all posts

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