Laziness Is a Mindset—Not Your Truth

 

Growing up, I was constantly labelled “lazy.” Whenever I asked my friends or family to describe me, their answer was always the same: “You’re very lazy.” Over time, I began to believe it. It didn’t just become a part of my identity; it became a lifestyle. When I had work to do, I’d always say to myself, “I’m lazy anyway, so why bother?"

But what they called laziness was just me doing things at my own pace and when I felt compelled enough to do them. Yet, that label stuck; I wore it like a name tag. 

Everything changed after I read Atomic Habits by James Clear. I learnt something deep: laziness isn’t a personality trait—it’s a mindset. I wasn’t born lazy, nor was it an inherent trait. I had simply told myself and been told too that I was lazy, and my brain said, “Let’s follow the script.” The more I called myself “lazy,” the more it became my reality. 

I had to change the narrative and the way I saw things. Surprisingly or not, everything shifted when I told myself that I was capable and not lazy. I rebuked the word and everyone who said it to me. I stopped calling myself lazy, and my behaviour started to reflect that new identity. I began showing up for myself more consistently. My energy changed, and the script was rewritten.

The Problem With The Label “Lazy.” 

Just like James Clear suggests in Atomic Habits, our behaviours follow the story we tell ourselves. Let’s keep laziness aside for a moment and look at another example. You’ve probably heard the phrase “YOLO,” meaning “You only live once.” This is a quote that calls people to try out new things when opportunity presents itself. 

But for some, it becomes a personal mantra or a lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a powerful quote. However, it can be easily misused. Today, someone sees a bag that costs a ton and tells themselves, “YOLO.” Tomorrow, a new line of clothing drops, and they’re first in line, all because “You Only Live Once.” Gradually, this quote becomes a weapon formed against them. It becomes a trap disguised as freedom, influencing all of their financial decisions, until they’re left with nothing. 

This is exactly what happens when you label yourself “lazy” or allow others to do that. That one word becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

The mind favors consistency and eventually makes it our identity. It doesn’t care whether the identity works for you or against you; it just follows the script you give it. Wake up every day at the same time and pray consistently. Your mind copies the rhythm and repeats the cycle. Tell yourself “I’m lazy” every day, and don’t be surprised when your energy disappears and you struggle to leave the bed.

We are not the problem. The real problem lies in the words we use to define ourselves.

Mindset Before Action.

Your mindset sets the tone for every action you take. If it’s rooted in self-doubt, negative thoughts, or emotions, your action carries the same energy. But if it’s built on discipline, growth or hard work, every step you take reflects those values. 

Thoughts always come before actions. What you focus on today becomes what you put into action tomorrow. If you have a plan to hit the gym in two days, you must have convinced yourself that you need the exercise, and then the action follows. 

What you tell yourself determines your actions. It’s the things you say or the things you think that direct your mind on how to take action. When you constantly repeat the words “I am lazy,” you slowly kill every zeal you have to take action, and even simple tasks become heavier. 

Mindset is what creates your identity. A positive mindset drives positive results, and a negative one slows you down. Before you can make any real change, you must have come to terms with yourself, and your mind must have agreed to move forward. 

The Loop That Keeps Us Stuck. 

In Atomic Habits, James Clear introduces an idea: Habits are identity-reinforcing loops. The actions you take daily aren’t just routines; they’re a reinforcement of who you believe yourself to be. Every action we take is a belief of who we think we are, and every repeated action strengthens that belief even more. 

Here’s how the loop works;

- You say, “I’m lazy.”

- Then you procrastinate.

- Next you use your inaction as proof when you say, “See? I always delay things.” 

-Then the belief gets stronger. 

- And the cycle repeats itself. 

This is the pattern that keeps so many people stuck. Just like someone who lives by the quote “YOLO,” you’re guided into making decisions based on your beliefs. 

This habit loop isn’t one you break easily or by forcing yourself to take action. You break the loop by changing your mindset. Instead of saying “I’m lazy.” Try saying;

- “I’m learning to stay consistent.”

-“I’m building better habits.”

With this shift, your mindset reframes your actions, and the loop starts to break.

Reframing Laziness. 

First of all, you need to have it in the back of your mind that laziness is not your truth. It’s just a mindset that you’ve unconsciously cultivated, and all you need is to reshape that mindset. How do you reshape this mindset? 

• Identify the cause: Every problem has a source. You need to find the root cause of your laziness. Dig deeper and ask yourself, “What exactly do I do or say whenever I’m faced with a task I keep avoiding? It’s not always about saying “I’m lazy.” Sometimes it might be fear or the desire to be perfect. Finding the root helps you find a matching solution. 

• Stay positive: Remove every negative mindset that you’ve fed your mind. Forget about what others might have labeled you, and challenge what you’ve convinced yourself to believe. No one is born lazy or hardworking. It’s all a mindset we build over time. Change everything negative, because positivity is what attracts growth. 

• Break down tasks: Sometimes, when we look at the pile of work waiting for us, our brain shuts down. That’s when the  loop creeps in: “How can someone as lazy as me handle all this?” But you can, you just haven’t broken it down into manageable steps. Let’s say you have a pile of plates and pots. Separating the plates from the pots and deciding to do one first, then doing the other later, makes things much easier for you. And the best part is that you will find yourself washing both the pots and plates at the end. Because step by step wins the game. 

You don’t need a hundred strategies. These steps alone can start the transformation. Put them into use and watch your actions change the label you’ve placed on yourself.