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The 3 Best Things To Do When You’re Feeling Lazy And Unmotivated

Do nothing written on a card

We live in a time that promotes having an agenda for every single day of the week.

From Monday to Friday, you work yourself to the bones for some money to buy food and live how you want and then after work, you work on your side hustle. 

On Saturdays and Sundays, you socialize and go to brunch and be a “normal person” according to “normal people” in this chaotic world.

However, life isn’t as black and white as the mass likes to paint it.

We all have feelings and emotions, and on some days, we want nothing to do with anything outside of our bed and the kitchen.

So, for a society that has normalized toxic productivity, most of us are left wondering what to do when we simply don’t feel like doing anything.

This article will walk you through the three best things to do when you’re feeling lazy and unmotivated.

If you’re looking for ways to overcome your lazy and unmotivated feelings, this is not the article for you, read this article instead: 7 Easy Ways to Stay Creative And Inspired.

Let’s continue.

The Art of Doing Nothing

Doing nothing is viewed as a negative thing in today’s society but I believe that it is one of the best things to do when you are feeling lazy and unmotivated.

Doing nothing allows us to take some time for ourselves, reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and appreciate the small moments in life that we tend to overlook in our daily hustle.

We’ve learned to go full force one hundred percent of the time without ever stopping to check in with our mental health or our physical bodies.

Living life in the fast lane is glorified to the point where if you are not running around like a headless chicken, you’re seen as lazy.

Doing nothing is the best way to reset, re-energize, and break free from the shackles of a toxic, disconnected society.

Slowing Down and Noticing the Beauty Around Us

“Wake up and smell the coffee!”

The first time I heard that saying was when I was in Jamaica playing netball and the team we were beating really badly was moving way too slow to catch up.

Their coach, witnessing this beating and feeling terrible about it, kept yelling, “Wake up and smell the coffee!” to her players.

That saying never resonated with me because,

  1. I despise the smell of coffee and,
  2. No amount of yelling will make anyone do anything faster if they don’t feel like it.

The saying that always stuck with me was, “Slow down and smell the roses.”

I always thought it was a beautiful saying, but I didn’t grasp the depth of its teachings until late in life when everything went from a stroll in the park to trying to strap yourself in on a rollercoaster that’s going full speed.

Everything zooms by so quickly and before I can say, “What happened?”  I’m already at the end of the ride feeling like I missed so many things

Slowing down to the point that you notice there are flowers around you is a giant leap into mindfulness.

How many times have you been on autopilot last week or yesterday?

What signs have you missed because you were busy being busy?

Those two questions are what I ask myself during the times I’m feeling lazy and unmotivated.

How I Relax and De-Stress When I’m Feeling Lazy and Unmotivated

Lazy days normally cannot be scheduled and when I used to work overnight and had the privilege to call out whenever I didn’t feel like working, I’d simply just stay in bed.

Backstory: I despised that particular job and they were never worth my time, so I basically did what I wanted until one day I just stopped showing up. (I don’t recommend doing that, at least put in your two weeks so they can adjust and you can have a reference. Or if you don’t care, do what I did and burn that bridge to crips. I never looked back)

Getting back to the point here, you can schedule a lazy day if you like scheduling things but most of the time a lazy day will pop up on you like an unwanted house guest.

When those days happen for me, I do the bare minimum. All my elaborate plans and my to-do list go out the window.

I focus on eating, maybe watching a movie or a series if my brain is feeling up to it or I’ll just sleep the day away.

I do not feel guilty for taking these days when they creep up on me.

I actually enjoy walking around aimlessly, doing absolutely nothing.

People are frazzled and working on fumes because they don’t allow themselves to just be still for a day or two.

Life is too short to be stressing out over things that won’t matter in the long run or things you cannot control.

Doing nothing or taking a break when you’re feeling lazy will help you to re-center, rejuvenate and release a lot of pent-up rage, anger and frustration.

3 Ways To Relax & Unwind

We, as a society, have unlearned how to relax and be still so we have to actively seek out the knowledge to re-teach ourselves how to relax.

For those lazy and unmotivated days, the following three activities are perfect for winding down and allowing stress to melt away.

1. Meditate

Teaching the body and mind to relax and let go of toxic productivity and worry can bring benefits like reduced stress, increased focus, and enhanced creativity.

Meditation is the key to reconnecting with your energetic self, better known as your higher self. It teaches your mind to calm down and relax because everything will be alright.

Meditating allows your body to enter the sleep state and your mind to enter the rejuvenating state of love and expansion.

When you’re not sure what to do, sit still, breathe and simply listen.

2. Take A Relaxing Stroll

I went for a stroll a few days ago and I basically dragged my feet on the pavement. I walked as if I had nowhere to be and nothing to do because that’s how I felt.

The exhilaration I felt when I came back inside was satisfying.

The key to a great stroll is to be present.

Don’t think about what you should have done or what you need to do in the future. Just be present and listen to all the sounds around you.

3. Sleep

When was the last time you took a nap?

When you’ve trained your body to survive on a few hours of uneasy sleep, it can be hard at first to break that pattern.

However, I find that sleeping is one of the best things to do when the motivation to do nothing simply won’t leave.

Don’t force yourself to do things when it’s detrimental to your well-being.

Take a nap and if that thing you need to do must get done, revisit it when you’re rested and in a better mood.

Some people may tell you that you shouldn’t wait until you feel like doing something to do it but I believe that your feelings are a great indicator of your state of being.

If you have to constantly talk yourself into doing something that’s supposedly good for you, something’s not right.

Either you’re viewing that thing as a chore or you’re simply not in the right headspace to do it.

Therefore, I recommend taking a break and doing something that will nourish your body and soul.

Sleep, sleep some more, and if you wake up and still feel lazy and unmotivated, go back to sleep because your body, mind, and soul need that rest.

You’re Allowed to Feel Lazy

Don’t allow overachievers who don’t see the value in a healthy work-life balance to convince you that feeling lazy is a bad thing.

You are the only one who has to live in your body your entire life so learn the clues it’s sending you and give it a break sometimes.

Our bodies are wonderful mechanisms but they are not robots, they need a lot of rest and time to slow down and smell all the roses they want.

So if you need to slow down, do it without feeling guilty for taking your me-time.

Take a day or two off and just be still, rest, relax and recharge because it’s not something you can outsource, no one else can do it for you.

You owe it to yourself!

Which one of the three activities mentioned above will you try on your next lazy day? Share it in the comments below.

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Questions You May Have

What causes laziness and lack of motivation?

Laziness and lack of motivation can be caused by a combination of factors, including physical or mental fatigue, boredom, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression or procrastination. In some cases it may also be related to an underlying medical condition.

Why do I feel so drained and unmotivated?

You’re probably tired and overworked, and not giving yourself enough time to rest and relax. It’s important to give your body and mind a break every now and then so you can recharge and have the energy to do what you want.

Is it normal to feel unmotivated all the time?

If you feel unmotivated all the time it simply means you’re not doing something you’re passionate about. Maybe it’s time to change your career and life’s focus and indulge in doing more of the things that bring you joy. You’re the master of your life so don’t give your power away to a society that doesn’t care

Why do I feel unmotivated for no reason?

It’s life! You will have lazy and unmotivated days sometimes, it’s not the end of the world. It’s simply an indicator to take a break and do something that nourishes your body, mind, and soul. Give yourself permission to take it slow sometimes!

What should I do if I’m extremely unmotivated?

Sleep. Take a nap or if you can, sleep in. When you’re rested and have more energy, take some time to think about what brings you joy and start doing more of those things instead of what doesn’t energize your life.

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Jody

Jody

Jody is a creative writer, artist, graphic designer, and a digital nomad who also helps people live more fulfilling lives by finding creative solutions to their personal growth and development problems and lifestyle challenges.

8 thoughts on “The 3 Best Things To Do When You’re Feeling Lazy And Unmotivated”

  1. Julie Russell

    I love how you talk about the importance of slowing down! I look forward to reading more articles!

    1. Jody

      I’m happy you enjoyed the read Julie, there are plenty more to read, and will be a lot more. Thanks for commenting!

  2. These are actions we do regularly or I do my husband has trouble with napping ha ha I am slowly getting him to slow down a bit…he’s a work in progress…

    1. Jody

      He’ll be inspired by you and hopefully join you when you’re napping. Thanks for sharing your words Jeanine.

  3. Excellent honest post. We do not need to keep running ourselves constantly when breaks are needed. I really appreciate this post. Well written piece. 🤗

    Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)
    Letstakeamoment.com

    1. Jody

      I’m happy you enjoyed this post as well Pastor Natalie, thanks for always reading and commenting.

  4. Riyah Speaks

    These are some great tips! I find that sometimes taking a nap and doing something different always helps me.

  5. I often have to keep me being unmotivated at times in check. The quick walk and meditation definitely help.

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