Last Updated on August 4, 2022
Do you ever feel like you’re just not motivated to do anything? You don’t feel like working, and you would rather sit around all day watching TV or playing a video game. This is what procrastination feels like.
On the other hand, laziness is when you simply don’t want to do anything at all. You don’t feel motivated to move, and you would rather just stay in bed all day.
So, procrastination vs laziness, what’s the difference? And more importantly, how can you overcome them both?
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What is Procrastination?
Procrastination is the act of postponing or delaying a certain task. This could be work, studying, or any other important task that needs to be completed.
Procrastinate: to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done
merriam-webster.com
People often procrastinate because they don’t feel motivated to do the task at hand. They would rather do something else instead, even if it’s not important or beneficial. Unfortunately, procrastination leads to negative consequences like missed deadlines, last-minute schedule changes, and disruptions in relationships.
Procrastination is a habit, and it can be changed. However, it takes time and effort to break the habit. The best way to stop procrastinating is to start small. Start with a task that’s easy and manageable, and then work your way up to bigger tasks.
What is Laziness?
On the other hand, laziness is when you procrastinate doing one thing to do nothing at all. For example, let’s say that you are procrastinating on going for a run because you want to stay in bed instead. Simply put, laziness is procrastination taken to the extreme.
Why are some people so lazy? There can be many reasons, but one of the most common is that people simply don’t see the benefits of doing anything. They don’t think that working or studying will get them anywhere, so they would rather just stay in bed all day.
How Can You Tell If You’re Procrastinating or You’re Just Being Lazy?
Procrastination vs laziness. The difference between procrastination and laziness is that procrastination is the intentional avoidance of doing a task, while laziness is when someone genuinely doesn’t see the benefits of working or studying.
Lazy people generally don’t have any goals, while people who procrastinate might have goals but struggle to meet them because of their avoidance behavior.
Lazy people might also have difficulty getting started on tasks, while people who procrastinate tend to start tasks but then struggle to finish them.
Lazy people might also avoid activities that require physical activity, while people who procrastinate might be more likely to engage in physical activity to avoid working on the task at hand.
Lazy people might also take longer to do tasks, while people who procrastinate might complete tasks in a shorter amount of time but with more errors.
Ultimately, the best way to determine if you are procrastinating or being lazy is to ask yourself why you’re avoiding the task.
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How Can We Stop Procrastinating?
First, acknowledge that procrastination is an active process. You are choosing to put one thing off in favor of another. No one is making you do that, my friend.
Next, discovering and accepting the root cause for habitually putting things off is a solid beginning. Ponder why you intentionally delay projects, other tasks, etc. Do you simply lack motivation? Maybe.
But more likely there is an underlying cause. You might be averse to planning. You know, fly by the seat of your pants and get there eventually.
Sometimes people procrastinate because they are perfectionists and feel like they won’t get it done just right, so they don’t start on the task or project.
You can overcome procrastination and get rid of the procrastination habit that is holding you back by breaking down the task that you need to do into smaller tasks. This will make it easier for you to get started, and also be less overwhelming.
You can also try to set a time limit on how long You will work on the task so that You don’t procrastinate for too long.
If you are struggling to get started, you can focus on the positive consequences of completing the task. For example, you might think about how good you will feel once it is done or how it will help you meet your goals.
You can also try to eliminate distractions to focus on the task at hand. This might mean turning off your phone, closing all of your tabs, or working in a quiet space. Make sure that you have everything you need to complete the task before you start so that you don’t have to stop and get up later.
Finally, you can try to make a habit of working on tasks as soon as they come up so that procrastination doesn’t have a chance to take hold. By setting a daily or weekly goal for yourself and making a plan to work on the task each day, procrastination will become less and less of an issue.
How Can We Overcome Laziness?
You can overcome laziness by setting clear goals so that you have a reason to get up and move around. This will give you something to work towards, making it easier for you to get started and less overwhelming when you procrastinate on what needs to be done.
To set goals, think about how much time it would take for you to accomplish the task at hand and then decide if that is something worth working towards or not.
If the answer is yes, make sure your deadline is realistic. You should also make sure that your goal is important enough so that laziness doesn’t become an issue when trying to achieve it. If the answer is no, it might be time to reevaluate your goals and make sure that they are worth your time.
Another way to overcome laziness is to take small steps towards a larger goal. This will help you break the task down into more manageable pieces so that you aren’t overwhelmed when looking at it. For example, if you want to start working out, go for a walk instead of going to the gym straight in the beginning.
Self-discipline is also crucial when trying to overcome laziness. This means that you have to be willing to push yourself even when you don’t feel like it. Just remember that it’s only temporary, and the feeling of accomplishment, once you’ve completed the task, will be worth it.
Last but not least, make sure that you are taking care of yourself. This means getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and not overworking yourself. If you’re feeling run down, it’s going to be harder for you to push through the laziness and get things done.
Tips to Boost Your Productivity
The key to overcoming either procrastination or laziness or both is to boost productivity and use your time effectively. Here are eight quick tips to help you get started:
- Get rid of all distractions. This includes your phone, laptop and any other devices that can take your attention away from the task at hand.
- Set a specific time for working on tasks and stick to it. This will help you to stay focused and avoid procrastinating.
- Create a list of things that need to be done and rank them in order of importance. Start with the most important tasks and work your way down. Using a to do list will help immensely.
- Set realistic goals. Don’t procrastinate by setting impossible tasks that will only frustrate you when trying to complete them later on down the road.
- Focus on the task at hand. Don’t procrastinate by doing other things like cleaning or even reading this blog post instead of working on it!
- Take breaks every couple of hours to give your brain a rest. This will make it easier for you to focus when you come back from break time.
- Make sure that the tasks are not overwhelming for you and can be completed within the allotted amount of time given.
- Reward yourself when completing tasks. This will help motivate you to keep going and get things done faster than not doing anything at all.
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FAQ
Is procrastination caused by laziness?
Procrastination is caused by a number of different things, including laziness. However, not all people who procrastinate are lazy and not all lazy people procrastinate. It’s important to determine which is causing your avoidance behavior so that you can work on overcoming it.
What’s the difference between laziness and lack of motivation?
Laziness is when someone genuinely doesn’t see the benefits of working or studying, while lack of motivation is when someone wants to do something but struggles to get started. Lazy people generally don’t have any goals, while people who procrastinate might have goals but struggle to meet them because of their avoidance behavior.
What are the 4 types of procrastinators?
The four types of procrastinators are the avoiders, the perfectionists, the ones who put things off to the last minute and the diversions. Avoiders try to avoid tasks altogether, perfectionists want to do everything perfectly which leads to them delaying tasks, people who put things off to the last minute only have a limited amount of time so they tend to rush through tasks and finally diversions are when people procrastinate by doing other activities instead of working on the task at hand.
What can I do if I’m struggling with both laziness and procrastination?
The key to overcoming both laziness and procrastination is to determine which is causing your avoidance behavior. Once you know what’s causing it, you can start to work on overcoming it. If you are struggling with both, it might be helpful to seek out professional help. There are a number of different treatments that are available for people who struggle with both laziness and procrastination. Treatment options might include therapy, medication or self-help interventions.
Final Words: Procrastination vs Laziness
Procrastinating doesn’t always mean procrastination. It just means that you’re delaying something until later on in life because there are more important things happening right now at this moment (like procrastination).
Laziness is a symptom of procrastination. One tends to be lazy or unproductive about certain things that need to be done because procrastination has made them feel like there’s no point in getting anything accomplished anymore.
At the end of the day, procrastination and laziness are two different things, but they both have the same goal: procrastination can lead to laziness if you aren’t careful enough with your time management skills.
So, how do you overcome procrastination and laziness? The answer is simple: increase productivity. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, these tips will hopefully help you get started on the right path towards success.
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