Stop Being Lazy! 14 Tips to Help Make the Most of Your Day

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Let it be known that I’m a firm believer in occasional laziness. I’m a huge fan of sitting. My couch regularly calls my name and, once I sit down, refuses to let me go. 

Sometimes “laziness” is a necessity. The demands of motherhood require that we take a timeout every once in a while. There are times when you need to let things slide in order to maintain your sanity. 

I used to go through cycles in my day-to-day life – I was productive for a while, and then I couldn’t seem to get off my butt for a while. Instead of spending quality time with my kids or cleaning up around the house, I’d spend hours on my phone or reading. I felt super unproductive and frustrated by the demands that it felt like everyone was putting on me.

My lazy zone-out time wasn’t necessarily enjoyable or relaxing – all it was doing was stressing me out and making me feel guilty. 

But it’s HARD to break the cycle once you’re in it.

Now I know how to stay out of the laziness cycle completely – it turns out that the remedy for this sort of cycling is simply to avoid overwhelm and burnout in the first place.

But when I was in the trenches, I needed a way out – and FAST. You’d probably like a quick way out as well. Fear not – there are ways to make it stop.

What Does It Mean to Be Lazy? 

What does being lazy even mean? According to Oxford Languages it means “unwilling to work or use energy.”

I don’t know about you, but when I’m truly feeling lazy, it’s not that I’m unwilling, per se… It’s more like I’m completely unable.

What is Laziness NOT?

Moms sometimes simply need a break – you get exhausted, or overwhelmed, or just need a timeout. I’m not talking about that. What I’m covering here is laziness when we shouldn’t and don’t need to be – or even when we don’t want to be, but we can’t seem to get out of it.

I’m also not talking about “laziness” as a side effect of depression. Many of these ideas do help me when I’m dealing with my own depression. However, I’m not a doctor, so if you are suffering from depression, please seek professional help!

Maybe you’re dreading what you need to do. Procrastination is often mistaken for laziness. 

Or maybe you have a new baby. New babies are exhausting, so it’s totally understandable that you may not be able to do all the things for a few months. You might feel terribly lazy, but your body just did something pretty amazing, and your “laziness” is your body’s way of letting you know that it needs to rest and recover. 

In reality, it’s highly unlikely that what you’re suffering from is true laziness. However, whether it’s actual laziness or one of the things above, any of the tips below can help you break the cycle and get back to getting stuff done!

14 Things You Can Do To Stop Being Lazy

#1 – Fake it till you make it.

Force yourself to do things even when you don’t wanna. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but you might actually enjoy it! Bonus points if “faking it” includes leaving the house and doing something outside.

#2 – Plan your days.

Even if you’re just staying at home, make a plan! Have a routine that includes chores, activities, meals, and whatever else you do every day. Write it down so you can cross it off when you complete it – it’s so motivating to have a visible reminder that you are, in fact, getting things done!

#3 – Get dressed every day.

The simple act of getting up in the morning and getting ready can be enough to motivate you! This doesn’t have to involve makeup and a blow dryer (although it certainly can!) – simply brushing your teeth and changing from night pajamas into day pajamas can be enough. Figure out what “getting ready” means to you, and do it – for me, it’s a shower, clean clothes, and coffee. Every single day.

#4 – Stop multitasking.

There’s really no such thing as multitasking – your brain simply can’t be in two places at once. Every time you switch tasks when you “multitask,” your focus is rapidly switching between two things, and it takes time to re-focus after each switch. Multitasking will lead you straight into the land of overwhelm, which is definitely a cause of laziness. Don’t try to do two things at once – your brain cannot handle it. 

#5 – Get your chores done first.

Clean first. Prep dinner. Do all of the active things first. Sitting down at your computer to work from home or even to do other very productive things (pay bills, renew library books, etc.) somehow magically makes it so that you can’t get up again to do the rest of the things. But if you do the things first, you can give yourself a little extra time at the computer and not have to feel like a bum if you get sidetracked.

#6 – Take breaks.

Schedule them in. When your time is up, get up. If you don’t put breaks in your schedule, your body will eventually make them for you, and it’s harder to get back up. Breaks allow your brain and body to recharge so that you can ultimately get more done.

#7 – Put your phone somewhere else.

Phones are the absolute worst when it comes to being lazy. It should really be in another room completely so that you don’t absentmindedly pick it up and start scrolling Facebook. If you DO need it to be in the room with you, I’d recommend turning off all notifications except for actual phone calls. 

#8 – Set a goal.

If you’re struggling with laziness and want to break free of the cycle, set specific goals for yourself. Figure out what “not being lazy” looks like to you, and set specific and measurable daily goals to make it stop. One of my favorite non-lazy goals is to set a specific timeframe every day when I’m not allowed to touch my phone, no matter what. Another good one is to decide in advance what things you need to check off your to-do list before you can take a break.

#9 – Take care of your body.

This should include the basics – sleep, water, food, and exercise – what I like to call true self-care. Working out actually gives you more energy. I know, I don’t like it either – but it’s the truth. You don’t want to overdo the exercise to the point of burning out, but a 20-minute walk, especially outside, can make a HUGE difference in your motivation. 

#10 – Do the next right thing.

When you’re having a hard time motivating yourself to get off the couch, you only need to do the next right thing. And once that thing is completed, do the next right thing. And what comes after that? You guessed it – the next right thing. It’s so hard to get back on track once you’ve succumbed to laziness, but if you do one thing at a time, you’ll get there! 

#11 – Don’t sit down.

I mentioned above that my couch regularly calls my name, so I know this one is especially challenging. The simple act of sitting down, even if only to send a quick text or check your email, sends a signal to your brain that you’re done working. So just don’t do it. Keep moving, doing that next right thing, and it will kickstart your motivation and get rid of the lazies. 

#12 – Have something that’s just for you.

This gives you something to look forward to. You can use it as a reward that you only get to do after your daily goals are met. Something that belongs only to you, and not to your husband, kids, or friends, reminds you that you’re an actual person with wants, needs, and desires. Pick up a hobby or a side hustle – there are so many choices out there, from direct sales to blogs or from photography to knitting.

#13 – Consider waking up earlier.

If you wake up before your kids, you can have a few minutes to shower, caffeinate, and get into the parenting mindset before they get up and turn the day to crazy. You can prep for the day, work out, or just have a few minutes of silence. This morning time fills your cup so that you can be a patient and happier momma for your kiddos. And when you’re happier, you’re less likely to feel lazy. Figure out what you want to do with this morning time and how long it will take, and wake up that much earlier – even just 15 or 20 minutes is plenty!

#14 – Go outside.

Fresh air and sunshine have so many benefits for our mental and physical health. Getting outside is a natural mood booster. And when you’re in a better mood, you’re more likely to get off your butt. Yes, it’s a lot of work to bundle up the kids and get them out the door, but it’s soooo worth it! 

For what it’s worth, I’m fairly certain you’re not a lazy mom. I think it’s more likely that you’re overwhelmed, in a rough season of life, exhausted, or depressed. 

Regardless of your situation, I do think these tips can help if you’re feeling lazy.

Even though we might want to, we can’t avoid laziness all the time. Hopefully, by trying out some of these tips, you’re able to get out of the cycle of laziness to increase your productivity.

What tip sounds best to you? Let me know in the comments!