Procrastination And Laziness: Their Differences & Connections

Ever caught yourself contemplating the familiar dance of your mouse on the blank screen, endlessly scrolling through emails, only to avoid starting on that looming project? An odd mix of guilt and frustration follows you, an unwelcome shadow on a bright summer’s day. You wonder, am I just being lazy?

This is a scenario we’ve all been in, nudged by a mischievous accomplice known as procrastination. Often misunderstood as simple laziness, procrastination is an intentional decision to postpone what we should be doing, even when we know the delay may cost us. We see that unread report, that blank word document, but we choose to navigate away. It’s a kind of self-sabotage, one that has us prioritizing today’s comfort over tomorrow’s gain.

But let’s not confuse procrastination with laziness. Laziness is a reluctance to act or put in any effort, even when we’re fully capable. It’s like having the ingredients and the recipe to make a dish, but choosing to stay on the couch because, well, it’s too much work.

In this article, we will discuss the differences and relationships between procrastination and laziness. Are they truly distinctive or just two sides of the same coin?

Procrastination vs Laziness

Let’s start with understanding their differences at their core:

The Nature of Procrastination

Under the umbrella of procrastination, there exist many patterns, each fuelled by a unique set of psychological factors:

First Up, We’ve Got the Perfectionists.

These folks delay because they fear the outcome won’t live up to their high standards. They’ll wait for that perfect moment that never comes, turning a blind eye to the wisdom of “done is better than perfect.”

Then Come the Dreamers.

They love big ideas but stumble when it comes to executing them. The thought of the gritty, step-by-step process of turning dreams into reality prompts them to delay, making them perpetual residents of ‘Someday Isle’.

Next Are the Avoiders And Self-Saboteurs.

They’re experts in steering clear of tasks that are tough or uncomfortable. The idea is, if they don’t start, they can’t fail. It’s a safety net that gives them an excuse for not performing well: “I didn’t have enough time”.

The Crisis-Makers, on the other hand, thrive under pressure.

They procrastinate until the eleventh hour, convinced they work best when the heat is on. In reality, though, this often leads to rushed, subpar work and elevated stress levels.

Lastly, the Busy Bees.

They are always buzzing around, juggling numerous trivial tasks while the big, important ones take a back seat. They may seem busy, but their constant activity is just another form of procrastination.

While these behaviors might appear harmless, they embody a significant problem: unnecessary delay. Procrastination is like a sly fox, luring us into a state of inactivity that often leads to adverse outcomes. It hinders our performance and gnaws at our emotional wellbeing, essentially becoming a maladaptive behavior.^[1] More often than not, it leaves us worse off than we anticipated, thus making it far from beneficial.

Interestingly, this delay is usually unintentional. Despite our best intentions to complete tasks on time, we often find ourselves entangled in the web of procrastination. It’s like a sneaky enemy, attacking when we least expect it. But by understanding its different forms and underlying causes, we’re better equipped to combat it..

Understanding Laziness

Shifting our spotlight to laziness, we find it occupying a broad spectrum, stretching from mental inertia to physical inactivity.

Individuals showing signs of laziness usually do so despite being well aware of the negative outcomes. Poor performance, lost opportunities, and a nagging sense of regret are just some of the sour fruits borne from the tree of laziness.

But let’s not rush to label someone as inherently lazy. More often than not, laziness is a symptom, not the disease.

They haven’t found their inner spark.

Many so-called “lazy” people are merely in limbo because they haven’t found their passion or, for various reasons, aren’t pursuing it. It’s hard to muster enthusiasm for something that doesn’t ignite your inner spark.

Underneath this apparent laziness may lurk low self-esteem and confidence.

If someone doesn’t believe they can succeed, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They retreat into laziness, in order to prevent potential failure. It’s easier to dismiss an effort as not worth trying than face the sting of falling short.

Feelings of hopelessness can feed laziness.

If a person feels their efforts won’t bring about change, they might think, “Why bother?” This hopeless outlook can cement a person in a state of inaction, an infertile ground where nothing grows.

Think about a student who doesn’t study for exams. It may seem like laziness at first glance. However, digging deeper might reveal that the student feels overwhelmed by the vast syllabus. They may believe they’ll fail regardless of how much they study. It could also be that they find no joy or relevance in what they’re studying, leading to disinterest and apparent laziness.

Understanding these psychological triggers allows us to view laziness from a compassionate lens. It’s rarely about an unwillingness to act but more often a response to deeper, unaddressed issues.

Let’s delve into their overlapping behaviors.

Both tend to involve avoidance and a lack of motivation. But while procrastination is about delaying tasks despite knowing the costs, laziness involves a reluctance to put forth any effort, irrespective of the potential gains.

Interestingly, these behaviors can fuel each other in a vicious cycle:

Laziness can give birth to procrastination. When we lack the motivation to act, we find reasons to delay. Over time, this continual deferment becomes our default response – a habit of procrastination.

Similarly, procrastination can breed laziness. The more we postpone tasks, the more we erode our self-confidence and motivation. And without motivation, laziness finds a cozy home.

Take the example of an adult who wants to get in shape. They start with good intentions but lacking motivation, they procrastinate, pushing off the start of their exercise regimen to “tomorrow”.

The continual delays start chipping away at their resolve until they believe their efforts won’t make a difference. The perceived futility leads them into the grasp of laziness, and they abandon their fitness goal altogether.

In fact, according to research, Americans average more than 5 hours of free time per day but they fail to meet physical activity guidelines,^[2] suggesting an undercurrent of laziness. Further indicators can be found in the rising obesity rates, with 42.4% of U.S. adults classified as obese in 2017-2018.^[3]

The intersection between procrastination and laziness creates a quagmire of unproductivity. However, recognizing these interconnections is the first step towards breaking the cycle.

How to Stop Being Lazy And Stop Procrastinating

Interestingly, whether you think you are a procrastinator, or are being lazy, the strategies to get rid of these behaviors are almost the same:

1. Find the Source of Motivation

Breaking free from the clutches of procrastination and laziness begins with this step: finding your motivation.

Lack of clarity breeds procrastination and laziness. If you’re unsure about what you want, you won’t know what truly matters to you. You’re likely to delay tasks you find uninteresting or meaningless. You might feel like you’re drifting, pushed and pulled by the whims of the moment rather than moving with purpose towards a meaningful destination.

Think about what you truly want to achieve.

Is it a promotion at work? A healthier lifestyle? Mastering a new skill?

Don’t just skim the surface; dive deep. Ask yourself why you want it.

Perhaps you desire financial stability, or you long for the satisfaction that comes from self-improvement. The clearer you are about your goals and the reasons behind them, the stronger your motivation will be.

Once you’ve defined your “what” and your “why,” align your actions accordingly. This alignment acts like a compass, guiding you when distractions or difficulties threaten to steer you off course.

By identifying your goals and understanding why they are important to you, you can fuel your motivation. This fuel can power you through the inertia of laziness and help you overcome the habit of procrastination.

2. Make Your Goals Manageable

Sometimes, our goals can feel like mountains, towering and intimidating. The sheer size of the task can leave us feeling paralyzed.

The solution? Break it down into small, achievable tasks. Think of it as turning your mountain into a series of molehills.

Let’s say you’re planning to declutter and reorganize your entire home. If you focus on the end goal – a thoroughly cleaned and neatly arranged house – it might seem overwhelming. But if you break it down into smaller tasks, such as cleaning one room at a time or dedicating just 15 minutes a day to decluttering a particular area, it becomes much more manageable.

Each manageable task is something you can act on immediately. This step-by-step approach not only makes the larger goal more achievable but also gives you a sense of accomplishment with each small victory.

This approach does two things:

First, it encourages you to take that all-important first step. Starting is often the hardest part, but when the first step is a small, achievable task, it’s much easier to get moving.

Second, it builds momentum. As you complete each small task, you’ll start to see progress. This can fuel your motivation and help you maintain momentum, making it easier to tackle the next task.

Read How to Break Down a Large Project into Manageable Tasks for detailed steps.

3. Create a Plan of Action

Now that you’ve broken down your goal into manageable tasks, the next step is to map out when and how you’ll complete these tasks.

This is where time blocking comes into play. It’s like setting up a meeting with your tasks. Schedule specific blocks of time for each task in your calendar, and treat these appointments with the same respect as you would a meeting with a client or your boss.

In addition, set reminders, deadlines, and milestones to ensure that you follow through. Think of these as your accountability tools:

Reminders are your nudges to start a task. They can be simple alerts on your phone or more tangible cues in your environment. You can even make use of time management apps to help you stay on track.

Deadlines, on the other hand, create a sense of urgency. They tell you not just what you need to do, but when it needs to be done. They’re the finish line you’re racing towards.

Milestones are your checkpoints along the way. They give you a chance to pause, evaluate your progress, and celebrate your achievements. They can also act as motivators, reminding you of how far you’ve come and propelling you towards the next stage of your goal.

A well-crafted plan of action is like a roadmap, guiding you from where you are now to where you want to be. It takes the guesswork out of the process and gives you a clear path to follow, making it easier to keep procrastination and laziness at bay.

4. Engage in Positive Self-Talk

Our thoughts often dictate our actions. If you’ve seen the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso,” you’ve witnessed the power of positive self-talk in action. The show’s protagonist, Ted, is constantly cheering himself and others on, using affirmations and encouraging words like his signature “Believe” sign in the locker room. The results are evident in the team’s improved morale and performance, and it can work the same way in your life too.

Positive self-talk does more than just make you feel good. It can boost your confidence, transforming the mindset of “what I do doesn’t matter” into “what I do makes a difference.” This change in perspective can be the difference between giving up in the face of adversity and persisting through the challenges.

Positive self-talk can also help you combat various fears — fear of failure, fear of success, fear of uncertainty. These fears can trap us in a state of procrastination or laziness, stopping us from taking action. By employing positive affirmation, we can calm these fears and create a mindset conducive to action and progress.

5. Reflect on Your Strengths

It’s a common scenario: we’re standing at the edge of a new venture, a big project, or a challenging task, and doubt creeps in.

We start questioning our abilities, our knowledge, our worthiness. We start lacking the confidence to dive in.

Here’s the antidote: reflection on your strengths.

This isn’t about inflating your ego or ignoring areas for improvement. It’s about giving yourself credit where credit is due — recognizing what you’re good at, acknowledging your accomplishments, and appreciating the skills and talents you bring to the table.

Reflecting on your strengths reminds you of what you’re capable of. It reinforces your self-confidence and empowers you to take on tasks, face challenges, and chase after your goals. Your strengths then become your tools — your assets in achieving what you set out to do.

If you’re good at problem-solving, use that skill to find solutions when you encounter roadblocks. If you have a knack for organization, leverage that strength to plan and manage your tasks effectively. By utilizing your strengths, you can transform tasks from daunting to doable, from overwhelming to achievable.

Something Worth Noting….

Most of us aren’t actually lazy. Far from it.

Many people who tangle with procrastination are, in truth, the complete opposite of lazy. They’re often overworked, stressed to the hilt. They understand the consequences of inaction, and they aspire to achieve their goals in the best way possible.

This tug-of-war between knowing what needs to be done and aspiring for perfection sets the stage for procrastination, not laziness.

So, how do we break free from the grasp of procrastination? How do we ensure it doesn’t escalate into laziness?

I’ve put together an in-depth guide to help you dive deeper into procrastination and how to tackle it head-ont: How to End Procrastination. Give it a read!

Final Thoughts

Procrastination is about delaying tasks, even when we know we’ll be worse off for it. On the other hand, laziness stems from a disinclination to act, even when we have the ability to do so.

These two behaviors, though distinct, often feed into one another, creating a cycle of inactivity and unproductivity.

Whether you think you’re lazy or procrastinating all the time, here’s your call to action: Reflect on your own behaviors. Are you caught in the net of procrastination? If so, it’s time to take steps to overcome it.

Featured photo credit: Krishh via unsplash.com