Some days just feel heavier than others. You know the kind, when you wake up already negotiating with your to-do list, eyes still half-closed, wondering if you can push everything to “tomorrow.”
You’re not alone, and no, you’re not lazy. Maybe just tired. Or uninspired. Or on your fourth consecutive cheat day.
But if the lazy days start to stack and you’re beginning to forget what your goals are, here are five realistic ways to help ease back into motion, especially when discipline feels like a distant concept. These small shifts can help you combat the slump and tackle what’s ahead (even if what’s ahead is just finally replying to that one email).
Tip #1 – Make your bed
When you’re lying there thinking about life and wondering if you can get away with staying horizontal all day, just do one thing: make your bed. It’s a subconscious nudge that says, “Okay, no more procrastinating. I’m up, I’m moving.”
It’s simple, but powerful. It’s a small win that sets the tone for everything else. Because even when we have the best intentions, without habits that reinforce action, it’s easy to drift. And laziness, more often than not, stems from inertia.
Once you move, the body follows. Tiny habits kick off the chain reaction that turns your day around. In that sense, making your bed becomes a signal: the day has started, and you’re in it.
Add a little self-pep talk while you’re at it. You’d be surprised how a few kind words to yourself can shift your energy. And a gentle reminder: avoid working or studying in bed. The more blurred the lines between rest and action, the easier it is to slide right back under the covers.
Tip #2– Create a plan of action
Set yourself up to win, even before the day begins. Plan your day the night before. Or map out your week on a Sunday. This way, you have something to look forward to, and it takes the guesswork out of how to begin.
Use reminders and to-do lists with whatever system that makes you the most productive. Good old-fashioned notebook? Great. Google calendar? Works too. Sometimes laziness isn’t a lack of drive; it’s a lack of direction. If there’s no map, of course you’ll hesitate to leave the house.
Another trick? Inject novelty to break the monotony. If your routine’s feeling repetitive, don’t scrap it. Just revise it. Schedule a walk in a new neighborhood. Try working from a different café. Tackling familiar tasks in unfamiliar ways can help reawaken your focus.
Tip #3 – Avoid distractions
If you know you’ll end up on Netflix until 2am, maybe it’s time to–deep breath–cancel your subscription.
If doomscrolling is your toxic ex, mute it. Delete apps that eat your time in the name of “just a quick scroll.” Lock your phone in a drawer. Or at the very least, stop sleeping beside it. You might as well get a physical alarm clock so your phone doesn’t become the first and last thing you see each day.
Self-sabotage often starts with convenience. But discipline is built when you make ease less accessible. The less friction there is between you and your distractions, the harder it is to stay on track.
READ: Daily Self-Care Rituals That Keep Me Steady
It helps, too, to spend time with people who aren’t struggling to self-motivate. Not because they’re better, but because motivation can be contagious. So hang around people who get things done. If your barkada’s been leading you into back-to-back late nights during the workweek, maybe keep the hangouts to the weekend.
Tip #4 – Seek help
Sometimes what we call laziness is really just avoidance in disguise. At times the task might be too overwhelming, or you simply don’t know where to begin.
Other times, chronic laziness can be a symptom of underlying issues, both mental and physical that needs to be addressed by professional help.
When it comes to the former, asking for help from peers or using tools can make all the difference. Hate writing reports? Use AI to help you draft an outline. Not excited about working out? Hire a trainer who builds routines around things you actually enjoy. Laundry giving you the ick? Hand it off to the shop down the street.
The point is: find the smallest push you need to start. Once momentum kicks in, you’ll be surprised how fast you move. Getting help doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It means you’re resourceful enough to find ways to get unstuck.
Tip #5 – Stop resisting, and question it
Here’s a radical idea: stop fighting it. Let yourself be lazy, but also allow yourself to start questioning it. If you find yourself stuck in old patterns of being lazy, ask yourself why.
Some days, the kindest, smartest thing to do is to lean in. Sometimes, what you need is not a productivity hack, but permission to pause. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re uninspired, take a step back. Because what you resist, persists.
Fighting your energy slump doesn’t make it go away, it just makes you feel worse. So if you need to scroll or zone out for an hour, do it. But do it consciously.
There’s a difference between letting yourself rest and accidentally watching six hours of mukbang videos in a row.
Most importantly: you are not your feelings.
You’re not a lazy person. You’re a person who sometimes feels lazy. There’s a big difference.
You’re simply navigating the natural rhythm of being human, part of which includes stillness, softness, and the occasional cheat day.
