Overcome Laziness

Ever notice that you enjoy doing things you like, and don't enjoy doing the things you don't like? Do you sometimes accuse yourself of being lazy when you avoid things you don't like doing; you think that if you are supposed to do something you should just get about it, but since you sometimes (often) don't, you decide you're lazy. Do you avoid doing the things you like to do? You don't? Well, what's lazy about that?

I propose that you're lazy only if you avoid both the things you like to do, as well as the things you don't like to do. That would account for a personality trait, wouldn't it?

You know it makes sense not to avoid some of the things you avoid. But there are reasons for the avoidance, as well, even if it does hurt you in the end. How would you like to improve a bit here? Increase your ability to resist your resistance? OK, here's an idea that may help.

Take a few days to find a place to add 15 minutes to your daily schedule; that's all, but first plan for the time. Let's just say you decide to wake up 15 minutes earlier, to put the additional time there. Good enough.

Now, choose some fairly minor thing you don't like to do. Let's say you don't like to keep up with sports, but your husband is a nut about sports. So, you might decide to read the sports page every day. You've been avoiding this idea for 14 years. Now with your additional time, (and a kitchen timer!) you are prepared to put in 5 minutes a day on the sports page—that’s right, 5 minutes. That leaves you 10 minutes to feel good about it! Do whatever you like to help you feel good, its your 10 minutes.

Make this activity a practice for a few weeks. If you like the results, repeat the idea with another project. Oh, by the way, it's fine to reschedule your day to put your time in some place otherwise being poorly utilized.

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Albert Ellis Institute

Overcome Laziness

Inside REBT

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