9 Strategic Ways To Stop Being Lazy (Even When You Feel Unmotivated)7 min read

Laziness keeps many people stuck at a particular level in their lives. Not because they lack the ability to move forward, but because they postpone action when it matters most.

But here’s the hard truth: staying stuck and doing nothing because of laziness has a cost: It will keep you in the same place, day after day, while life quietly passes by.

In this blog post, you’ll learn 9 strategic ways to take control and act even when you don’t feel like it. 

These aren’t about forcing yourself through willpower—they’re about working with your mind to regain momentum, clarity, and confidence.

How do I stop being lazy and be productive even when I feel unmotivated? 

Every normal human being always has the desire to relax and do nothing. If they could get all they needed with the snap of their fingers, they wouldn’t bother lifting a finger.

At the time of writing this piece, it was raining heavily. The weather was so cool that I felt like eating, watching movies, or sleeping all day.

But remembering that no one was coming to save me (in monetary terms), I kicked the sleep off my eyes and got to work. 

Laziness can be a serious threat to your success if not well dealt with. 

The truth is that you can’t become successful through dreaming, but by taking strategic actions to bring the dream to life. 

So, how do you keep pushing even when you’re unmotivated? 

Here are 9 strategies that worked for me and might also work for you if well implemented.

Seek Clarity 

You may act lazy when you lack clarity on your tasks, just like I lacked clarity when I wanted to start this piece. But instead of relaxing (aka being lazy), I googled, asked questions, and prompted AIs to get the clarity I needed.

You can google solution, ask a friend, or prompt AIs for help whenever you find a task complex. 

Seek inspiration when you’re Uninspired

When I first started writing online, I was often lost about what to write and how to start. 

So I always went online to get inspiration from some of my coach’s content. Not that I copy my coach. I read and wrote mine uniquely. 

Even now, before writing my blog posts, I still go to Pawns’ website to get inspiration from great writers there.

So don’t be ashamed to seek inspiration from your coaches, mentors, friends, the internet, or even your immediate environment whenever you lack ideas.

Go to a distraction-free environment

A few months ago, I decided that I would write every day. At least 2 blog posts every month so I could become super good at writing.

But I couldn’t keep that promise because of my environment.

Each time I wanted to start writing, my siblings would remember one story and start telling me. And before you know it, the whole day would slip by.

So, how did I deal with it? 

I set up a quiet workspace in a secluded corner of the house.

Understand your “Why”

Being clear about why you started pursuing that goal can keep you going in the absence of motivation or the presence of setbacks.

For instance, when I was writing this piece, I felt like watching movies or sleeping all day. 

But I pushed myself to continue writing because of my dreams of becoming a great writer and also earning well as a writer. 

So understand your “Why” for starting because it will keep you going until you achieve your goals. 

Move away from your bed

Each time I stay in bed to work, I end up feeling sleepy and sometimes falling asleep.

If you know you can’t stay in bed and work without feeling sleepy, then get a work space far from your bed.

Even while in school, I avoided my bed by going to night classes to study because I knew I would fall asleep if I stayed back to study in my room.

So, know what works for you and stick to it. If laziness rests in your bed, then move away from it.

Get over perfectionism

I recently partnered with a friend to start selling shoes online. 

But I didn’t start immediately – I kept feeling lazy about it – because I lacked the perfect captions to use (it was my first time).

But then I realised I didn’t need to be perfect to start. And progress only comes after I begin.

Just like sometimes when I want to write, the ideas won’t flow that much. But when I finally start writing, ideas will start flowing from all corners.

In other words, focus on progress and not perfection.

Know your most productive times

Some people are more productive at midnight or early in the morning. 

As for me, depending on how my day went, I prefer writing at night when everyone has gone to bed. But other times, I do enjoy writing very early in the morning before everyone wakes up. 

Taste the different times and know which one suits you best.

Let others hold you to your word 

Months ago, I decided I wanted to wake up at 5 a.m. every day to work on a side hustle. I was excited for about a week—until sleep got the best of me.

Then, I told a friend about my goal. We made a pact: every morning, I had to send her a photo of my watch at 5:00 a.m.—or I would owe her. 

I didn’t miss a single morning for the next 30 days.

It wasn’t because I suddenly loved waking up early. It was because I knew someone was watching. That small dose of pressure created a massive dose of discipline.

Remember: willpower depletes, but commitment to others can replenish it.

Start with little actions 

There was a day I woke up completely drained. Nothing in me wanted to write, or even get out of bed. 

My phone felt like a 100 kg weight I couldn’t lift. Every excuse came rushing in: “You deserve a break”,  “You can do it tomorrow”, “You still have time”…

But something small inside me whispered, “Just write one sentence.”

So, I did.

That one sentence turned into a paragraph. Then a page. And before I knew it, I had a full draft. 

That’s when I realised: you don’t need motivation to act—but action often creates motivation.

It takes little action to overcome great laziness.

Conclusion: Laziness is a fickle shield your mind makes up to avoid discomfort. Shatter it. 

It’s okay to feel unmotivated. We all do. What’s not okay is letting that feeling run your life. 

Every excuse you make might feel real presently—but it’s just a fickle shield your mind makes up to avoid discomfort. 

You’re not lazy beyond repair. You just believe that.

You can change things, not by overthinking or waiting for the “right time.”. But by taking action.

Small steps. Small wins. That’s how momentum is built.

And trust me, your future self will thank you for not giving in to the excuses today.

Pick one strategy from this post. Try it for the next 24 hours. Then come back to this post and let me know how it went. Deal?

***

If you enjoyed reading this post, below are some other helpful content you might like: 

1. How You Procrastinate In Your Life: The 5 Types Of Procrastinators And Why They Procrastinate
2. Feeling Reluctant Again? Here Is How To Be More Spontaneous, Every Day:
3. Persistence: 11 Strategies for staying motivated and persistent in the face of challenges and setbacks
4. Discipline For People Who Lack Self-Control And Strong Willpower:
5. Why Is It Important To Not Give Up On Yourself – [5 Inspiring Reasons]