The Difference Between Laziness, Lack of Motivation, and Depression
Laziness, lack of motivation, and depression are all completely different from one another, but often look quite the same. Each can potentially trigger and support one another. You can be feeling a combination of these behaviors at the same time, but how do you figure out which is which?
What's the difference between all three? First, figure out what exactly you are feeling and categorize it. Below are some symptoms that might help you determine if it's laziness, lack of motivation, depression, or possibly a combination.
Laziness
Being lazy has an intention. It’s a preference. You want and enjoy doing absolutely nothing. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes you just need a lazy day in order to relax. However, when it comes to daily tasks, laziness begins to have a different impact. You have desire, but aren’t willing to put the effort in.
If you’re unable to do nothing, you often find the quickest way to do things.
You don’t mind poorly executed work as long as it’s finished.
You’d rather have someone else do the work.
You enjoy and prefer doing unproductive tasks.
You are a master at procrastination.
You do what you want instead of what is actually required.
Lack Of Motivation
Lack of motivation is essentially lack of passion. There are no goals, desire, or willingness to work. You simply don’t do anything, there is no faking it like laziness does. Lack of motivation is usually a deeper psychological problem and could have some elements of depression.
Your lack of motivation is a reaction to your current situation. It can be triggered by being picked on, put down, lack of clear direction, not living up to expectations, or always being told what to do. In time, this leads to losing any passion you might have had previously.
You enjoy progression, but just aren’t feeling it at the moment.
You dislike things that aren’t beneficial.
You are a perfectionist, which can lead to procrastinating.
You procrastinate because you have no interest in the project.
You are unproductive in order to escape, not for enjoyment.
You are hardworking when you are motivated.
Depression
Depression is a serious mental illness that doesn’t go away after a few days or weeks. Someone who suffers from depression doesn’t want to feel that way, but it is out of their control. There is simply no feelings of desire or hope. They’ve lost all concept of meaning in their life, of time, of responsibilities. It just doesn’t matter.
If you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms you should seek help right away. If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide or has a plan to carry out suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
You have lost interest in daily life to the point of feeling emotionally empty.
You feel irritable and restless; your tolerance levels have decreased.
You feel sluggish or drained and need to take plenty of breaks.
You have difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
You either have no appetite or overeat, which can cause weight fluctuations.
You have little to no care for personal hygiene or keeping your space clean.
You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, overspending, or other dangerous activities.
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Helpful Strategies
While there isn't necessarily an immediate cure for any of these, you can still alleviate some of these symptoms with a little bit of effort.
So, what do you do if you're just lazy? Make working a habit. Create a set schedule where you can focus on your tasks and decrease the amount of distractions. Make your goals manageable and lean on your strengths. Afterwards, rewards yourself with what you actually want to do!
Lack of motivation can be a bit more tricky. What is causing your unmotivated state and how can you fix it? Figure out what truly brings meaning to your life and what actually motivates you. It might be easier said than done, but if you're not enjoying what you're currently doing try and take a step towards what you love either by incorporating it into your life as a hobby first or taking a few new classes to learn more about your passions.
Depression is serious. Seek professional help in order to be properly diagnosed. A doctor or therapist can equip you with the proper tools and coping mechanisms.
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*I can only speak from my own mental health journey, everyone copes differently. However, I’ve found it most helpful to stay consistent in recognizing my own needs. I’ve written several other posts with some helpful tips for alleviating your struggles. Articles are listed below.
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