JoeVegas said:
Another day lost. I manage again to accomplish nothing, go nowhere and meet nobody. Again I procrastinate, starting none of the things I know I could do to improve myself. Another day where i sink deeper into the person who I wish I wasn't but do nothing about. Apathy? I certainly know this tortures me. Ignorance? I know very well all my problems and most of the solutions. Perhaps my will is broken.
Regardless another week lost. Soon the work week begins anew. I can distract myself with work long enough to get home and crumble into my bed. Rinse, repeat. Rinse, repeat. Until I'm granted more time to myself, more time to waste in self-hatred.
Another year lost? How long has it been? ... ... Six years now. The whole of my adult life. It must be me.
A life lost, or perhaps never granted.
Hi JoeVegas ~ I've lost two years. Why? Although my reply may not address your core issue it could very well resolve mine. I've been dreaming, studying, working, and struggling my entire life. I've been very successful in attaining my goals, but during the last two years I've been taking a short sabbatical to make up for all the years I never actually went on vacation because I was always too busy to take time off. Well, guess what? This former dynamo has become enslaved in a very bad funk: the habit of LAZINESS. Your post really woke me up to how easy it is to waste life away. So, I realized I need to kick start myself and get back on track. Here's a quick guide to overcoming LAZINESS:
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12 TIPS TO OVERCOMING LAZINESS
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By Remez Sasson
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What is laziness? It is a state of idleness and inner resistance to exerting effort and acting. It is a state of passivity and of letting things stay as they are. Sometimes we enjoy being a little lazy, such as after working hard for several hours, or on a very cold or warm day, but if this state occurs too often, something has to be done about it. In order to perform our chores and work efficiently, and to live a full, active and successful life, we must learn how to overcome laziness. Here are a few simple tips for overcoming laziness, which I hope you will find useful:
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1.) BREAK DOWN TASKS
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We often avoid tasks because we find them too big, too overwhelming, too tiring or taking too much of our time. Breaking a task into several smaller tasks can solve this problem. Then each one will not seem so difficult or intimidating. Instead of having one big task, we will have a series of small tasks, which do not require too much effort. This approach can be applied not only to tasks, but also to goals and everything else we have or need to do. This will tend to melt much of the laziness and inner resistance we often experience.
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2.) REST~SLEEP~EXERCISE
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In some cases, laziness is due to being tired and lacking energy. If this is true in your case, you need to give yourself the rest and sleep you need, and also give your body enough exercise and fresh air.
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3.) STRENGTHEN MOTIVATION
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In some cases, the reason for laziness is due to lack of motivation. You can strengthen your motivation through affirmations, visualization and thinking about the importance of performing your task or chore or achieving your goal.
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4.) HAVE A VISION OF WHO YOU WANT TO BE
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Frequently reflecting on the person we want to be, the goals we want to achieve, and the life we want to live, can motivate us to act.
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5.) THINK ABOUT BENEFITS
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Think about the benefits you will gain if you overcome your laziness and take action, instead of thinking about the difficulties or obstacles. Focusing on the difficulties of the task or action lead to discouragement, avoidance of taking action and to laziness. It is important that you focus your mind and attention on the benefits, not on the difficulties.
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6.) THINK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
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Think about what will happen, if you succumb to laziness, and don't perform your task or chore. Thinking about the consequences, if you do not act, can also push you to take action.
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7.) DO ONE THING AT A TIME
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Focus on doing one thing at a time. If you feel you have a lot to do, you will probably feel overwhelmed and let laziness overcome you, instead of you overcoming laziness.
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8.) VISUALIZE
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Your imagination has a great influence on your mind, habits and action. Visualize yourself performing the task easily, energetically and enthusiastically. Do so before starting with a task or goal, and also when you feel lazy, or when your mind whispers to you to abandon what you are doing.
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9.) REPEAT AFFIRMATIONS
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Tell yourself:
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"I can accomplish my goal."
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"I have the energy and motivation to act and do whatever I want or have to do."
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"Doing things makes me stronger."
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"Doing things makes things happen."
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10.) REGARD TASKS AS EXERCISES
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Consider each task as an exercise to make you stronger, more decisive and more assertive.
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11.) AVOID PROCRASTINATION
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Avoid procrastination, which is a form of laziness. If there is something you have to do, why not do it right now and get through with it? Why let it stay nagging at the back of your head?
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12.) LEARN FROM SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
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Watch successful people, and how they do not let laziness win. Learn from them, talk with them and associate with them.
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IN CONCLUSION:
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Overcoming the habit of laziness is achieved through a series of daily actions and activities, when you choose to act, instead of remaining passive. Every time you overcome your laziness you get stronger. Every time you choose to act, you increase your ability to win, achieve goals and improve your life.
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My Personal Comment
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I hope this helps me and anyone who wants to stop making excuses, get off their cute little butts and LIVE LIFE. Yes, it's another song by The Kinks: "Ya gotta live life for yourself, ya can't live life for anyone else. Ya gotta live live, that's all ya do, nobody's gonna live their life for you! Ray Davies, IMO a modern sage, is spot on. LG
