It never fails. You work all day, you come home, you make dinner, take care of the family, and then by the end of the night, you’re exhausted. You finally plop down on the couch in front of the TV or in front of your tablet after the day is finally done.
But then what happens? You start thinking of all the things you still should do: fold laundry? Clean out the kids’ closet? What about exercise? But, then laziness sets in, killing your vibe…

Are You Sure It’s Laziness?

Of course, there’s a difference between laziness and fatigue and exhaustion. However, we both know that your time could be better spent than sitting in front of the TV a computer or a tablet. But how do you break that habit? Read on to learn some tips on how to stop being lazy…
1.) Use Your Time Wisely: Okay, forget the workweek, as things are usually crazy enough. But what about the weekend? When there aren’t a ton of events going on, you should use that time to clean the house, car or whatever other projects that have been piling up on your “should-do” list. Think about using your time wisely, and then schedule projects, activities, and tasks accordingly.
2.) Plan Ahead: Sometimes simply making a plan and schedule might be all you need to do to get a project started and completed or to do something you’ve been meaning to do (like get to the gym!) Schedule your day in an advance:
Plan a 30-minute work out, plan to take the kids for walk after school, plan a healthy meal in advance, and plan to read a book or start one of those DIY projects around the house after the kids are in bed.
3.) Exercise: It’s no coincidence that we typically associate exercise (or lack thereof) with laziness. Just thinking about maintaining a regular and consistent work out routine is a lot of work. However, the truth is that exercising on a consistent and regular basis can be very therapeutic.
Not only is it great for your body and your overall health, it’s also great for your mind. It helps your mind relax, allowing you to think more clearly, it lowers your blood pressure, and it just leaves you feeling great each day.
4.) Avoid Distractions: This is a big one. Even if you’ve been successful in conquering the first three tips, sometimes the tiniest distraction can throw us off track, disrupt our routine, and then suddenly we find ourselves back on the couch…wondering what happened to the day.
The key here is to avoid distractions. Find out what is most distracting to you—kids, social media, electronic devices, or that overly chatty neighbor—and avoid them when you are trying to get something done.
While you obviously can’t avoid your children, sometimes it can be helpful to just focus on one thing at a time. For example, try to work on that homemade quilt, or do some squats or read that book you’ve been dying to finish after the kids are in bed…

The Power of Feeling Accomplished

Of course all this is easy to read and think about than it is to do, right? Remember, while it can be difficult to find motivation to get things done and to use your time more wisely (even though you know you need to), try to think of how great the “accomplished” feeling is after you finish something.
And, finally, don’t be too hard on yourself. When you finish a project, thank yourself. When you finish your morning jog, give yourself a pat on the back. And, if you fail or fall of track, tell yourself your sorry, and then start the next day on the right track.
To learn more tips on how to be productive, get up earlier, and simply make the most of your day, visit our blog at getthrive.com.