You're not always lazy. Sometimes, you're emotionally exhausted.

By Oluwatomi Peters,        

Psychotherapist 

You're not always lazy. Sometimes, you're emotionally exhausted.

Sometimes what looks like procrastination isn't a lack of discipline.

It may be burnout.

It may be anxiety.

It may be feeling overwhelmed.

It may be fear of failing.

It may even be the pressure of feeling like everything has to be perfect.

You know what you need to do, but you just can't seem to start.

Then you start blaming yourself:

"Why am I so lazy?"

"Why can't I just get things done?"

"What's wrong with me?"

But constantly criticizing yourself can make the cycle even worse.

Instead, pause and ask:

"What's making this difficult for me right now?"

Maybe you don't need more pressure.

Maybe you need rest.

Maybe you need to break the task into smaller steps.

Maybe you need support.

Maybe you need to address the anxiety underneath the procrastination.

This doesn't mean every form of procrastination is burnout or anxiety. Sometimes we simply avoid things we don't want to do.

But if you've been struggling to function while feeling mentally and emotionally drained, don't automatically label yourself as lazy.

Try understanding what's happening underneath the behavior.

Sometimes the answer isn't "push harder."

Sometimes it's "understand yourself better."