Loosening the Grip of Laziness
How to get off the couch and start DOING things again!
Laziness used to be something the church pushed against; to be seen as anything less than industrious was an insult, and one that a person would go to great lengths to live down. But times have changed, and Christ followers have, too. We’ve entered an era where one doesn’t want to be seen as too busy. That sets the bar too high and might alienate someone doing their best just to show up.
It’s a fine line. It is. No one should be shamed for leaving a sink full of dirty dishes overnight when she’s been nurturing three kids under age 4 all day. Neither should another woman be held in contempt because she sets the stage for a full breakfast the night before for her family of twelve. We all have a unique threshold for doing daily life. If you are truly leaning in to whatever the Lord has made you capable of, then you can stand strong in that knowledge.
But what if you’ve been praying and podering this past week and have had your eyes opened to the fact that you’re not living up to the expectations the Lord has for you in this season? There are some steps that you can take to shake off the malaise that has prevented you from stepping into the fullness of life and freedom for which you were created.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!— 2 Corinthians 13:5
First, let me say again that if you are anxious, depressed, or otherwise struggling in your mental health, you are not lazy. You are ill and need to tend to your health first. Please seek appropriate intervention and don’t allow my words here to heap guilt onto you!
This actually brings me to my first action point! Do a health check! Iron, thyroid, hormones, all kinds of things can cause you to feel sluggish and unable to complete daily tasks. If it’s been a while— especially if you’re in a season of frequent babies, nursing, and disrupted sleep— schedule some blood work. Make sure your body isn’t trying to tell you that you have some unattended needs before you continue down the list. Seriously— it’s important! I lived for years with critically low iron. It was a struggle to get out of bed most mornings, let alone care for my husband, children, and home. I was convinced I was living in a cycle of sinful sloth. Turns out I was just anemic to the point of needing infusions.
Once you’ve gotten that under control, it’s time to let the rubber meet the road:
Each and every morning, pray and ask God to order your day. Be still, and ask Him to bring to mind tasks that you should prioritize. Your days are not your own, and this reminder may just be what you need to redeem the days which you have been given rather than frittering them away.
Be “others centered.” Check in with your husband about how you can bless him, and do it. Pray about others in your circle— friends, family, your church community— that might need your strengths and skills. It’s sometimes easier to begin to gather inertia in the “doing” category by focusing on helping others first rather than tackling the pile of clothes on the end of the couch. (But yes, you still need to get the clothes folded!)
Make a little goal. “Today I’m going to hang up the clothes from the back of the chair,” is much more likely to get done than, “Today I am going to deep clean my bedroom.” Small, approachable objectives are best when you’re operating without momentum.
Swap the negative for positive. If getting a full, made from scratch dinner on the table every night at 5:30 isn’t a reasonable expectation right now (and you’re paralyzed with guilt over it), then flip it around. Acknowledge that you’re pouring in to your young children all day, or homeschooling your teens, and find yourself short on time. Stock up on quick, healthy frozen short cuts in this season and claim your title as the mom who may not do it all, but does do what’s best for her family.
Break down overwhelming tasks. You know this one, but embracing it may be harder said than done. Dismantle those looming jobs or actions, then process each bite-sized chunk as you need. It may feel too huge to write out a whole meal plan, but writing out just a week’s worth of breakfasts in the morning might be something you can wrap your head around.
Make a list. On paper. Write down three or four things you need to do each day. Make sure at least one of them is a sure thing so you feel a little nudge of progress crossing one off. Do your best to work that list each day, and add items as you et more active.
Avoid distractions. Yes, your phone is a distraction. So is the television, or the novel you’re reading when you know you’ve got a load of wash sitting in the machine needing to be moved. Set them aside. If you can’t, get an accountability partner.
Drink water, eat the foods that actually fuel your body, and get some sleep. Put the junk away, friend. Those chips aren’t helping you get up and reclaim your role in your family.
Surround yourself with Scripture that encourages you to work. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15), “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10), “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10), “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
My final recommendation is to find a friend in a similar spot and work through these action steps together. Don’t think of it as an accountability partner; think of it as iron sharpening iron— Christian sisters striving to live for the glory of God. You could even encourage one another by working towards rewards that spur one another on. Let me know how it goes!
In Christ,
Heather
To Sow a Seed is always free. But if you enjoyed this post or want to support this ministry, you can tell To Sow a Seed that their writing is valuable by clicking the button and offering a tip.