Whenever I try to return to posting regularly, I'll ask myself why I find it so difficult to get back into things and often the answer tends to be related to motivation. Time is certainly another factor but when we're motivated to do something, we find time... we make time. So motivation is definitely significant.
But something else came to mind a couple of mornings ago. I came down to our kitchen and found some rubbish on our kitchen side. Unfortunately, this is a fairly frequent occurrence in our house and it drives me mad...
When I see a scene like this, I think "You lazy c.... The f...ing bin is there. Just open the f...ing bin and put the rubbish in."
I'm then reminded of a Michael McIntyre sketch...
Then somewhat randomly, my thoughts went back to Steemit and I thought that maybe this isn't laziness, it's simply a lack of motivation. There's not enough motivation to live in a tidy house.
So why would we say that one thing is a lack of motivation and another thing is lazy?
📚 Some Definitions
LAZY - not willing to work or use any effort (Source)
UNMOTIVATED - not wanting to do something, or not wanting to do something well (Source)
The definitions are very similar and could easily be interpreted as being the same. So why is it that when I find rubbish next to the bin and not IN the bin don't I think "that's a lack of motivation" instead of "that's lazy"? Perhaps Google can help... (👈 this is a cool website if you haven't seen it before - great for replying to questions from people too lazy to use Google)
Laziness, lack of motivation, and depression are all completely different from one another, but often look quite the same writes one Blog
which goes on to write:
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.
The first half of this paragraph semi-makes sense. There are days when I choose to be lazy - spend the day in my pyjamas and watch a box set (pre-children anyway). Ok, but the rest of it isn't that helpful. What do they say about 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.
Well, this makes a lot more sense. And the subtle differences in their definitions become clearer now.
Lazy and the use of the word "willing".
Motivation and the use of the word "wanting".
Well, I'm happily in the process of confusing myself. I don't agree with the statement that Laziness and lack of motivation are completely different to each other and that like the definitions, the difference is far more subtle. More to do with feeling and psychological state than purely by the actions that are (or aren't) undertaken.
Maybe this (more brutal) assessment is closer to my thoughts...
Laziness barely gets the job done, lack of motivation doesn’t even care that the job exists. Source
Perhaps... Laziness is not doing something that needs doing. Lack of motivation is not doing something that you could do.
