7 habits of lazy people who will never reach their full potential, according to psychology

For years, I struggled with motivation.

I had big dreams but never made real progress. Instead, I wasted time, made excuses, and convinced myself that tomorrow would be different.

But tomorrow was always the same.

As a psychology enthusiast, I’ve spent years studying why some people succeed while others stay stuck. And the truth is, laziness isn’t just about not working hard—it’s about the habits we build every day that hold us back.

Some of these habits are so subtle we don’t even realize they’re keeping us from reaching our full potential.

In this article, I’ll go over 7 key habits of lazy people—habits that, according to psychology, will keep you from ever becoming the person you’re capable of being.

Let’s dive in.

1) Waiting for motivation to strike

Most people think they need to feel motivated before they take action.

But here’s the truth: motivation doesn’t just show up out of nowhere. It comes after you start doing the work, not before.

Lazy people fall into the trap of waiting for the “right moment”—when they feel inspired, when conditions are perfect, when they magically wake up full of energy. But that moment rarely comes, and so they never start.

Psychology calls this the motivation myth. Research shows that action creates momentum, which then fuels motivation—not the other way around.

If you only work when you feel like it, you’ll never reach your full potential. The key is to take action first, even when you don’t feel ready.

So start small. Set a timer for five minutes and begin whatever task you’re avoiding. More often than not, you’ll find that once you start, motivation follows.

2) Making excuses instead of taking responsibility

For years, I had an excuse for everything.

I blamed my lack of progress on bad luck, my circumstances, or just not being “naturally gifted” enough. If something didn’t go my way, I had a reason why it wasn’t my fault.

Deep down, I knew the truth: I was just avoiding responsibility.

When I finally accepted that my failures—and my successes—were up to me, everything changed. Instead of making excuses, I started asking: What can I do differently?

Lazy people stay stuck because they refuse to take ownership of their lives. But if you want real change, you have to stop blaming external factors and start focusing on what you can control.

No one is coming to save you. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can start making real progress.

3) Choosing comfort over growth

I stuck to routines that felt safe, avoided challenges that made me uncomfortable, and convinced myself that I wasn’t “ready” to push myself.

The result? I barely improved at anything.

Psychology calls this the comfort zone trap. When you avoid difficulty, your brain rewards you with short-term relief—but in the long run, you stay stuck. Growth only happens when you step outside of what’s familiar and challenge yourself.

I learned this the hard way when I started writing.

At first, I was terrified to put my thoughts out there. I told myself I wasn’t a “real writer” and that no one would care what I had to say. But instead of waiting until I felt ready, I just started.

The first few articles weren’t great, but over time, I improved. And more importantly, I realized that fear was never the real problem—staying comfortable was.

Lazy people choose easy over effort, but real progress comes from pushing through discomfort. So if something scares you a little? That probably means it’s exactly what you should be doing.

4) Procrastinating on important tasks

I used to tell myself that I worked best under pressure.

In reality, I was just procrastinating.

Instead of tackling important tasks early, I would delay them until the last possible moment. The stress would pile up, and I’d rush to finish in a panic—never producing my best work.

Turns out, there’s a scientific reason why people do this. A study published in Psychological Science found that procrastination isn’t just about poor time management—it’s actually linked to how our brains handle emotions.

Researchers discovered that when we put off tasks, we’re often trying to avoid the negative feelings associated with them, like boredom or self-doubt.

Lazy people let emotions dictate their actions, avoiding discomfort instead of pushing through it. But successful people recognize that motivation comes after action, not before.

What helped me break free from procrastination was a simple rule: Just start for five minutes. Once I got going, the task always felt less intimidating than I imagined.

5) Prioritizing entertainment over self-improvement

There was a time when I spent hours every day watching TV shows, scrolling through social media, and playing video games.

I told myself I was just “relaxing” after a long day, but in reality, I was avoiding anything that actually helped me grow.

Lazy people prioritize instant gratification—things that feel good now but add nothing to their future. Successful people, on the other hand, invest their time in learning, building skills, and improving themselves.

I’m not saying you should never watch Netflix or scroll through your phone. But if you’re spending more time consuming entertainment than working on your goals, it’s a problem.

What changed everything for me was swapping even just a little of my entertainment time for something productive. Instead of watching another episode, I read 10 pages of a book. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I listened to a podcast on self-improvement.

Over time, these small shifts made a massive difference.

Ask yourself: Are you feeding your mind or just distracting it? Your daily habits shape your future—so choose wisely.

6) Fearing failure and never taking risks

For years, I avoided anything that had a chance of failure.

I wouldn’t apply for jobs I wasn’t 100% qualified for. I wouldn’t try new things unless I was sure I’d be good at them. I convinced myself I was just being “realistic,” but in truth, I was just scared.

The problem with this mindset? It keeps you stuck.

Psychologist Carol Dweck, known for her research on mindset, once said: “Becoming is better than being.” She explains that people with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are set in stone, while those with a growth mindset embrace challenges and see failure as part of the learning process.

For a long time, I had a fixed mindset—I avoided risks because I didn’t want to look stupid or fail. But once I started seeing failure as feedback rather than a personal flaw, everything changed.

I launched Hack Spirit without knowing if anyone would read my work. I started writing even when my early articles weren’t great. And guess what? Every mistake helped me improve.

7) Setting big goals without a plan

It sounds ambitious to set huge goals—”I’m going to start a business,” “I’ll get in the best shape of my life,” “I’ll completely change my habits.”

But here’s the counterintuitive truth: big goals can actually make you less likely to succeed.

Psychology research shows that when a goal feels too overwhelming, your brain perceives it as a threat and triggers avoidance behavior. Instead of taking action, you procrastinate, make excuses, or quit before you even start.

I’ve been there. I used to set massive goals with no real plan, and when I didn’t see quick results, I’d feel discouraged and give up.

What finally worked? Breaking things down into ridiculously small steps. Instead of “get fit,” I focused on “exercise for 10 minutes today.” Instead of “write a book,” I focused on “write 200 words today.”

And that’s the practical takeaway: If you have a big goal, shrink it down to something so small that it’s impossible to fail. Then build from there.

Success isn’t about setting huge goals—it’s about consistently taking small steps in the right direction.

Take action, even if it’s small

Laziness isn’t a personality trait—it’s a pattern of habits. And the good news? Habits can be changed.

If you recognized yourself in any of these points, don’t get discouraged. The key is to start small. Pick one habit from this list and focus on improving it today.

• Struggle with procrastination? Set a timer for five minutes and just start.
• Stuck in your comfort zone? Do one thing today that challenges you.
• Always waiting for motivation? Take action first, and let motivation follow.

You don’t have to change everything overnight. But if you start making better choices, day by day, you’ll break free from laziness—and unlock your full potential.