I’m Not Lazy

Have you ever looked at your to-do list and thought, “Why can’t I just buckle down?” I used to think I was simply lazy, unmotivated, or lacking willpower. Then an article in our countrywide newspaper about ADHD caught my eye and sent me on a journey of discovery. Turns out, I wasn’t alone in feeling this way.

In today’s episode, I talk about how ADHD can be mislabelled as laziness. We explore past experiences, the inner battles, and why it’s so easy to confuse a hidden challenge with a lack of interest. If you’ve ever worried that you might be “just lazy,” keep reading for insights and some of the tips I’ve learned along the way.

The Realisation That You’re Not Just Lazy

For years I pushed myself to do more but kept hitting a wall. The stress of failing to keep up with what everyone else seemed to manage left me feeling guilty. Then I started to notice patterns that didn’t align with simple laziness. My creativity came in intense bursts. My mind raced through ideas at top speed, yet some tasks felt almost impossible to start.

That’s when I began to suspect ADHD. When I saw the newspaper article, it felt like a mirror. It described how daily tasks can overwhelm someone with ADHD, even if they’re bright and enthusiastic. It explained how distractions aren’t just annoying; they can derail an entire day.

Why Sudden Interest Matters

One of the biggest signs was my ability to hyperfocus on topics that fascinate me. While everyday tasks felt hard, I’d dive deeply into a hobby and lose track of time. It wasn’t simple laziness, it was how my brain chose to focus on what felt meaningful or exciting.

I noticed I was always searching for something mentally stimulating. If a task looked dull or repetitive, I’d try to talk myself into doing it, yet my mind would wander. This especially showed up around things like paperwork, cleaning up, and replying to certain emails.

Here’s the interesting bit: even though I’d blame myself when tasks were left undone, there were signs I wasn’t just lacking motivation. I was motivated, only in a different way. I just needed clarity and the right strategies to get started without shame.

Recognising ADHD vs. Laziness

I began asking friends who knew about ADHD how they felt when a task felt out of reach. Their experiences matched mine in surprising detail. Then I realised there was a huge difference between procrastination that stems from laziness and procrastination born from ADHD or other neurodiverse challenges.

They told me things like:

• “I’m not avoiding work because I hate it, I’m avoiding it because it feels bigger than it is.”
• “When I find something I love, I can binge it for hours.”
• “I often feel guilty when people say I’m lazy. I wish they could see what’s really going on in my head.”

I wanted to share this eye-opening reminder from the podcast:

“Sometimes, it’s not about what you can or can’t do. It’s about how your brain prioritises, and that isn’t always clear or logical.”

When I heard that, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. It’s so easy to label yourself as lazy when there’s a hidden factor you can’t see.

How to Stop Letting Shame Win

The shame that comes with being called lazy can be immense. It makes you second-guess everything. You might even try to overcompensate by accepting more responsibilities, only to burn out later.

To calm that sense of shame, I focused on small, daily wins. I might pick an easy task, like tidying a corner of the kitchen for five minutes, and give myself permission to stop after that. Finishing that small task gave me a sense of progress that replaced shame with a bit of pride.

The more I allowed myself small victories, the easier it was to handle the bigger tasks. I also learned I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. There are countless others who share the same experiences and benefit from the same shift in perspective.

Practical Tips for Breaking the “Lazy” Label

Realising you’re not just lazy but might have ADHD can free you to try new strategies. These tactics helped me and might do the same for you.

• Use Timers: Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes. Work on something until it goes off. Then see if you naturally keep going.
• Ask for Support: Sometimes, telling a friend or colleague helps—extra accountability goes a long way.
• Limit Overwhelm: Break tasks into tiny steps so they don’t loom as one massive obstacle.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Give a quick cheer, mark a checklist, or visualise your success. Tiny rewards help.

Being aware of what works for you is half the battle. The other half is giving yourself permission to succeed in your own way.

Key Takeaways

• You’re not just lazy. Sometimes ADHD or another invisible challenge is at play.
• Hyperfocus can hide how tough everyday tasks feel.
• Shame often comes from comparing yourself to people with different brains.
• Small strategies, like timers, can help you get started and keep momentum.
• Recognising reality is your strongest move. Once you see it, you can address it.

If you want to hear more about exactly how I explored this ADHD-versus-laziness question, check out the full podcast episode. The player is right at the top of the page. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. You might find a new perspective that switches your thinking from “I’m failing” to “I’m learning.”