We’ve all heard excuses that make us roll our eyes—or maybe, if we’re being honest, we’ve caught ourselves saying them, too.
The truth is, the way we talk about our effort (or lack of it) can reveal a lot about our mindset and how we approach challenges.
And while everyone hits a rough patch now and then, some people use language as a crutch to stay stuck in their comfort zone.
Lazy people, in particular, tend to fall back on the same phrases to justify why they aren’t trying harder or pushing themselves forward.
These expressions might sound harmless or even reasonable at first, but they’re often just ways to avoid accountability or sidestep the discomfort of growth.
In this article, I’m going to break down eight of these phrases through the lens of psychology—and why they’re holding people back.
If you recognize any of them in your own life, don’t worry. Awareness is the first step to breaking the cycle and showing up as the best version of yourself. Let’s dive in!
1) “I’m just not motivated right now”
Ah, the classic excuse. At first, it sounds reasonable—after all, motivation can come and go.
But here’s the thing: waiting around for motivation to magically appear is a hallmark of procrastination, and psychology tells us that action often precedes motivation, not the other way around.
Lazy people use this phrase as a way to avoid taking responsibility for their lack of effort.
It shifts the blame onto some external force, as if motivation is something that simply happens to you instead of something you create by starting small and building momentum.
The truth? Motivation is fleeting, but discipline and consistency are what really get things done.
If you catch yourself saying this, try flipping the script: take one small action toward your goal, even if you don’t feel like it. You’d be surprised how quickly motivation follows effort—not the other way around.
2) “I’ll do it later”
This one used to be my personal favorite. Anytime I faced a task I didn’t feel like tackling, I’d throw out a casual, “I’ll do it later,” as if later was some magical time when I’d suddenly become more productive and energetic.
Spoiler alert: later almost never came.
I remember back in college, I had a term paper due for a class I really wanted to ace. Every time I thought about starting it, I’d tell myself, “I’ll do it later.”
At first, it was because the deadline seemed so far away. But even as the due date crept closer, I kept finding excuses—watching one more episode of a show, scrolling on my phone, or convincing myself that I needed to “be in the right mood” to write.
By the time I finally sat down to work on it, I was in full panic mode, scrambling to do everything last-minute and barely scraping by with a passing grade.
Psychologically speaking, this phrase is a form of temporal discounting—we value the present moment more than the future, so we push tasks off in favor of immediate comfort.
But procrastination only makes things harder in the long run. What I learned (the hard way) is that doing even five minutes of a task now can break the cycle and make “later” a whole lot easier.
3) “That’s just how I am”
This phrase might sound like self-acceptance, but in reality, it’s often a way to dodge accountability.
By claiming that a lack of effort is part of their personality, lazy people try to shut down any discussion about change before it even starts.
What’s fascinating is that this mindset ties into something called a “fixed mindset,” a term coined by psychologist Carol Dweck.
People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities and traits are set in stone—like they’re either naturally good at something or they’re not.
This belief creates a self-fulfilling cycle: if you think you can’t change, you won’t even try.
But the truth is, human brains are incredibly adaptable thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself through repeated effort and practice.
When someone says, “That’s just how I am,” what they’re really doing is giving themselves permission to stay stuck instead of putting in the work to grow.
4) “I don’t have time”
This one is a go-to excuse for avoiding effort—and it’s easy to see why. Time is a limited resource, and claiming you don’t have enough of it feels like a valid reason to skip out on something.
But more often than not, this phrase is just a smokescreen for poor priorities or a lack of willingness to make an effort.
Here’s the thing: psychologists have found that we tend to overestimate how busy we actually are.
It’s called the “planning fallacy,” where we misjudge how much time we have and how long tasks will take.
The reality is, we make time for what matters to us. When someone says, “I don’t have time,” what they often mean is, “It’s not a priority.”
And that’s fine—but owning up to that is far more honest than hiding behind a lack of time as an excuse for inaction.
5) “What’s the point?”
This phrase comes from a place of defeat, and it’s one of the most disheartening excuses to hear—or to tell yourself.
It’s the language of someone who has convinced themselves that their effort won’t make a difference, so why bother trying at all?
But beneath it often lies fear—fear of failing, fear of disappointment, or even fear of success and the responsibility that comes with it.
It’s heartbreaking because this mindset robs people of the chance to see what they’re truly capable of.
Effort isn’t always about achieving perfection or guaranteeing success; sometimes, it’s about proving to yourself that you’re stronger than you think.
Every small step forward builds momentum and resilience.
When someone says, “What’s the point?” they’re forgetting one crucial thing: growth is never wasted.
Even if things don’t turn out exactly as planned, the act of trying shapes you into a more capable and confident version of yourself. The point is *you*.
6) “I’m just too tired”
There was a time when I used to say this almost daily. It wasn’t entirely untrue—I felt exhausted, mentally and physically.
But what I didn’t realize back then was that my tiredness wasn’t just about lack of sleep or energy. It was about the weight of avoiding things I knew I needed to do.
Psychologists call this “decision fatigue.” When you put off tasks, they don’t disappear—they linger in the back of your mind, quietly draining your energy.
Every time I told myself, “I’m too tired,” I was adding another layer of guilt and stress to my day, which only made me feel more drained.
What I didn’t understand at the time was that taking action, even on something small, can actually *restore* energy.
Looking back, most of my exhaustion wasn’t from doing too much; it was from doing too little of what really mattered.
7) “I’m not good at that”
At first glance, this phrase might sound like honesty, but it’s often a shield to avoid trying.
By labeling themselves as “not good” at something, lazy people give themselves an easy out—they don’t have to put in the effort because they’ve already decided they’ll fail.
It’s a way to dodge the discomfort of being a beginner.
But here’s the truth: no one is “good” at something the first time they try it. Confidence doesn’t come before effort—it grows through practice and persistence.
Saying, “I’m not good at that,” is like deciding to stop halfway through a race just because you’re not in first place.
If you keep telling yourself you’re not good at something, you’ll never give yourself the chance to prove otherwise.
Growth isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being willing to start where you are and improve from there.
8) “It’s not my responsibility”
This phrase is the ultimate way to sidestep effort. It shifts the burden onto someone else, absolving the person of any obligation to take action.
But here’s what’s often overlooked: responsibility isn’t just about what’s required of you—it’s about what you choose to take ownership of, even when you don’t have to.
When people say, “It’s not my responsibility,” they’re cutting themselves off from opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute in meaningful ways.
Avoiding responsibility keeps you stuck in a passive role, waiting for someone else to step in and fix things.
The most important thing to understand is that responsibility isn’t a burden; it’s a privilege. It’s how we shape our lives and define who we are.
Bottom line: Effort shapes identity
Human behavior is complex, but the excuses we make often reveal more than just laziness—they expose our fears, insecurities, and sometimes even a lack of belief in our own potential.
Effort isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about how we define ourselves. Every time we avoid action, we reinforce a narrative of limitation.
But every time we try, no matter how small the step, we rewrite that story into one of growth and possibility.
Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and change, proves that effort has the power to reshape not just our habits but our very identity.
Choosing action over avoidance is how we build resilience, confidence, and self-respect.
The next time you catch yourself using one of these phrases, pause and ask: Is this who I want to be?
Because in the end, it’s not about perfection—it’s about showing up for yourself and discovering what you’re truly capable of.
