Some days are simply not productive and you can't motivate yourself to do anything meaningful. That might not be so bad in itself, but important things remain undone and afterwards you regret your own laziness. It doesn't have to be like this, you can do something about laziness. How do you overcome laziness?

A sluggish mind leaves you with the constantly simmering feeling that you are doing something useful and constructive with your time. The inability to get up for activity fosters a sense of shame and self-hatred. This can quickly become a vicious circle, because the worse you feel about yourself, the less you can motivate yourself to change anything. 

Unfortunately, our own mind does not necessarily know what is best for us. Like a small child, you have to guide your mind and put it on the right path. Fortunately, laziness is a disorder that is relatively easy to overcome with a little practice. The problem is that the mind gets in your own way because it prevents you from actively changing anything. The key to overcoming laziness is not to argue with yourself, but to act without giving yourself time to think.

You don't have to take extreme measures. If the thought of exercising is too big a hurdle, look for a smaller, achievable goal, such as a simple walk. Or take the hurdle one step at a time. Don't set yourself the goal of going to the gym, just put on your shoes. Once you have your shoes on, the next step is to find your way to the car, not with the aim of going to the gym, but just to get into the car. One small step at a time comes naturally, always with the theoretical possibility of leaving it at that. Once you've got yourself into first gear, the next stage is always a little easier. 

It certainly takes a little practice, but over time you will learn to temporarily overlook the big picture and focus on the immediate small goals. The big picture often seems too intimidating and overwhelming, which provides the mind with convincing excuses. It is more difficult for the mind to find an excuse why you shouldn't put your shoes on, because that hardly requires any effort.

When it comes to laziness, the rule is to think small.