Written by: Abby Dizon
Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals and students from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.
Laziness and burnout are known as deadly obstacles when attempting to accomplish tasks. They are often seen as having similar behaviors, sharing a common symptom of lacking the motivation to accomplish tasks. However, disentangling the two is important as it impacts how they are approached and treated. So, how does one properly discern between them? This article will explore several key differentiations between burnout and laziness.
Cynicism and irritability
According to an article from Clinic Les Alpes, typically, lazy individuals are laid-back, relaxed and unaffected by things, even with the tasks in front of them. This is because laziness is a deliberate choice, and emotional energy is not typically drained from them. On the other hand, burnt-out individuals act with heightened irritability and emotional volatility simply because they have lost the emotional energy to regulate themselves properly.
Additionally, as laziness generally impacts specific tasks requiring disinteresting effort, burnout carries over into relationships. Burnout individuals can have a shorter fuse than usual and can become easily frustrated, or they may withdraw and isolate themselves, further exacerbating their sense of hopelessness.
Loss of interest
A common symptom that separates burnout from laziness is the loss of interest in tasks such as work or schoolwork and a diminishing passion towards activities you once loved or were enthusiastic about, such as hobbies, talents or sports.
This differentiates from laziness by its pervasive impact on all areas of life. Laziness often only affects areas with tasks requiring discipline and effort, and burnout is an extended sense that causes a complete disengagement and loss of motivation over obligatory tasks and enjoyable tasks.
Differences in desire to accomplish tasks
In my view, there are distinct differences in the desire to accomplish tasks regarding burnout and laziness. Laziness is often a lack of effort by choice and a lack of motivation. Individuals who are burnt out also have a diminished sense of motivation.
However, even with their limited motivation, they feel mentally drained and incapable of accomplishing even simple, straightforward tasks.
Personally, I have encountered situations where pushing myself to accomplish tasks was challenging as I lacked the mental energy to push forward.
Inability to relax
Additionally, when experiencing burnout, I often feel unable to relax or disconnect from my stressors. Laziness does not usually come with a sense of guilt when disconnecting from tasks, except for the lingering reminder of unfinished tasks in the back of your head.
However, with burnout, even during acceptable leisure time, one may have persistent thoughts or have constant pressure to accomplish tasks. This creates a harmful cycle of your mind becoming fatigued from thinking about unaccomplished tasks during your relaxation time.
Laziness and burnout are significant obstacles when attempting to accomplish tasks, like homework, especially in academic settings. It is important to distinguish the two, as while laziness can be overcome, burnout requires more proactive steps to battle.
Recognizing and addressing burnout early can help prevent further physical and emotional exhaustion and enable you to seek necessary support, leading to better well-being and improved academic performance.