1. EachPod

#193 Laziness is a myth. Here's what's actually going on

Author
That Hoarder
Published
Fri 04 Jul 2025
Episode Link
https://infouidd.podbean.com/e/193-laziness-is-a-myth-heres-whats-actually-going-on/


In this episode, I unpack the myth of laziness and why it’s such a damaging label for people with hoarding disorder.


I’ll break down how blaming ourselves or others for being “lazy” ignores the real barriers - like overwhelm, poor mental health, executive dysfunction and more - and just piles on more shame.


Let’s get honest about what’s actually holding us back and why reframing this idea matters.



  • The Myth of Laziness in Relation to Hoarding

  • Revisiting a previous episode’s question: Are hoarders lazy?

  • Arguments against the idea (hoarded homes require more energy to live in, etc.)

  • The aversion to external intervention reveals deeper issues than laziness

  • Societal attitudes towards rest and productivity

  • Internalised and external accusations of laziness

  • The damaging effects: shame, isolation, distress

  • Understanding Hoarding as a Mental Health Issue

  • Hoarding as a coping method for difficult emotions

  • Judgments of laziness overlook the disorder’s complexity and nuance

  • Such labels add barriers to seeking help and reinforce stigma

  • Consequences of Labelling People who Hoard (or Ourselves) as Lazy

  • Shame and self-criticism deepen the problem

  • Laziness as a simplistic explanation that ignores underlying issues

  • Possible root causes: executive dysfunction, decision-making difficulties, emotional attachment to items, avoidance, depression, physical disability, etc.

  • The Harmful Cultural Narrative Around Laziness

  • Societal pressures to be constantly productive

  • Inaccuracies of the “we all have the same 24 hours” myth

  • Differences in time and capability due to systemic inequalities

  • Examples: physical ability, mental health, neurodivergence, responsibilities, discrimination

  • Moral and Social Implications of the “Lazy” Label

  • Care tasks are morally neutral (reference to KC Davis, episode 82)

  • The negative cycle: shame leads to paralysis, makes it harder to seek help and make progress

  • Laziness label used as a justification for lack of societal support

  • Political and social consequences for marginalised groups

  • Importance of community, support, and helping each other

  • The Danger of Linking Self-Worth to Productivity

  • The toxic culture of non-stop productivity and hustling

  • Problems with feeling guilty for resting

  • The spiral of self-worth being tied to continuous output

  • The Limiting Nature of the Laziness Concept

  • It shuts down further exploration of underlying problems

  • Missed opportunities for self-compassion, empathy, and effective assistance

  • Underlying Reasons for Struggles That Are Mistaken for Laziness

  • Lack of motivation: exhaustion, depression, overwhelm

  • Overwhelm due to the scale of the task

  • Executive dysfunction (planning, initiating, processing tasks)

  • Fear (of the process, of making wrong decisions, of consequences)

  • Fatigue, burnout, and mental health struggles

  • Being practically or emotionally stuck, lacking skills or knowledge

  • Societal Structures and Individual Blame

  • Blame placed on individuals ignores wider systemic and commercial influences

  • Industries profit from reinforcing personal inadequacy (beauty industry analogy, storage solutions)

  • The cycle of self-blame, shame, and attempts to “fix” via consumerism

  • Breaking the Cycle and Moving Forward

  • Recognising the myth of laziness enables real progress

  • Compassion, curiosity, and support as healthier responses

  • Encouragement for self-acceptance and seeking genuine solutions


Buy your copy of Everything You Need to Know About Hoarding by Dr Lynne Drummond at cambridge.org/EverythingHoarding, and get 20% off with the discount code HOARDING20. #ad


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