Struggling with sloth

[Eric_Peter]

is this a very common sin?
i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university.
how do i overcome it?
need advice.

 

[garyr]

is this a very common sin? i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university. how do i overcome it?
need advice.

It certainly is common, and is also serious, as it is one of the seven capital sins.
As I’m sure you are aware, any one of the capital sins, left to run out of control, can lead one to eternal damnation.

It has been suggested to me - that once you are aware of having one or more as a ‘natural-tendency’ - to rather focus on the virtue that is the direct opposite of that sin; in this case, you should focus on ‘Diligence’. Focusing on this virtue, rather than the sin, can lift you up to hope, rather than despair. Pray for the graces to develop Diligence - implore the intercession of Saints as well (as suggested).

another prayer I found: “Let the virtue of diligence overcome my tendency toward sloth (laziness). Let me not fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself when others appear to be doing less work than myself; rather, let me go the extra mile and fulfill my responsibilities better than I have to, because I do it for God, not for man.”

 

[LilyM]

Prayer is a good idea.

Also good is making a list of all the positive reasons why you want and need to do your project (like completing your degree!). Look at that list every single day, several times a day if need be.

Start thinking early about the topic, the process of how you’re going to complete the project, the research materials you’ll need to collect and so on.

Also make yourself accountable to someone - maybe someone in your family, or your teachers, or a fellow student (doesn’t have to be someone in your class) for whom you can return the favour and help them get motivated about their study projects.

Tell them exactly what you plan to do at each stage and talk to them regularly about what you’ve done as well. Plan regular contact - say every week or two. That way you’ll be forced to do at least a little work before each meeting so that you’ll have something to discuss.

 

[doanli]

is this a very common sin?
i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university.
how do i overcome it?
need advice.

Pray. Pray. And pray even more.

I struggle with this myself and I pray just the words “Jesus, help me” and it seems to motivate me.

Hope this helps.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Sloth is basically when one knows the right thing to do, but chooses some other activity instead. The thing chosen always provides immediate gratification. It is like, I should go work on my project - an effort that may be arduous or tedious, but instead I will play a game or watch a movie.

It is due to a lack of fortitude. Fortitude involves the control of our inner life, our appetites and desires, our emotions, and our fears. We receive fortitude from Christ. It is also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Doubling your spiritual efforts with a sincere desire to conquer sloth will help the problem.

Some people have found that an amount of self-denial or mortification can help to overcome the sin of sloth. For instance, limit the amount of TV that you watch, fasting, or not allowing yourself idle time.

 

[Eric_Peter]

It certainly is common, and is also serious, as it is one of the seven capital sins.
As I’m sure you are aware, any one of the capital sins, left to run out of control, can lead one to eternal damnation.

It has been suggested to me - that once you are aware of having one or more as a ‘natural-tendency’ - to rather focus on the virtue that is the direct opposite of that sin; in this case, you should focus on ‘Diligence’. Focusing on this virtue, rather than the sin, can lift you up to hope, rather than despair. Pray for the graces to develop Diligence - implore the intercession of Saints as well (as suggested).

another prayer I found: “Let the virtue of diligence overcome my tendency toward sloth (laziness). Let me not fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself when others appear to be doing less work than myself; rather, let me go the extra mile and fulfill my responsibilities better than I have to, because I do it for God, not for man.”

Thanks for the prayer. I will pray it. Thanks for your advice too, i will try it.

Prayer is a good idea.

Also good is making a list of all the positive reasons why you want and need to do your project (like completing your degree!). Look at that list every single day, several times a day if need be.

Start thinking early about the topic, the process of how you’re going to complete the project, the research materials you’ll need to collect and so on.

Also make yourself accountable to someone - maybe someone in your family, or your teachers, or a fellow student (doesn’t have to be someone in your class) for whom you can return the favour and help them get motivated about their study projects.

Tell them exactly what you plan to do at each stage and talk to them regularly about what you’ve done as well. Plan regular contact - say every week or two. That way you’ll be forced to do at least a little work before each meeting so that you’ll have something to discuss.

I do my own schedule, such as Gantt Chart just to abandon it every time. That’s what happening to me.

Pray. Pray. And pray even more.

I struggle with this myself and I pray just the words “Jesus, help me” and it seems to motivate me.

Hope this helps.

I hope this helps too. I’ll ask Him for help.

Sloth is basically when one knows the right thing to do, but chooses some other activity instead. The thing chosen always provides immediate gratification. It is like, I should go work on my project - an effort that may be arduous or tedious, but instead I will play a game or watch a movie.

It is due to a lack of fortitude. Fortitude involves the control of our inner life, our appetites and desires, our emotions, and our fears. We receive fortitude from Christ. It is also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Doubling your spiritual efforts with a sincere desire to conquer sloth will help the problem.

Some people have found that an amount of self-denial or mortification can help to overcome the sin of sloth. For instance, limit the amount of TV that you watch, fasting, or not allowing yourself idle time.

What you describe here is exactly what happens to me. I tend to do other things when I know I should be doing my project. ok, I’ll limit or even abstain from any activities that steals my time and does not have any benefit to my future.

 

[LilyM]

I do my own schedule, such as Gantt Chart just to abandon it every time. That’s what happening to me.

That’s why you have to make yourself responsible to other people for sticking to your study plan. You have to tell them what you want to achieve, and get them involved in it by agreeing to meet regularly with them, or in some other way. Don’t just make your own schedule and rely on yourself alone to keep yourself sticking to it.

Example - say to your little brother/best friend/mother “I’m going to spend x hours on my homework tonight - for every half hour that I should spend tonight that I don’t, I’ll pay you x amount of money.” You can bet that person is going to check up on you and make you pay up if you slacken, no? If there was a serious amount of money involved, would that not motivate you?

 

[Eric_Peter]

That’s why you have to make yourself responsible to other people for sticking to your study plan. You have to tell them what you want to achieve, and get them involved in it by agreeing to meet regularly with them, or in some other way. Don’t just make your own schedule and rely on yourself alone to keep yourself sticking to it.

Example - say to your little brother/best friend/mother “I’m going to spend x hours on my homework tonight -** for every half hour that I should spend tonight that I don’t, I’ll pay you x amount of money.”** You can bet that person is going to check up on you and make you pay up if you slacken, no? If there was a serious amount of money involved, would that not motivate you?

Thanks for the suggestion! Guess I need to push myself really hard.

 

[Shin]

Sloth is basically when one knows the right thing to do, but chooses some other activity instead. The thing chosen always provides immediate gratification. It is like, I should go work on my project - an effort that may be arduous or tedious, but instead I will play a game or watch a movie.

It is due to a lack of fortitude. Fortitude involves the control of our inner life, our appetites and desires, our emotions, and our fears. We receive fortitude from Christ. It is also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Doubling your spiritual efforts with a sincere desire to conquer sloth will help the problem.

Some people have found that an amount of self-denial or mortification can help to overcome the sin of sloth. For instance, limit the amount of TV that you watch, fasting, or not allowing yourself idle time.

Nicely put!

I have great difficulties this way too. I have significant bad habits related to this that have to be overcome.

I motivate myself with thoughts about the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the love of God, Heaven, the Fewness of the Saved, and Hell. These pull me out of wasting my time in entertainments and tasks that are not useful in the next life.

These things help motivate me. For example, if I think of myself wasting time while the Holy Souls are in agony and I by simply taking more care and prayer could be mitigating them, but no, I instead waste my time uselessly… how can I face God? Truly this is what is happening even in this present moment for each of us.

Could I walk by someone on the street in agony, and seek my own satisfaction instead? And how can I not treasure the good that would otherwise be accomplished to Heavenly reward?

The gratefulness of the soul?

This is reality it is not the abstract.

Can I consider myself likely to go to Heaven if I have such little care about such matters?

When I go beyond what is necessary for health and a relaxed mind and go to excess in any idleness or entertainment?

And how can I not be grateful and happy when I contemplate all the gifts God has given me and gives me? And the ability to help someone like this? And help so many souls with prayers? And give worship to God? And purify my thoughts and will the more?

And so forth…

I am of the slow to be moved type, and so it takes a good deal to work myself up, but once I get into a proper groove it starts becoming maintained and more a set habit… and so you work on getting set habits that are proper and good…

It is to be remembered that the luke-warm do not go to Heaven.

Idleness is bad for the soul… also, too it is bad to overdo things to the neglect others… so one must have spiritual occupations that one can always occupy one’s time with, and one must fulfill the duties of one’s state in life and face the problems that interfere with that, so one can work to have a clean conscience.

If you have entertainments that are useless, throw them away. Into the trash bin. Replace them with spiritual joys and works.

 

[Charmian]

Example - say to your little brother/best friend/mother “I’m going to spend x hours on my homework tonight - for every half hour that I should spend tonight that I don’t, I’ll pay you x amount of money.” You can bet that person is going to check up on you and make you pay up if you slacken, no? If there was a serious amount of money involved, would that not motivate you?

This is a brilliant idea! But seriously, what is holding you back from getting on with it? With my students often they are not confident about their direction
or they are afraid of what awaits them when they are finished Life and reality!!
or they just feel overwhelmed by the amount of work they feel is expected of them. Break it into manageable chuncks if its this one. A page researched, written and completed is a start, rather than stressing about the 300 that still need to be done!

And prayer does help you focus, unless you are using prayer as a copout to not get on with it!

Good luck!

 

[aspirant]

is this a very common sin?

Yes. In our day, it is frequently masked by outward busyness.

 

[eucharisteo]

is this a very common sin?
i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university.
how do i overcome it?
need advice.

Without completely reading this thread I must say that “burn out” is not the same as sloth. So don’t beat yourself up too much. Even priests can get burned out. We studied this in seminary formation. The same thing is being addressed in my diaconate formation preparation. That’s one reason why I’m seriously considering putting it off until the next formation. I have young children, all in school. The youngest will attend kindergarten next fall. She needs her daddy.

The last year of all seniors I’ve know was brutally difficult to work through. You begin to realize you must get through and ultimately face the facts that you must get out and work or that it’s just not enough education. There never is. Prayer, is your best defense against getting depressed or down. If it’s really sloth, only you and God would know. So be honest with yourself and try to find a decent confessor. Offer up the stress and difficulty of it all to God for those who do not have the luxury we do in the west. Find something sacrificial in offering it up and you might turn into one of those “cloud of witnesses”

 

[dusza]

My take may not be popular in light of others’ advice here, but perhaps there’s a good reason why you’re not motivated? You haven’t hinted at it. I always understood sloth to mean neglecting one’s duties (not providing for a family, not going to church, living in filth and watching TV, etc.). Do you consider doing this project your solemn duty or perhaps you are having doubts about the whole thing? Would you rather be doing something else (assuming that doesn’t simply mean wasting time)?

If a teenager expressed that they’re not interested in going to college at all I wouldn’t automatically accuse them of laziness. This could simply be a question of wanting to go in a different direction in life. There’s nothing wrong with any vocation that brings one closer to God. In fact, as a Catholic I can easily argue that the less educated may in the end be better off. We spend so much time acquiring wealth, status, education, things, that only end up being a larger and larger burden and a greater distraction on our journey to heaven. Recall “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” and “It is easier for a camel…”.

I’m likewise currently struggling with this type of dilemma as something that I was passionate about (that took 8-15 hrs a week of work over several years) is no longer foremost on my mind. On the outside it would seem that I’ve become lazy, but the truth is that I believe that it’s hindering my prayer life and being a great distraction in my relationship with God. I just thought I throw it out there. This is a “Spirituality” sub-forum after all.

 

[crenfro]

Sloth has and continues to be a huge problem with me, but I’m not in this alone.

my two cents -

-LilyM has good advice, if the direction you’re going is where you want to go or feel called to go

-consider getting a spiritual director -

-go to Mass, receive Communion and the sacrament of penance more frequently

-pray a daily Rosary with the intention of overcoming sloth and inertia

-increase physical exercise

-celebrate your successes

-also, picture how you will explain things that you did or didn’t do during your own particular judgment - it may not be the best motivator, but it’s a useful one

I struggle with sloth all the time. It is insidious and I desperately need to stay close to God to combat this sin. Thanks for bringing this topic up and please keep me in your prayers.

 

[luckycharm247]

Along the same lines, is there a particular patron saint against sloth/laziness? Even if they are not official patrons, are there any you’d reccomend based on their life story? I know that most saints became saints because of their steadfastness, fortitude and persistant hard work, but are there any who were sloth-converts, maybe? I feel like asking someone who knows what I am struggling with to intercede for me would make for a stronger prayer.

Thanks!

 

[aspirant]

Do not mistake leisure from work for sloth. Work is a common mask for sloth.

 

[crenfro]

Good point. Maybe I should define the difference between idleness, sloth, leisure and recreation. Thanks for the reminder.

Do not mistake leisure from work for sloth. Work is a common mask for sloth.

 

[djeter]

is this a very common sin?
i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university.
how do i overcome it?
need advice.

http://payingattentiontothesky.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/van-gogh-potato-eaters.jpg?w=450&h=317
Early in his life, van Gogh was a devout Christian and wanted to become involved in religion for his profession. He became a lay preacher and afterwards strived to become a painter of the working people. Capturing peasants’ everyday laboring in his paintings, he most famously did so in The Potato Eaters (1885).
In a dark room lit only by a single candle hung above the table, the painting shows five peasants eating potatoes at the table. The overall darkness and dull green shades coloring the walls give off an impression of dirt and grime everywhere, and the shadows threaten that there are worse unseen areas in the room. The size of the people relative to the room and the low-hanging candle-lamp crowd the room to a stifling point, and the presence of only one community plate certainly is a statement of the family’s sanitary standards.

Hi Eric:

I’ve done a lot of reading on the topic and posted some reading selections on my blog.

Here is one on sloth

payingattentiontothesky.com/2010/01/27/sloth/

but you will find many more on sloth-acedia-depression under the category here:

payingattentiontothesky.com/category/understanding-acediasloth/

dj

 

[JRKH]

is this a very common sin?
i’m extremely not motivated to do my final year project in university.
how do i overcome it?
need advice.

Yes it appears that sloth is a common problem - even more so today with the many diversions available.

I too have discovered that Sloth is one of my major shortcomings. Making plans, and budgets etc. then not sticking to them. Spending too much time on the computer, watching too much TV.

As others have said, the only solution seems to be work on doing the opposite.
You and I seem to be just as much addicts as smokers. There is no easy remedy to our addiction. We must simply (yea right) take control of our lives and make the changes we need to.

I really appreciate your starting this thread, and I also appreciate the wondeful responses posted so far.

Peace
James