July 04, 2025

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

41 minutes

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Podcast show notes, links and transcript: http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk/

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

Links

Podcast ep 57: Are hoarders lazy? I think you’d be surprised…

Podcast ep 82: Dehoarding when you’re drowning with KC Davis of Struggle Care

Podcast ep 112: Executive function, executive dysfunction and hoarding with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Podcast ep 186: 10 executive dysfunction tips and tricks to help people who hoard, whether we have ADHD or are neurodivergent or not – Hoarding Awareness Week 2025

Podcast ep 183: ADHD, executive dysfunction and creating hacks and systems to reduce clutter chaos, with Carrie Lagerstedt

Podcast ep 162: From Fibble to Focus: Defibble your executive dysfunction with Jo Cavalot

Podcast ep 188: 12 ways to make decision-making easier (and why people who hoard find it so hard to make decisions in the first place!)

Podcast ep 139: Chronic disorganisation with Jo Cooke of Hoarding Disorders UK

Podcast ep 107: Things that look like hoarding but aren’t: ADHD, depression, autism, OCD, OCPD and more

Enough, the Podcast

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