A number of people get just enough sleep to make it through an average workday, with perhaps a little energy to spare for dinnertime. Meanwhile, all of these unfinished chores and unfulfilled personal interests pile up around them. By the weekend, all hopes of accomplishing anything constructive are gone and the result is laziness. Laziness can be defeated, however, once a few changes have been made in your mindset.

Ironically, one way to combat laziness is to get more sleep. Many people are perpetually sleep deprived, since they stay up too late to unwind and get up too early to prepare for work. Sleep-deprived people are prone to expend all of their energy at work and have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to procrastinate. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight feelings of laziness throughout the day.

Another way to fight laziness is to change your mindset from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if some invisible taskmaster were pushing and pulling them from project to project. Others take a more proactive approach, viewing each project or task as a challenge they alone must overcome. Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life. Change your mindset to that of a driven CEO of the most powerful company in the world, and you really want to plow through all of those petty details stopping you from total world domination.

Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations that surround them. A hammock in the backyard might be nice, but it could be the stumbling block between you and the lawnmower. A television in the den or living room may provide entertainment, but several televisions scattered throughout the house often promote laziness. Create a reward system for yourself, much like parents might do for a child to promote responsibility. Complete a certain number of chores and reward yourself with a gourmet dinner. If you're a hobbyist, celebrate after completing a project.

Laziness can be a learned behavior, so examine your home and work environment. Do you have a lot of downtime on the job, waiting for others to complete their assignments? Use that time to catch up on paperwork or sketch out future plans. Are your co-workers prone to laziness whenever the supervisor leaves or the workload lessens? Even the most motivated worker can fall into the laziness trap on the job if he or she doesn't create a constructive diversion.

Laziness can also be a recurring problem at home as well. Spouses and children may all have different energy levels, but chronic laziness can be contagious if not addressed promptly. To fight household laziness, lead by example. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Do not allow household garbage bags to collect by the can. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own chores. It is difficult to practice laziness when surrounded by motivated people.

Finally, starting an exercise regimen can help you combat laziness. Exercise and a proper diet can raise the body's metabolic rate and stamina, which in turn reduces the temptation to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Some chronic laziness may be triggered by depression or other emotional energy drain, so it helps to find a stimulating activity which can pull you out of the doldrums.