Lately, you’ve noticed feeling unmotivated and doing the bare minimum just to stay afloat. Now you’re wondering, “am I depressed or lazy?” But these concepts aren’t the same. Laziness is having the ability to perform an activity but opting not to, while depression isn’t an intentional act, but a psychological condition requiring more than self-determination to resolve.

The Key Differences Between Laziness & Depression

People often confuse depression with laziness, yet these are two distinct constructs. Laziness can be mostly defined as being in a state of inactivity as a result of an individual’s unwillingness to perform a task despite having the capacity to do so. Laziness can occur periodically and is believed to be more of a mental state, deliberate act or personal choice. Some experts theorize that laziness is a personality trait or character deficit, while others believe laziness is a behavioral sign of an underlying concern. Regardless, laziness often carries a derogatory connotation.1

Depression also bears some stigma and is falsely viewed as a problem related to a person’s will. Depressed individuals may appear lazy due to underlying symptoms of depression such as lack of motivation and energy. However, depression is a psychiatric disorder accompanied with many other pervasive features like deep sadness, inability to feel pleasure, a desire to isolate, apathy and more.


Here are some questions to consider to determine whether you’re lazy or depressed:
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