Shake Off Laziness, Avoid Busyness Traps, and Find Meaningful Success
Imagine this for a moment…
You being so driven and focused that no one has to tell you what to do.
That’s a powerful place to be.
And that’s a lesson we can learn from Proverbs 6:6-11.
In this Bible verse, the ant—a little worker—holds secrets behind why some people seem to get ahead while others stay stuck. 🐜
In this post, I’ll explain exactly how that works…AND I’ll even talk about:
📌 How being lazy can hold you back
📌 How staying productive can open doors to new opportunities
📌 And what happens when you keep putting things off
My goal? ⬇️⬇️⬇️
To spark reflection AND give actionable insights to spark small, meaningful changes.
What Laziness Really Is
Let’s clear something up: Laziness isn’t about being tired or overwhelmed.
It’s about AVOIDING the very things that help you grow and secure your future.
Laziness looks like…
❌ Putting off what’s important
❌ Constantly waiting for a push to get started
❌ Or avoiding responsibility altogether
In Proverbs 6:6-11, the Bible tells us to look at the ant and learn how to work—with purpose.
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
7 Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Now, that proverb isn’t telling us to stay busy—because sometimes, being ‘busy’ is the very thing keeping us from the work that truly matters.
Instead, that proverb encourages us to work with purpose.
Because when we work with purpose, we are productive.
We’ll talk more about being productive later.
But for now, I’ll share productivity means working with a plan and moving towards your goals—without waiting for someone to tell you to get going.
The Cost of Laziness
The Bible warns us that laziness leads to loss.
Proverbs 6:11 says that ‘poverty will pounce on you like a bandit.’
While ‘POVERTY’ might sound extreme, it doesn’t only refer to money.
Poverty could mean 🫤missed opportunities, 🙁feeling stuck in life, or 😫even sluggishly slow-to-no personal growth.
Let me put it this way…
When you keep putting things off, success starts to slip away.
And before you know it—you’re behind.
Micromanagement: The Result of Laziness
Ever had a teacher, boss, or even a parent constantly on your case?
That’s micromanagement…it’s in reaction to laziness. 😫
And it happens when people can’t trust you to get things done.
That means laziness leads to micromanagement—because others feel the need to step in and manage your every move.
The good news?
When you’re productive, micromanagement fades away.
Leaders trust you to handle things on your own!
Productivity Unlocks Opportunities
When you work with purpose, doors open.
Because people notice your work.
People with power, influence, connections, resources, finances, wisdom, experience, and access HELP YOU GET new skills, opportunities, and more responsibility.
Because they can trust that you’re ready.
But there’s a catch! Productivity isn’t just about being busy.
Productivity Vs. Busyness
Productivity isn’t about being busy for the sake of it.
The difference?
👏 Productivity is about knowing what’s important and focusing on that.
👏 Productivity is taking small steps AND wins that bring big results.
👏 Productivity is about working with a plan.
👏 Productivity is about working with purpose.
Still, it’s easy to get sidetracked by busyness or distractions.
So how do you shake off laziness and avoid those busyness traps?
Good news—it’s not as hard as you might think.
Small Steps for Big Results
Here’s the truth—being more productive doesn’t mean overwhelming yourself.
It’s about taking small, consistent steps….
💡So, set weekly goals and tackle them bit by bit.
And don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned.
Stop being soft with everyone but yourself—you need grace too!
@lolacabaya 👋🏽 Heyyyyy there! Lola checking in with a reminder… It’s OKAYYYY to let things go… To shift… To pivot… In other words ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Don’t let your commitment to an idea (or your ego) — stop you from seeing when a plan or idea needs to evolve. #thesmokingprophet #upliftingthoughts #thingsiwishiknewyesterday #propheticpodcast #listenableaffirmation #propheticaffirmation #listenable #intutivecreator ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya
Now, let’s be real—setting goals can be tough when you’re unsure what matters.
A book helped me figure that out.
It showed me 1️⃣ HOW TO FOCUS on what’s important AND fueled my confidence to 2️⃣ SAY NO TO THINGS.
That’s why I highly recommend The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less by Tonya Dalton.
You can check it out through my affiliate link.
Time to Recap the Ant’s Lesson: Prepare for Tomorrow, Today
Now that you know how to take small steps for big results, let’s recap!
Distractions are everywhere—social media, entertainment, notifications.
It’s easy to get lazy or caught up in doing too much of nothing.
But just like the ant, we gotta work with purpose—and prepare for tomorrow, today.
You know this. I’m simply reminding you.
✅ Don’t get distracted by trends or the easy road
✅ Shake off laziness and avoid busyness traps
✅ And focus on what really matters—preparing for the future
Sound good? Good.
And remember, seize the NOW, or LATER may lead to NEVER.
Talk to you later.
👋🏽 Hi, I’m LOLA ⸻ the creator of offbeat life advice brand, The Smoking Prophet, owner of a growing content agency, and cultivator of life (family first)!
Most days, you can find me at my desk, in my garden, or on the go. My super-social family keeps me on my toes!
Follow The Smoking Prophet to ignite your creativity, grow spiritually, and blaze your own trail online!
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