You’re Not Lazy. You’re Stuck. Here’s Why Coaching Helps You Move Again

Most people who reach out to me begin with the same phrase:
"I just don’t understand why I’m not doing the things I know I should be doing."

They feel frustrated, unmotivated, or even ashamed. They wonder if they’ve lost their drive, their discipline, or their edge. And often, they blame themselves for “being lazy.”

But here’s the truth, backed by psychology and neuroscience:
You’re not lazy. You’re stuck.
And there’s a big difference.

The Myth of Laziness

What we call “laziness” is usually a coping mechanism for mental overload, emotional fatigue, or decision paralysis. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology (2019) showed that people under persistent stress and cognitive overload experience lower motivation and goal-oriented behavior, even when they deeply care about the outcomes.

When your mind is overloaded with unprocessed decisions, multiple demands, and uncertainty, your ability to act breaks down. This is not laziness. It’s cognitive overload.

Why You Can’t Just “Push Through It”

The part of your brain responsible for focus, decision-making, and self-control is called the prefrontal cortex. It functions best when there is clarity, structure, and feedback.

Without structure, your brain burns out trying to prioritize, plan, and initiate action. That’s why even highly capable people can become paralyzed by indecision or distracted by everything except what matters.

Coaching works because it provides an external thinking space. According to a 2016 study in the International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, individuals in coaching programs reported improvements in focus, self-awareness, and action. The presence of a coach supports executive functioning — the same way scaffolding supports a building while it’s under construction.

Coaching is not about pushing harder.
It’s about thinking clearer and acting smarter.

What a Coach Actually Does

A skilled coach offers more than motivation. They provide cognitive relief and structure.

Here’s what coaching helps with:

• Clarity: Filtering distractions and identifying the right goals
  
  

• Planning: Turning abstract ideas into clear, manageable steps
  
  

• Accountability: Providing external reference points that support action
  
  

• Perspective: Helping you reframe self-doubt and shift out of unproductive thought loops
  
  

Coaches are not cheerleaders. They’re thought partners.
They help you move when your brain feels stuck in neutral.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Overloaded.

If you feel tired, unproductive, or stuck, you are not broken.
You are operating without structure, clarity, or support — which most people need to function at their best.

This is why CEOs, athletes, creatives, and entrepreneurs use coaches.
Because doing it all alone is not strength. It’s strain.

Want to Get Unstuck?

If this resonates with you, reach out. I offer a free first coaching session where we work through:

• What’s holding you back
  
  

• What needs to shift now
  
  

• How to build momentum that lasts
  
  

📧 Email: mail@propx.co.za
📞 Call / WhatsApp / Voice Note: +27 84 689 5824 or 0846895824
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/willemtait
📚 Books: amazon.com/author/willemtait
🐦 X.com: x.com/willemtait

One conversation could be the turning point.

Research References

1. The Role of Coaching in Enhancing Executive Function
   
   

   • Grant, A. M. (2014). The Efficacy of Executive Coaching in Times of Organisational Change. Journal of Change Management, 14(2), 258–280.
     
     

2. Coaching and Neuroscience
   
   

   • Rock, D., & Page, L. (2009). Coaching with the Brain in Mind. Wiley.
     
     

3. Mental Overload and Reduced Task Initiation
   
   

   • Dang, J., & Xiao, S. (2019). Cognitive Load Reduction and Motivation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 58.
     
     

4. Executive Function and Self-Regulation
   
   

   • Diamond, A. (2013). Executive Functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168.
     
     

5. Coaching and Goal Achievement
   
   

   • Passmore, J., & Fillery-Travis, A. (2011). A Critical Review of Executive Coaching Research: A Decade of Progress and What’s to Come. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 4(2), 70–88.
     
     

6. Accountability and Behavioral Change
   
   

   • Matthews, G., & Moran, A. (2006). Goal Setting and Performance. International Journal of Performance Improvement.