Why Are Teenagers Lazy?

Parents might feel like they are fighting an uphill battle of wills against a teenage son or daughter who refuses to help around the house, get a job or sometimes even get out of bed. Laziness can be influenced by social pressures that take priority over other responsibilities in a teen's life. Your teen might find it difficult to pass up an enticing night out with friends to stay home and do laundry. Emotional struggles and hormonal changes might make it hard for your teenage son or daughter to be motivated to help around the house, get up and exercise or participate in school activities.

  1. Sleep Disturbances

    • According to an article on the Mayo Clinic's website, teens need nine hours of sleep or more to feel well rested and alert. Socializing with friends, late-night study sessions, sports activities and part-time jobs might make it difficult for some busy teens to get enough sleep. As many parents know, sleep-deprived teenagers are often more difficult to motivate. Mood swings brought on by lack of sleep and hormonal changes can make even the most conscientious teenager act lazier than usual.

    Technology

    • Teenagers have grown up in a world where nonstop entertainment is only a few keystrokes away. Social media, video games, text messaging, unlimited television stations, portable music players and many other electronic devices might monopolize your teen's time and attention. Hours spent in front of a computer screen or playing a video game might cause some teens to neglect other responsibilities. Teens might find it difficult to step away from technology long enough to partake in physical activity or complete other productive tasks.

    Depression

    • Family members, friends or teachers of depressed teens might have the misconception that the teens are choosing to be lazy, when there might be an underlying medical condition causing their symptoms. Hormonal changes and stress from teenage relationships or school pressures can make some teenagers susceptible to depression. Depression symptoms can mimic behaviors that are usually seen as lazy, such as a lack of energy and motivation. With proper treatment, depression symptoms can improve dramatically in teens who begin to act uncharacteristically lazy.

    Striving for Independence

    • As your teen becomes more independent, you might be dismayed to notice an increase in lazy behavior. Typical teenage rebellion may lead your teen to resist your repeated requests to clean his room. You might find it frustrating when your teenager refuses to do his chores or wash his dirty clothes. While this behavior can be frustrating for parents, it is a normal part of teenage development.

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