How to Trick Your Brain into Writing (Even When You’re Lazy)
I was on my bed, phone in hand, thumbs hovering over that empty screen, feeling like the sweetest revenge would be rearranging the Zikoko memes on my gallery rather than writing a sentence. You know It is amusing how our heads will invent better ideas than any essay prompt.
Then it hit me—writing doesn’t need to come from motivation. It can come from a little brain trick. Like telling your stubborn friend, “Agu; let’s just stretch.” They’ll stretch, walk, jog. Suddenly they’re in the gym before they know it. That’s the magic.
So here’s what I learned from lazy days:
I whisper to myself, “Just two sentences.” Nothing much. Then words start flowing, like how one joke balloons into laughter, stories, memories. Next thing, I’m typing a whole page, surprised. Often, that’s all it takes.
Or I switch location. My desk feels heavy sometimes. So I go lie on the sofa. Sometimes, I walk around the room, gesticulating like an enthusiastic secondary school student debating in front of a panel of judges.
There are times I use a timer—10 minutes, no editing, just pour out the words like hot tea. Messy? Yes. But mess is better than empty. That’s when the best lines sneak in.
My favorite trick, however, is stopping mid-sentence—like layering a cliffhanger. Next morning, the brain hustles to finish the thought. Curiosity becomes the boss. We write.
Motivation is overrated. If we wait, nothing moves. But if we slide a small trap, words sneak in before excuses even stand up.
Your brain will always want comfort. So don’t argue. Out-maneuver it. Write when it’s lazy, tired, distracted. Because once it begins—even just two sentences—it might awake something wise.
Your brain being lazy doesn’t mean it’s broken. It just needs a gentle nudge.
