10 types of men who become lazier as they get older, according to psychology

There’s a fascinating link between age and motivation, according to psychology.

We often hear about individuals becoming more driven with age, but there’s a flip side to this coin.

Some men, as they grow older, find their get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went.

In this article, we’re going to explore ten types of men who become lazier as they age. It’s not about stereotyping or pointing fingers, but understanding the psychological factors that come into play.

And who knows, recognizing these traits might just be the spark you need to reignite your own drive, or help someone else reclaim theirs.

After all, understanding is the first step to improvement. Let’s dive in.

1) The comfort seekers

As we age, comfort can become a priority, often at the expense of motivation.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow explained this through his hierarchy of needs. Once our basic needs are met, we tend to seek safety and comfort. And for some men, this search can lead to a decrease in their drive.

These ‘comfort seekers’ might have been go-getters in their younger years. Yet, as they age, they start to prefer the familiar over the new, the easy over the challenging.

They’re not necessarily lazy per se, but their focus shifts from achieving more to maintaining what they have. As Maslow said, “What a man can be, he must be.” But for these men, what they are right now is enough.

Understanding this trait is not about judging or labeling. Instead, it’s about recognizing that everyone’s journey through life is different. And sometimes, what we perceive as laziness might just be a shift in priorities.

2) The burned out

Burnout is real. Trust me, I’ve been there.

I spent my early 30s in a high-stress job, always on the go, always pushing for more. I was successful, sure, but I was also constantly exhausted. By the time I hit 40, my energy levels had taken a nosedive.

Psychologists refer to this as burnout – a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion often followed by cynicism and detachment.

Sigmund Freud said, “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”

In my case, those ‘uglier ways’ were a lack of motivation and a constant feeling of tiredness. It’s not that I became lazy overnight; it’s just that my body and mind needed time to recover from the years of non-stop stress.

Recognizing this type in yourself or others can be a wake-up call to re-evaluate your work-life balance, prioritizing rest and self-care to prevent further burnout.

Understanding this pattern can be the first step towards restoring your energy and passion for life.

3) The disillusioned

Sometimes, life can knock the wind out of our sails. Repeated failures, unrealized dreams or a deep-seated sense of dissatisfaction can lead to a state of disillusionment.

Carl Jung once said, “We cannot change anything unless we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate; it oppresses.”

The ‘disillusioned’ are often stuck in this phase of non-acceptance and condemnation. They might feel that their efforts have led to nothing substantial, making them less enthusiastic about future endeavors.

This disillusionment can be particularly prevalent in older men who have spent their lives chasing a dream or goal that they haven’t been able to achieve.

The mounting disappointment can lead to a lack of motivation and an overall sense of lethargy.

It’s raw, and it’s painful, but it’s also very human. Recognizing this state of disillusionment is the first step towards acceptance and change.

It can help us confront our disappointments head-on and find new ways to ignite our passion and drive.

4) The settled

Have you ever felt like you are just going through the motions, without any real zest or enthusiasm for life?

This is a feeling that I’ve experienced, and it’s not uncommon among older men. We get to a point where we feel like we’ve done it all and seen it all. We become ‘The settled’.

As Erik Erikson, a renowned developmental psychologist, put it, “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.”

The ‘settled’ often forget this interdependence and become complacent in their routines.

They might have a stable job, a comfortable home, and a loving family. But their motivation to strive for more or to engage in new experiences dwindles. They feel like they’ve reached their peak and there’s nothing more to aspire to.

Again, it’s not laziness in the traditional sense. It’s a sense of contentment that can sometimes border on complacency.

Recognizing this can help us re-evaluate our goals and ambitions, reigniting our passion for growth and learning.

5) The achievers

Now, this might seem counterintuitive. Aren’t achievers supposed to be the ones who are always on the move, always pushing forward? Well, yes and no.

The ‘achievers’, as I like to call them, have spent their lives working hard and achieving success. But once they’ve reached their goals, they can often find themselves feeling aimless and unmotivated.

Famous psychologist Alfred Adler once said, “The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.”

The ‘achievers’ might appear to have it all figured out on the surface, but underneath that facade, they might be grappling with a loss of purpose and direction.

So while they might have been highly driven in their younger years, their motivation can dwindle as they get older and achieve their goals. It’s not laziness per se; it’s more of an existential crisis.

This introspection can help us understand that achievement is not the be-all and end-all of life. It can inspire us to continuously set new goals and seek out new challenges, ensuring we always have something to strive for.

6) The unfulfilled

There’s a type of man who, despite having everything going for him, feels a deep sense of dissatisfaction. He has a good job, a loving family, and a comfortable lifestyle. But something’s missing. He’s what we call ‘The Unfulfilled’.

These men are stuck in a rut, trapped by their own success. They’ve done everything right, followed all the rules, but they still feel empty.

Famed psychologist Viktor Frankl once said, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

The ‘unfulfilled’ lack this ‘why’. They’re going through the motions of life without any real passion or purpose.

This can lead to lethargy and a lack of motivation. It’s not that they’re lazy; it’s more that they’re searching for something more meaningful in their lives.

Recognizing this state can be the first step towards finding greater purpose and fulfillment. It can spur us to take a step back, reevaluate our lives, and seek out what truly makes us happy.

7) The overwhelmed

Life can get pretty complicated, can’t it? I’ve had periods in my life where I felt like I was juggling too many balls at once.

This feeling of being perpetually overwhelmed can lead to a lack of motivation in older men.

They’re ‘the overwhelmed’. They might have too many responsibilities, too many expectations to meet, or simply too much going on.

Renowned psychologist Carl Rogers once said, “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”

But for ‘the overwhelmed’, life can feel like a constant race to the finish line.

In their quest to keep up with life’s demands, they can lose their drive and become lethargic. It’s not that they’re lazy; it’s that they’re mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Recognizing this state can be a call for us to step back, take a deep breath, and reassess our priorities. It can remind us to slow down and enjoy the journey instead of always racing towards the destination.

8) The regretful

Regrets. We all have them. But for some men, as they age, these regrets can pile up and weigh heavily on their motivation and drive. They become ‘the regretful’.

These men look back on their lives and wish they’d done things differently. Maybe they wish they’d pursued a different career, or spent more time with their loved ones, or taken more risks.

As the famous psychologist Rollo May put it, “Depression is the inability to construct a future.”

The ‘regretful’ are often stuck in the past, unable to envision a fulfilling future because they’re too wrapped up in their past mistakes.

This can lead to lethargy and a lack of motivation. It’s not laziness; it’s a deep-seated sense of disappointment and unfulfillment.

It’s raw and it’s painful, but it’s also a part of being human. Recognizing this can help us learn from our past and use our regrets as stepping stones towards a more fulfilling future.

9) The satisfied

This might seem odd – how can satisfaction lead to laziness? Well, hear me out.

These men, who I like to term ‘the satisfied’, have reached a stage in their lives where they feel they’ve accomplished enough. They have a good job, a loving family, and a comfortable lifestyle. What more could they want?

Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s theory of self-actualization provides an insight here. He said, “What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.”

‘The satisfied’ lack this awareness of their potential for growth and self-improvement.

They’re content with their lives, and this contentment can often lead to a lack of motivation to strive for more. They’re not really lazy; they’re just satisfied with the status quo.

Understanding this perspective can encourage us to always seek growth and improvement, regardless of how satisfied we might feel with our current achievements.

It’s about realizing that self-actualization is an ongoing journey, not a final destination.

10) The fearful

Fear. It’s something we all grapple with. I, for one, know what it’s like to be held back by fear.

There’s a type of man who, as he ages, becomes more cautious and less willing to take risks. He becomes ‘the fearful’. He might fear failure, rejection, or even success itself.

Renowned psychologist Albert Bandura once said, “In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.”

‘The fearful’ often lack this sense of self-efficacy and resilience.

This fear can result in a lack of motivation and a tendency to stick with the familiar rather than venture into the unknown. It’s not laziness; it’s fear holding them back.

Recognizing this can help us confront our fears and push past them. It can inspire us to take risks and step out of our comfort zones in pursuit of our goals.