"Can’t Be Bothered?” – Understanding the Aussie Way of Doing Life

Is it laziness, chill vibes, or the art of not sweating the small stuff?

One of the first Aussie phrases I ever heard—and couldn’t quite wrap my head around—was: “Can’t be bothered.”

At first, I thought it meant someone was lazy. Or flakey. Or just… not interested in anything.

But the more I heard it, the more I realised it’s not a lack of energy—it’s a whole philosophy. A state of mind. An attitude, even.

In Australia, “can’t be bothered” doesn’t always mean “I won’t do it.” It often means “I could, but is it really worth the stress?” And honestly, the older I get, the more I get it.

So what does it really mean?

• Going to the beach with sandy feet and not worrying about cleaning the car right away?
  → Can’t be bothered.

• Not replying to a text immediately, not out of rudeness, but because you’re present in the moment?
  → Can’t be bothered (but I still like you).

• Taking your time with things. Not rushing. Not obsessing over perfection.
  → That’s the Aussie way.

It’s not laziness. It’s balance.

Aussies work hard—but they also deeply value their downtime. You’ll rarely find someone bragging about pulling all-nighters or glorifying burnout. Instead, you’ll hear things like:

• “Knock off early?”

• “Long weekend plans?”

• “Might chuck a sickie, hey?”

It’s a culture that knows how to switch off. And for someone who came from a more fast-paced, push-harder kind of lifestyle, that was a shock. A very welcome one.

But let’s be honest—sometimes it is laziness.

Like when the laundry sits clean for three days but never quite makes it into the drawers. Or when dinner is toast because you truly couldn’t be bothered cooking.

We’ve all been there. It’s the Aussie way of saying, “I’m human, and I’ll get to it… eventually.”

What I’ve learned to love about it:

“Can’t be bothered” is freedom.
It’s knowing when something doesn’t need your energy.
It’s choosing ease over ego.
And sometimes, it’s the permission to rest, guilt-free.

So if you’re new here and hearing it all the time—don’t be offended. Don’t assume it means people don’t care. In fact, Aussies care deeply… they just won’t make a fuss about things that don’t really matter.

And honestly? That’s a vibe I can get behind.