American society, by and large, prizes hard work and diligence.
Calling someone lazy is a big insult.
This takes a massive psychological toll on us and leaves us at a massive risk of burnout.
Other experts are less dismissive of laziness.
Some say it is related to procrastination a phenomenon that psychology has clearly defined and studied.
What Is Laziness?
You cant get a diagnosis of laziness.
However, some psychologists have attempted to define laziness as it is used in popular culture.
Because of all this, the concept of laziness doesnt show up frequently in psychology research.
But it tracks closely with a related and well-studied phenomenon: procrastination.
But procrastination and laziness are not quite interchangeable at least not to a psychologist, Dr. Pychyl says.
Procrastination is the voluntary delay of an intended act despite expecting to be worse off, he says.
While identifying times when someone procrastinates is often straightforward, nailing down examples of laziness is much trickier.
Its important to make these distinctions because even the most tireless and diligent people sometimes procrastinate.
We all do it, Pychyl says.
The fact that you procrastinate doesnt make you lazy.
None of us works nonstop all the time.
We all take breaks to sleep or rest.
We all engage in pastimes that are pleasurable or restorative, rather than productive.
When exactly does the absence of work qualify as laziness?
We all think well know it when we see it.
Laziness, in other words, is always subjective.
Thats according to theworkofMichael Jacobsen, PhD, a professor of sociology at Aalborg University in Denmark.
What Causes Laziness?
One persons idea of lazy may be anothers idea of a hard days work.
And psychologists have studied procrastination and what causes it.
As an example, Pychyl says, is schoolwork.
This is why so many young students put their work off until the last minute.
Procrastination is a quite rational reaction to an unpleasant situation, he says.
But however rational it may be, some people procrastinate more than others.
Age
Pychyl says this may be due in part to brain development.
Kids are operating much more out of a pleasure principle, he says.
And so like other bad habits, procrastination can snowball.
If your colleagues mess around and blow off work, youre more likely to do the same.
Personality Characteristics
Pychyl says personality characteristics can also contribute to procrastination.
Is Being Lazy Bad for My Health?
Theres not much research on how being lazy affects health and well-being, or not.
Price adds that people who consider themselves lazy may be anything but.
Still, this self-perception can lead to problems.
Think if someone only asked you to do five of those things in a day.
You might feel quite productive, not lazy, even though you got the same amount of stuff done.
Again, he highlights new technologies as a potential compounding factor.
Technology has created increased pressure to generate productivity all of the time, he explains.
These may involve learning to go easier on yourself, or taking up habits that help you avoid distractions.
Do Less, Not More
Your goal shouldnt be to fit more in, Price says.
Instead, you should probably identify whats most important to you and set aside the rest.
Cut your to-do list in half, he advises.
Put simply, it’s crucial that you prioritize.
Ask yourself what you are willing to let drop?
What are you cutting back on?
Who will you disappoint?
What social standards can you afford to let go of?
Get Specific
Procrastination, Pychyl says, is often fueled by vague intentions.
For example, you tell yourself you better fix up your place or start a new exercise program.
For example, book a yoga class and put reminders in your phone.
Getting specific will make it more likely youll follow through.
Make It Fun
Dr. Wood says that the trick to habit formation is repetition, repetition, repetition.
We are most likely to repeat actions that we enjoy, she says.
So, find something you like about a new action that makes it enjoyable.
Technology is making this more and more difficult, so consider taking your tech out of the equation.
You cant depend on willpower, Pychyl says.
Youve got to take your phone and put it in another room.
In both cases, mindfulness practices, which train present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness can be beneficial.
Mindfulness and becoming aware of your own thinking is crucial, he says.
Mindfulness training can also help you ignore distractions and stay on-task, he adds.
He explains that getting down on yourself increases negative feelings and self-appraisals, which makes procrastination more likely.
you gotta bring in self-compassion, he says.
Focus on making progress, but acknowledge that youre going to relapse.
