The Psychology of Laziness

Procrastination- indolence should not be confounded with procrastination or idleness.

To procrastinate is to postpone a task in favour of other tasks, which, though perceived as easier or more pleasurable, are typically less important or urgent. To postpone a task for constructive or strategic purposes does not amount to procrastination. For it to amount to procrastination, the postponement has to represent poor and ineffective planning, and result in a higher overall cost to the procrastinator, for example, in the form of stress, guilt, or loss of productivity. It is one thing to delay a tax return until all the figures are in, but quite another to delay it so that it upsets plans and people and triggers a fine. Laziness and procrastination are similar in that they both involve a lack of motivation. But, unlike a lazy person, a procrastinator aspires and intends to complete the task and, moreover, does eventually complete it, although at a higher cost to himself.

“It doesn’t matter how talented you are, what matters is how persistent you are.”

Psychological theories of laziness

In most cases, it is deemed painful to expend effort on long-term goals that do not provide immediate satisfaction. For a person to embark on a project, he has to value the return on his labour more than his loss of comfort. The problem is that he is reluctant to trust in a return that he is both distant and uncertain. Because self-confident people are more apt to trust in the success and pay-off of their undertakings (and may even overestimate their likely returns), they are much more likely to overcome their natural laziness.

People are also poor calculators. Tonight they may eat and drink indiscriminately, without factoring in the longer-term consequences for their health and appearance, or even tomorrow morning’s hangover. The ancient philosopher Epicurusfamously argued that pleasure is the highest good. But he cautioned that not everything that is pleasurable should be pursued, and not everything that is painful should be avoided.

Many lazy people are not intrinsicallylazy, but are lazy because they have not found what they want to do, or because, for one reason or another, they are not doing it. To make matters worse, the job that pays their bills may have become so abstract and specialized that they can no longer fully grasp its purpose or product, and, by extension, their part in bettering other people’s lives. A builder can look upon the houses that he has built, and a doctor can take pride and satisfaction in the restored health and gratitude of his patients, but an assistant deputy financial controller in a large corporation cannot be at all certain of the effect of his labour—and so why bother?

Other factors that can lead to laziness are fear and hopelessness. Some people fear success, or do not have sufficient self-esteem to feel comfortable with success, and laziness is one way in which they can sabotage themself. Shakespeare conveys this idea much more smoothly and briefly inAntony and Cleopatra: ‘Fortune knows we scorn her most when most she offers blows.’ Conversely, some people fear failure, and laziness is preferable to failure because it is at one remove. “It’s not that I failed,” they tell themselves, “it’s that I never tried.”

conclusion

Recognizing and addressing these factors can help individuals develop strategies to overcome laziness and cultivate a more proactive approach to their goals and responsibilities. Practical strategies for overcoming laziness include cultivating self-compassion, setting specific and achievable goals, prioritizing tasks, employing time management techniques, seeking support and accountability, adopting a growth mindset, eliminating distractions, tracking progress, and rewarding oneself for accomplishments. By understanding the underlying psychology of laziness and implementing these strategies, individuals can break free from the cycle of inaction and work toward achieving their goals and personal growth. Self-awareness and a commitment to taking action are key components of this transformative journey.