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Each of us from time to time can’t start or finish a certain task. We commonly associate such behavior with laziness, but in reality, laziness doesn’t exist, and there are many possible reasons for such inertia. Why does society have such a negative attitude towards laziness? Why do people feel guilty for taking breaks, even though they work just as much as before? And how did productivity become a measure of a person’s worth?
The concept of laziness appeared around 1540. Social psychologist and author of the book “There is no such thing as laziness” Devon Price writes that the word “lazy” was first used in the English language at that time. Even back then, the word had a negative connotation and was intended to describe those who did not like to work or put in a lot of effort. Many etymologists believe that “lazy” originated either from Middle Low German “lasich” (weak, feeble) or from Old English “lesu” (false or wicked). The idea that lazy people are bad losers who deserve to suffer is embedded in the word from the very beginning.
The misconception about laziness became widespread largely due to the migration of Puritans to the USA. Sociologist Max Weber in his work “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” tells us that Puritans saw hard work as a source of righteousness and a sign of being chosen by God. A person wore the mark of condemnation if they couldn’t concentrate on a task or didn’t work diligently enough. The ideology took root and spread throughout Europe and beyond, to North American and African colonies. Colonial America relied on the labor of slaves and hired servants, and it was important for owners to find ways to motivate their involuntary workers to work harder. One of the powerful means of manipulation became religious beliefs and ideological indoctrination.
The system, condemning the “lazy” and incentivizing obsessive productivity, has become very popular and politically useful.
In Google, dozens and hundreds of articles, books and blogs about laziness can be found quickly and easily. Almost all of them are focused on the same thing: laziness is a vice that needs to be overcome. But do we really understand what laziness actually is? The phrase “you’re just too lazy” is an overly simplified and contemptuous way to explain behavior, which hides the real reasons for a person’s disinterest and inertia. Social psychology experts say that what is considered “laziness” can be explained either by a paralyzing fear of failure or criticism, a lack of self-confidence or confidence in one’s ability to complete a task, depression that sometimes makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, and even problems with the thyroid gland.
Often people avoid work because it is not compelling or interesting enough. What may be absolute pleasure for one person can be a challenge for another. However, this does not indicate laziness. Procrastination can also stem from ambivalence – a lack of faith that the action will be worth the effort. Contradictory thoughts – to do or not to do – can have equal weight, leading a person to a dead end. For example, a vague understanding of the first steps required to write a research paper can be a hindrance, even if the person considers the task important and wants to do it well. There are many reasons for inertia – it cannot be explained by the simple concept of laziness.
The label of “lazy” is not merely a feeling or personality trait, as it often implies that there is something seriously wrong with the individual being labeled. It is not simply a matter of lacking energy, but rather a negative judgement that suggests the person deserves to suffer consequences for their perceived idleness.
Parents often complain about their child’s laziness: he doesn’t do what, in their opinion, he should do. Perhaps labeling a child as “lazy” is a convenient default accusation that allows avoiding questions about why the child does not want to perform certain tasks. The phrase “stop being lazy” may be directed at a teenager who is busy with something that, according to adults, is not beneficial. But is laziness really such appearances?
People have become accustomed to explaining what is not actually laziness with it. Devon Price writes that he has witnessed many times when a parent discouraged a child from donating money to a homeless person. Adults argue their prohibition stereotypically: you give money, and he’ll spend it on drugs or alcohol; he’s just pretending to be homeless; he just needs to stop being lazy and find a job. Homelessness is a stigma; homelessness is condemned and mistakenly taken as a choice. For example, choosing to live on the street instead of looking for work. But survival without a roof over your head is a huge challenge.
Being homeless means daily searching for a safe and warm place to spend the night, struggling with mental or physical illness, nights without proper sleep and begging for money to buy food. Homeless people face daily condemnation, threats, and being kicked out of public places for no reason.
A 2021 study conducted by the University of Chicago estimated that in the US, around 53% of homeless people have temporary shelter, and 40.4% are forced to sleep on the streets or in abandoned buildings, despite being employed and having an income. This statistic contrasts with the stereotype that the solution to all homelessness problems is to simply stop being lazy and find a job.
Self-help books exist to point readers towards the possibility (or rather, obligation) to do more: work harder, go to the gym, take care of oneself. We can always do more than we are doing currently. Today, productivity and expanding its limits is what everyone should strive for. Laziness, on the other hand, is treated categorically and intolerantly – it should be eradicated.
The idea of “more” in capitalism is intangible and difficult to grasp. No matter how much one achieves, there is always an elusive sense of “more” that cannot be fully comprehended. However, it’s important to note that “more” doesn’t necessarily equate to better.
“People trust their needs less and more – imposed attitudes of “correct” productivity. Forces and resources are ruthlessly spent on work that may bring little satisfaction and happiness. When there are difficulties in maintaining a certain efficiency, self-esteem decreases. Last year’s study showed that even when people become ill, they feel guilty for taking a break and not recovering fast enough. Rest for some is what they are used to earning. People try to invest their time wisely and avoid doing nothing, not only at work but also at home.”
In 2018, Amazon patented bracelets that allow tracking of employee productivity. Here’s how it works: if an Amazon warehouse worker takes a break or spends too long in the bathroom, the bracelet will start vibrating – a subtle hint from the employer to get back to work. The world’s largest retailer also has an automated system that constantly monitors employee productivity, identifying absences and generating warnings for those who take too long to process orders. Amazon has improved its own mapping and routing technologies and punishes its drivers if they choose a route that the app deems “inefficient”.
The business of selling monitoring software for workplaces is growing, and technology allows for the collection of massive amounts of data about employees in various companies: when and with whom they are talking, how quickly they perform tasks, what they are searching on their computers, how often they use the bathroom, and even how they feel and what their mood is. Technological progress under capitalism was supposed to lead to a post-work future – a world without mandatory work – or at least to rid people of physical labor, but instead it has only created more difficult work conditions. If so, why should doing nothing at all be condemned?
Society values full-time employment as highly as productivity. A busy schedule and lack of free time are considered signs of a person’s importance. Anything that interferes with productivity should be ignored. To perpetuate the myth of the success of those who are completely devoted to their work, some pretend to work longer than they actually do. Can life really be trivial or meaningless if every hour of the day is scheduled?
Low productivity is equated with low self-worth – this is one of the beliefs that drives society to have an extremely negative attitude towards laziness. We live with a thirst to extract maximum efficiency from every minute. People spend their free time switching between distractions – from checking emails to scrolling through social media feeds – and this only makes us more tired. The thought that we haven’t done enough forces us to think about work even in our free time. The pursuit of new tasks for greater productivity may lead to a temporary increase in productivity, but in the long run it will only decrease it. Ultimately, the shame of not doing enough can increase levels of stress and anxiety.
When thinking about productivity, it’s important to remember that it’s not about being busy. Productivity is not about the number of hours spent working, but about how efficiently time is spent and what the results are. The fact that the standard workweek is 40 hours or more suggests that overworking is normalized as a standard practice. Additionally, the situation worsens concerning class, race, and gender – women are more likely to have multiple jobs, and people of color, particularly women, are more likely to work in jobs without paid time off.
Idleness should not be perceived categorically: it is necessary for the brain just as vitamin D is necessary for the body.
If you notice that you’re struggling with a distorted understanding of laziness, try tracking your time spent. Instead of shaming and blaming yourself for not doing something, pay attention: do you just think you should do it, or is it really an important task? It’s also helpful to define your goals and identify the ones that aren’t consistently achieved. Then, consider how you feel when you don’t achieve that goal. What goals matter to you, and what things are you putting a lot of energy into that don’t really matter? Perhaps you can shift your focus and concentrate on what’s more important. Eliminate everything else, and if that’s not possible for some reason, think: what can I do to add this to my to-do list without sacrificing my own comfort?
Devon Price recommends an exercise to determine one’s values. It can be a list of achievements, family, relationships, friends, career, comfort, and caring for others. Values should be ranked, and only three items should be selected from all listed. This will help you understand what is really important to you in life.
Let’s exclude the word and concept of laziness. Instead of judging those who are not doing something, let’s figure out what is stopping them. Ask questions: do they set a goal to accomplish this task? What accumulated emotions and feelings are holding them back? What can I do to help? Remember the simple and important thing that is forgotten in the bustle: perhaps the best investment of your limited time is to spend it with loved ones. Listen to your needs and don’t forget that a person retains their value regardless of how much and what they do.
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