It’s amazing how many clients have told me that they fear they are hopelessly lazy. I actually have met very few people who I would consider intrinsically lazy. It seems time to unpack the stories around this judgment, usually made only by folks themselves!
As usual, I like to start with a standard definition; from the Miriam Webster Dictionary. Laziness is; “disinclined to activity or exertion, or an unwillingness to use energy, idleness.”
So when you think of the behaviors that describe laziness, they may include resistance to getting into a task or avoiding it, preferring to lie on the couch and rest, putting off difficult activities, feeling flat, exhausted or physically slow…does this remind you of depressive or anxiety symptoms? And then there might be seasonal changes where the sun goes behind clouds and you lose your motivation to go outside or exercise. Or cooking yet another dinner during Covid lockdown is so unappealing- let’s just order in, even if it is unhealthy…
Recently researchers have taken the stance that perhaps laziness is necessary, as it provides a stop and rest/daydream function versus pushing yourself into working harder. This can go against the Biblical vice of Sloth that is one of the seven deadly sins of Christianity. Our Western culture in general has made work and staying busy a virtuous activity. There can be a tendency to judge other customs in other cultures which practice a Siesta time or a long lunch break. Researchers have found that folks who work entirely from home tend to push themselves more to stay busy, take less breaks and are generally more fearful that they may look lazy to their bosses. This has been really evident during the Pandemic lockdown, and I am encountering clients who feel burnt out, unmotivated and generally “done” with juggling working from home with childcare and lack of vacations. Many folks are experiencing their bodies telling them they need a break from the computer, and more deep sleep to renew their nervous systems.
So maybe it’s time to judge yourself less harshly when it comes to that term “lazy”. You may need to take a break from work every half hour even if you don’t go outside for a ‘smoke break’ with your peers. You might need to schedule a two-week vacation soon (got your vaccination?) – where you can let yourself lie around on a beach. Mental health is about a work/life balance and finding this for yourself. I am happy to brainstorm with you and help you practice Mindfulness, which asks you to be aware of how self-judgment is ineffective.
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