There's No Such Thing as Laziness.

The Concept of Laziness: How it Came to Be, And How it Rules Society

The idea of laziness has existed for centuries, but its definition has evolved with society. It's a concept which was created in the sixteenth century by capitalists and English Protestants. It emerged during a time when religious, diligent, and working-class citizens were considered the chosen ones. It was believed that those who worked hard would be saved by God, and those who were lazy would be condemned. During the colonial period of the United States, laziness become a justification for white colonizers to mistreat underperforming slaves - because dutiful slaves were praised, and disobedient slaves were lazy.

Since its inception, lazy has been a term used to describe someone who is unwilling or disinclined to work or complete a responsibility, despite having the capacity to do so. We call people lazy to dishonour them: an implication that their lack of productivity is a result of incompetence and lack of effort. It implies that, by acting in a way that society deems lazy, we should be shamed and judged. The idea of laziness is classist, racist, and ableist - and with its creation came the further oppression of society's most marginalized groups. Homeless people, in particular, are judged harshly by many who attribute failure to laziness. Homelessness is seen as a personal failure: a refusal to work instead of a systemic societal flaw. But for many, it's far easier to label others as lazy than to acknowledge the root problems in society.

Under capitalism, we are all conditioned to believe that worth is determined by productivity - that those who work longer hours and take fewer breaks are more valuable employees. Younger generations, especially, are assumed to be lazy by employers looking to exploit them. That's all jobs are, really - the exploitation of underpaid people by employers who live by the Laziness Myth. It's a myth that targets the hardest workers in the working class while only benefiting the people that employ them.

The Laziness Myth: Isolating People With Disabilities

Laziness is not the personality trait it's made out to be. It's a side effect: of lack of motivation, or fear, or emotional exhaustion, or disability. Lazy is a judgement people put on others without taking the time to understand their life circumstances. This hurts minimum wage workers, but it also hurts those who are not able to work at all. The Laziness Myth is ableist because it directly harms people whose invisible disabilities prevent them from working, walking, or completing tasks and assignments.

The irony of the Laziness Myth is that it leads to more laziness. The stress of working forty hour weeks, "running out" of sick days, and being grossly underpaid contributes to burnout or depression, which contributes to laziness. The Laziness Myth assumes that everyone has the same emotional and physical capabilities. It assumes that the productivity of an employee is directly impacted by how much effort they put in. But who determines productivity, and why do we assume that it always looks the same?

As someone with autism and ADHD, I have been made to feel shame for being lazy when I am really just overwhelmed. Lack of productivity is more than just lack of desire. Because I am a human - not a robot - my best effort could result in less productivity than someone else's worst effort. But according to the Laziness Myth, my lack of productivity is a consequence of lack of effort, and I'm a poorer worker than others. My lack of productivity doesn't make me lazy, even thought I've been conditioned to believe it does.

To expect the same efforts and abilities from everyone is to invalidate and exclude people with disabilities. Human beings do not have an infinite amount of energy. A task that takes one person ten minutes to complete could be painstakingly difficult for someone else. If we exhaust our limited energy into working, there is no time left for ourselves, and our energy remains depleted for weeks or months at a time. Self-care is not lazy. It's a necessity that so many miss out on because of the idea that financial contribution determines individual worth.

The Laziness Myth & Burnout: The Harm in "Grind Culture"

Burnout is a feeling of cynicism, pessimism, or emotional distance as a result of long-term occupational stress. On average, one in four employees experience work-related burnout. This can decrease physical and psychological health, and if isn't managed, burnout can have long-term negative effects on health, wellness, and personal relationships. Although many companies offer employees wellness packages or mental health programs, occupational burnout will continue to exist as long as the Laziness Myth does.

The fear of laziness becomes consuming: and in turn, influences the amount of time and effort we put into work and responsibilities. For some, the fear of laziness is greater than the exhaustion of unrealistic workloads and lack of support. There's no such thing as laziness, but the human desire for acceptance and recognition is a huge motivator behind striving for perfection. It's important to listen to your body: to engage in regular self-care, spend time with loved ones, and participate in hobbies away from work or school - because you are not lazy. You're tired and overworked, and your worth is not determined by how much you contribute financially to society.

Sources

https://drdevonprice.substack.com/p/the-racist-exploitative-history-of-laziness-bb09d8b414dd

https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13785506

https://www.welcometothejungle.com/en/articles/busting-myths-about-laziness-at-work

https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/lying-down-on-the-job-the-ableist-racist-classist-underpinnings-of-laziness

https://psychcentral.com/autism/autistic-burnout

https://positivepsychology.com/burnout/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism

https://daralainemurray.com/updates/laziness-is-a-myth-its-a-lot-more-complicated-than-youd-think

https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/laziness-myth-chronic-illness-disability/

https://experiencelife.lifetime.life/article/how-to-break-free-from-the-laziness-lie/

https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-paralysis#symptoms

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-burnout