Laziness is among the most common human weaknesses, shortcomings, or, to put it mildly, features. Someone generally considers her the mother of all vices, someone is condescending. And some people do not relate to it at all, believing that there is nothing in common between them — laziness does not concern him.
Be that as it may, this phenomenon exists and cannot be ignored. Although, despite the absence of obvious signs (compared to other shortcomings), in terms of its impact, and, most importantly, its consequences, laziness fully claims to lead the parade of vices.
Identification and definition of laziness is also difficult because, in addition to softness and suppleness, it has many faces and guises. Sometimes changed beyond recognition, and only a close look of an experienced reindeer breeder can discern a very predatory beast under careful disguise and mimicry.
Everyone struggles with it in different ways and with varying degrees of success — by virtue of their natural mental capabilities. There are also those who waved their hand at her (and at themselves), folded their paws and resigned themselves: «Be what will be.»
It will be useful for both of them to get to know this madam better, to consider her habits and tricks, so that later they can play cat and mouse with her, or even tag. We will also try to understand the nature of the origin of laziness, and we will try to find the elixir of laziness, a magic wand-transformer that turns the peaceful energy of laziness into a tornado of energy and activity.
So let’s get acquainted!
SELECTIVE LAZY: I need to write a diploma (make a report, learn the strength of evidence), but I don’t WANT. But for sitting at the computer and poking around on the forums (playing Resident Evil, reading the announcement of football matches) — this is a pleasure!
LAZY TOTAL. I don’t want anything at all, even to have fun: let someone do it for me. This is how the Parasite is born.
LAZY CONSCIOUS. I am an excellent student in mathematics, but I refuse, for example, out of greed, to help a classmate solve a problem: «I’m too lazy!»
LAZY PROGRESSIVE. Too lazy to get up early, do exercises, clean the house, too lazy to write a will …
LAZY STUPID. I can wash the dishes in 5 minutes, but I store them in the sink in the form of a pyramid of Cheops.
LAZINESS OF THE MIND. Reproaches of the hostess that no one helps around the house, instead of organizing household members to do homework: it is easier to blame and reproach. And more profitable: the justification of the role of the Victim.
LAZINESS OF THE SOUL. Spouses quarrel, blame and reproach each other: it is more difficult to look for ways to jointly and peacefully solve problems. The role of the Victim is also beneficial: everyone mocks, no one understands — from the smallest (does not obey, does not do homework) to the state (low pension, high taxes, etc.)
Now let’s see why laziness appears. Causes:
- conservatism of human nature. A person, it must be admitted, is a rather conservative creature, and it is quite difficult to move him to leave the familiar, comfort zone: the new is always frightening;
- fear and self-doubt. Problems of disbelief in oneself, low, often unjustified, assessment of one’s abilities and capabilities, which causes fear to move on;
- remoteness of the result. Why should I brush my teeth today, because they will not turn yellow in one day? Why should I open a new business if the profit will be already in five (ten, twenty) years?
- receive an immediate reward. Advance received, you can relax. Part of the fee for the book has been paid, you can not suffer for the time being — I will write later;
- don’t need money. The wives of wealthy husbands go to work out of boredom;
- uninteresting work. Lack of interest, motivation, meaning, and hence the desire to work;
- lack of time. A diligent and diligent worker is loaded «to the eyeballs», that he no longer has time. And strength;
- fatigue. Working seven days a week, household chores plus everyday problems: all together creates a feeling of emptiness;
- long break. Accustomed to rest (holidays, village, Egypt), the psyche is not immediately included in the working mode;
- uselessness and «self-screening» of cases and problems. There are many things in the world (parachute jumping, disassembly-assembly of a Kalashnikov assault rifle, double somersault) that you can learn, but not necessarily — you can live without them. The exception is professionals;
- result uncertainty. “What if it doesn’t work out?” This thought is enough to cause a blockage of consciousness in the matter of further progress;
- childish laziness is the absence of meaning. Inherent not only in children, although they are especially susceptible: often the reluctance to learn biology is just not understanding “why?”
- lazy childhood. The consequence of overprotection and short-sightedness of parents and educators: they did not give them feasible work and moderate independence;
Some put forward a few more reasons that can be called exotic:
- protective reaction of the body, saves from heart attacks and strokes. If so, then we must admit that our body defends itself in a rather strange way: a lot of unpleasant things happen from inactivity and failure, including cardiovascular problems. And not a single successful person, “prone to heart attacks and strokes,” will agree to change places with even a very healthy loser;
- stimulates creativity. There is an opinion that creative people are lazy, and all their achievements are the result of loafing. Absurd! Creative ideas are born only in the community of active labor and thinking;
- engine of progress. The most common myth that is not supported by common sense. Edison, who made 10000 (!) attempts to invent a light bulb, can in no way claim the honorary title of a lazy person. Labor, labor and only labor moves progress.
Laziness also sets traps, traps and snares on us:
- news sites
- articles on various topics
- links to friends and family
- exchange of opinions on the Internet
- chat rooms
- phone calls
- tea drinking
- aimless and meaningless gatherings
- parties of various kinds and colors
As a result of its expansion, laziness achieves that a person has:
- low self-esteem, because it is difficult to appreciate yourself when you have nothing and you do nothing in order for something to appear;
- poor health. Without doing exercises it is difficult to have a good physical and mental tone. The lack of success and achievements also does not improve the emotional background, which inevitably affects the «physics»;
- low status and standard of living. At the top of the pyramid of life are only those who tirelessly climb its rocky slopes;
- envy of the successful. You can consider yourself a person of high virtues as much as you like, but envy of those who are higher than you, better, more successful is a natural thing, especially against the background of your failure: “We are punished not only by our failures, but also by the successes of others.” Hence the reason for hatred of oneself as a loser, a coward and mediocrity. Well, and there it’s even close to hatred for others: in the outback there are known cases of arson of houses and farms of those who did not drink and loaf, but in the sweat of their brow and tirelessly built their lives. Salieri who poisoned Mozart is a clear illustration. Although recent studies refute the usual opinion. Nevertheless, the name Salieri has become a household name and denotes an envious hater in relation to a more talented fellow artist;
- feelings about their own inadequacy. What is the cause of severe neurosis: in the brain constantly, like a broken record («jam»), thoughts about bad luck, bad luck, weakness, doom are spinning;
- deplorable ending. Undiscovered talent, unspent strength and buried dreams turn into a poison that undermines the foundations of life, without which a person leaves the stage ahead of time;
The above consequences are the result of the destructive action of the malignant laziness, which may be called the Stepmother. Lazy dialectics presupposes the presence of a second balancing component. «Laziness-Mother ahead was born.» And she did the right thing! Such laziness:
- saves from unwanted actions. I never studied geometry, and it was not useful to me in life;
- allows you to think, comprehend and rethink a lot in life. Especially helps «pregnant» ideas;
- allows you to relax. And why not! I dug up a garden, chopped firewood, dragged water and, in general, plowed like a John Deere combine all week: I have the right to take a steam bath!
- protects against workaholism. Sends SOS signals to the overworked body and brain: “Rest! Rest! Rest!»
- And still! is the engine of progress. It is impossible to imagine us switching TV channels manually — the remote control made us forget about what was the norm until recently.
Now let’s think about how to avoid the traps of laziness, and try to catch it ourselves. Catch and defuse:
- write out the usual beacons of laziness, learn and never repeat;
- never cancel cases just because of laziness;
- prefer any activity to inactivity (walk at a brisk pace 2 hours a day)
- write realistic plans and execute: not immediately, but it will work out;
- come up with a system of motivation and self-organization: rewards and punishments;
- just do it, declare war on yourself — when nothing helps;
- ascorbic acid (2,5 mg per day), whole lemon with peel, sauerkraut, cranberries.
Often our body «mopes» due to under-oxidation of the blood: fats, cholesterol, alcohol and nicotine;
- bilacor. Bilateral correction method: perform the usual daily activities with the left hand (with the right hand if «left-handed»): write, fasten buttons, hold a spoon. In addition to being a remedy for laziness, it is also a memory enhancer. Expands consciousness: the opposite, usually inactive, hemisphere is involved;
- self-hypnosis. Screen-boards with large bright phrases, for example, «Walk quickly at 2 o’clock a day!». In the bathroom, kitchen, on the computer — wherever you visit most often. Use a timer, alarm clock, etc.
- call yourself affectionately. Brings out the ENERGY (what is lacking in laziness) of self-aggression and turns it into self-massage;
- beat yourself up. Our body experiences not only food hunger, but also pain. Tap yourself on the shoulders, arms, legs. Be careful, no self-mutilation!
- ice, or contrast shower. Temperature hunger from the same series. Ice (contrast) shower literally blows you up and calls to life megatons of energy;
- check with an endocrinologist; lack of thyroid hormones may well cause decline, and apathy, and blues;
And let’s strike with consciousness on impassability and inaction, and pave the way for a bright and active future! Let’s ask ourselves questions:
- what i don’t want to do?
- what’s stopping me from doing laziness?
- What is my body protesting against?
- What exactly am I going to lose if I don’t do what he doesn’t want now?
And finally. Laziness is not invincible. Laziness is not evil. It is an incentive for accomplishments, for personal growth. You just need to learn how to interact with it.
And if, in the midst of long labors and hard accomplishments, a desire to rest and relax suddenly visits you, do not fight it: the best way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it. And after that, with renewed vigor, vigorously continue your ascent up the ladder of life.
Literature
- Levi VL «Medicine for lazy»
- Kozlov N.I. «The Formula for Success, or the Philosophy of the Life of an Effective Person»
- Zanin Sergey. «How to overcome laziness, or how to learn to do what needs to be done»
- Yakimanskaya I.S., “Vorobeva V.V. The psychology of laziness: problem posing
- Burn E. “Games that people play. People who play games»
- Goncharov I. «Oblomov»
- “Kozlov N.I. “Psychologist. Encyclopedia of Practical Psychology»