Laziness Does Not Exist

by Devon Price

In so many cases, what we call “laziness” is actually a person coping with a ton of challenges and attempting to set priorities based on their needs. When a person is pushed to their limit, supposedly “lazy” feelings and behaviors tend to pop up. Apathy, low motivation, an inability to focus, a desire to “waste time” doing “nothing”—these are all valuable warning signs.

Though there was a time when the average workweek kept getting shorter and shorter in length (thanks in large part to unions and the labor movement),5 that pattern has sadly reversed in recent years.

Factory employees were toiling all day long in dangerous, dark conditions, unable to make time for anything in their lives other than sleep. There were very few legal protections in place for employees, and many were given no compensation if they got injured on the job.8 Abuse of employees was rampant, with many not even being given a lunch hour or bathroom breaks.