Have you ever wondered why you feel guilty for taking a break, even when you’re exhausted? Why do so many successful people secretly fear they’re not doing enough, despite their accomplishments?
Social psychologist Devon Price challenges our productivity-obsessed culture in his thought-provoking book, Laziness Does Not Exist. The concept that “laziness isn’t real” forms the foundation of Price’s argument that what we perceive as lack of motivation actually masks deeper barriers, systemic inequalities, or unmet human needs.
Discover how centuries-old beliefs about productivity may be harming your well-being, relationships, and society as a whole.
The Myth of Laziness
When Price argues that “laziness isn’t real,” what he’s saying is that we’ve all bought into the myth that our value as individuals is directly tied to our productivity, and that people who don’t appear to be highly driven must be morally bankrupt in some way. The consequence of this cultural mindset is that many of us work ourselves to exhaustion, feel ashamed for all the things we haven’t accomplished, and discount the hard work and struggles of people who haven’t achieved as much as we have.
(Shortform note: For most business experts, “productivity” isn’t a dirty word, though some define it differently than Price does. In The Productivity Project, Chris Bailey says that productivity isn’t about doing a lot, but about doing what matters. He doesn’t promote productivity as an end in itself, but he argues that you can harness productivity to reach your goals and gain back time to pursue what’s most meaningful to you. In other words, he argues that productivity is good if you pursue it for the right reasons, such as wanting to spend more time with your family or pursuing a creative vision you find compelling. To be a positive force, your productivity must reflect your own values, not the toxic societal expectation that Price draws attention to.)
Price argues that contemporary beliefs about productivity and laziness are destructive to both the mind and the body. These beliefs can make you ignore your basic needs and work yourself beyond healthy limits while constantly shaming yourself for not doing enough, whether in your career or your personal life. Perhaps you regularly work overtime out of the fear that if you don’t, you won’t meet expectations and might even get fired. Perhaps you neglect your self-care to prioritize someone else’s needs, feeling that if you set aside time for yourself, you’ll let them down. Or, maybe you’ve put off vacations for years because you’re trapped in a cage of societal expectations and demands on how you should really spend your time.
(Shortform note: In Slow Productivity, Cal Newport backs up Price’s argument that our modern ideal of productivity is flawed. What Newport refers to as “pseudo-productivity” emphasizes constant activity at the expense of progress toward meaningful goals. The more sustainable alternative is to do fewer things at a natural pace, with a greater focus on quality. This requires streamlining your tasks, being selective about what you take on, and relaxing the pace at which you complete projects. Newport argues that slowing down pays off if you combine it with a commitment to producing top-quality work that makes your achievements more rewarding.)
Is Anyone Really Lazy?
So many of us have internalized the fear of being seen as lazy that no one’s immune to this toxic way of thinking. Price points out that many highly accomplished individuals secretly think of themselves as lazy, from the movie star who’s afraid that he’s not doing enough films to the successful entrepreneur who never leaves the office because she fears she’s not doing enough to keep her business afloat. Even though these people may have accomplished much that others only dream about, our society’s beliefs about hard work and laziness dictate that, no matter what, you could always be doing something more.
(Shortform note: The feelings of inadequacy Price describes are also common in impostor syndrome, a psychological pattern where people (who often belong to marginalized populations) doubt their achievements and fear being exposed as frauds. For some, impostor syndrome manifests as perfectionism—a feeling that nothing is ever good enough and can be better, if only you work harder and longer. To counteract impostor syndrome, experts recommend acknowledging and documenting your achievements, seeking feedback from trusted peers or mentors, and challenging negative thought patterns through cognitive behavioral techniques.)
According to Price, the most pernicious aspect of our collective fixation on accomplishment is that we’re taught to apply the “lazy” label to people who haven’t achieved traditional measures of success. This mindset is especially harmful and unfair to those of us facing complex personal circumstances and systemic barriers. Price says that too often, those who struggle with financial problems, suffer from mental illness, or have to overcome prejudice daily are accused of being lazy when they don’t—or can’t—conform to society’s stereotype of success. Price argues that not only is calling these people “lazy” unhelpful, but it’s also a destructive lie that contributes to the problems they have to live with.
(Shortform note: While Price blames society as a whole for unfairly stigmatizing certain groups as “lazy,” some may be more guilty than others. In Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond says that politicians are major culprits in associating poverty with a lack of work ethic, which they use to justify not spending public funds on poverty-relief efforts. According to Desmond, this reflects an ideology that giving assistance to the poor will discourage them from working. However, he notes that based on employment data during the Covid-19 pandemic, government provisions that gave cash assistance to poor families did not discourage people from seeking employment— demonstrating that the “laziness” assumption is false.)
The Origins of Laziness
If our ideas about hard work and laziness are so harmful, then how have they become so widespread? In essence, we all learn these beliefs from a combination of early life experiences and societal messaging. Price describes how deeply the roots of these ideas are embedded in Western culture, particularly in the United States, and how they’re reinforced by pop culture, our teachers, our leaders, and even our parents.
Price explains that the belief that your productivity equals your worth is inextricably linked with the rise of American capitalism. He traces it back to the Puritan settlers who brought with them the conviction that hard work in this life would be met with heavenly rewards. In the US, at least, it was the Puritans who first equated the quality and quantity of your work with character and moral fiber.
However, this outlook on the moral value of work took a dark turn when it was used to rationalize slavery—if so-called “lesser” people were inherently lazy, as the cultural lie dictated, then forcing them to work became a twisted form of redemption. Price says that another (possibly intentional) effect of the hard work mentality is that it kept workers too exhausted and busy to organize, rise up, and rebel against their oppressors.
