The Lure of Laziness

We're built to slack off, says Nando Pelusi, Ph.D., But we can fight our biased belief that life should be easy and rewards must be immediate.

By Nando Pelusi, published on July 01, 2007 - last reviewed on September 12, 2007

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Instant reward is the default setting of the brain, but we like ourselves better when we tackle unpleasant tasks.

Start Small. Ask yourself, "Why is it too hard to do this for just 15 minutes?" It isn't, and you'll find that you quickly enjoy some tasks (somewhat).
Challenge Yourself. Dispute the idea that you can't do it. Often, we learn by trial and error, and if you take a long-range view, you'll find that you can do something difficult.
Keep Tabs. Write out your goals daily. We're more likely to stick to our plans if we monitor our progress toward a goal.
Commit to Others. Make a public commitment to complete a task. The extrinsic motivation provided by others will make you more conscientious about getting it done.
Accept Incremental Progress. Dispute the idea that you need comfort and immediate reward. Getting rid of these ideas can refocus you on your long-term goal.
Reward Yourself. Relaxation differs from laziness in that it is a reward for a completed task. Let yourself relax after a period of sustained effort.