This is the first self-help book I've ever read. I stumbled across Laziness Does Not Exist just after the review of How to be Fine: What We Learned From Living by the Rules of 50 Self Help Books had been posted, and its critique of the self-help genre was still rattling around in my head. Though I had little interest in the genre, a book that would absolve me of the guilt of laziness seemed like a good place to start.
Devon Price, author of Laziness Does Not Exist, is a social psychologist. In this book, they discuss how humans have been taught that time spent doing nothing is time wasted. There is constant societal pressure to do more. Even people with packed professional and social calendars are made to feel like they are still not accomplishing enough.
Price also unpacks the cruel way in which the word "lazy" is applied to people as a way to blame them for their circumstances. We see this frequently in reference to a child struggling in class, someone with mental illness, or a person who finds themselves homeless.
This is a criticism of society as well as capitalism. Humans are collectively working harder than ever, and it is killing us. Price gives several anecdotes (their own and those collected in interviews) of people whose health was seriously damaged by chronic overwork and stress. I've known for a while that consistent stress can weaken your body. My health has definitely been impacted by stress in the past. But seeing Price describe how bad it got for some of these people, really made me stop and acknowledge it.
The way that we're taught to push past any warning signs that we might need a break is seriously damaging. And eventually, our bodies will force us to stop. Which is terrifying.
While Price is really hoping society will alter its view of laziness, they recognize that individuals need help now. Ultimately, they want you to recognize when your body is begging you to slow down, and not be hard on yourself when you're feeling "lazy." Hopefully something as small as removing the guilt associated with laziness will make those moments more restful. Some of the suggestions will not be accessible to everyone. Unfortunately, personal privilege will affect how much you can implement Price's solutions. It will be harder to take a sick day instead of working through a cold if your job doesn't offer sick days. Things like that. Though Price isn't unaware of the industries that take advantage of less privileged workers, escaping the grind is in itself a privilege.
Still, I think Price is right. Laziness is a lie. And we all deserve to enjoy the time we spend being "lazy" rather than feel guilty about it.
This was a fascinating read. And hopefully, if you feel guilty whenever you take a break, Laziness Does Not Exist will be a validating experience for you.