Читать книгу Age to Act. Discover the second youth of life, where every day is a new page of opportunity and inspiration - - Страница 3

Anatomy of laziness: how our inner lazy person works.

The weekend is like two treasure chests that are given to us every week. And in each of us there is a small inner pirate who decides whether to look for treasure or just take a nap on the beach. Imagine: Saturday morning, your plans – a whole list of adventures, from skydiving to an exhibition of modern art. But what does our inner idler do? He says, «Let’s just stay on the couch and watch all the seasons of that show that we’ve already seen twice.»

This inner lazy person is like a pet, only instead of purring and asking for food, he whispers: «Let’s save it for later.» Sometimes it feels like he’s wearing pajamas and slippers 24/7, doesn’t it?

But you know what? Laziness is not the enemy. It’s more like a lazy friend who sometimes gives you time to rest. The problem occurs when this friend starts monitoring your schedule. After all, if everyone listened to their inner laziness, we would never know what snowboarding is, or how wonderful a morning in the park really is.

So what to do with this lazy guy? Well, first of all, you need to recognize its presence. «Hi, Len, I know you’re here.» Second, don’t fight it directly. It’s like trying to catch smoke – the harder you squeeze, the sooner it escapes. Instead, offer laziness a compromise. For example, «Okay, we’ll watch one episode of the show and then go for a walk.» It’s like a trick-taking trick for a dog, only the treat is an activity.

And don’t forget, laziness is not a permanent condition. It’s more of a mood that comes and goes. Like that strange relative on family holidays: sometimes it’s nice to see him, but if he stays for a week, it’s already a problem.

So, the weekend is your chance. A chance to say to Leni, «You’re not in charge today.» A chance to open that adventure chest. And remember, even if you don’t become the hero of your own blockbuster movie, every little thing you do in spite of laziness is already a small victory. As my friend, who always confuses the left slipper with the right one, says: «The main thing is to move, even if you go the wrong way.»