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CrowdScience

Why am I so lazy?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science, Technology

4.8985 Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2023

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Lazy. Unmotivated. Procrastinating. If those are words you’re used to hearing from your inner critic, you are not alone. Take CrowdScience listener Laurie. On her days off she loves to relax on the sofa, watch TV, put off chores and generally do as little as possible. Meanwhile she sees other family members and colleagues apparently buzzing with energy: going the extra mile at work, taking up hobbies, going to the gym. Why, she asks, is she so lazy?

CrowdScience turns to experts to find out whether or not so-called ‘laziness’ is a fundamental part of biology or psychology; why some people have more energy than others; and we offer a few tips for boosting energy and motivation. Or maybe Laurie is just being a bit too hard on herself?

With psychologists Professor Fuschia Sirois and Dr Devon Price, anthropologist Professor Herman Pontzer and start-up entrepreneur Akhil Aryan.

Presented by Dr Alex Lathbridge Produced by Cathy Edwards for the BBC World Service Editor: Richard Collings Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum

Image: Asleep under a book (Credit: RichVintage via Getty Images)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

0:07.0

Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.4

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:30.3

BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.

0:37.0

15 years ago, 23-year-old Norwegian student Martina Vic Magnison was killed in an apartment near Mayfair.

0:45.0

23 year old Martin Vic Magnison was found partially buried in the basement.

0:50.0

Before being questioned, the only suspect in the case had fled the UK to Yemen.

0:54.8

I made a promise to Martina's family to find out what happened.

0:58.6

Murder in Mayfair, part of the documentary,

1:01.4

find it wherever you get your BBC podcast.

1:08.0

My name is Lori Douglas and calling from our maybe the Lake Hospital.

1:12.0

I just want to let you know, she said a bit of a neural change.

1:16.0

This is crowd science from the BBC World Service.

1:19.0

I'm Alex Lathbridge and this is Lori, an intensive care nurse living in Baton Rouge in the USA.

1:26.6

She works long hours doing an incredibly physically and emotionally demanding job.

1:33.0

So her question for this episode might surprise you.

1:37.0

I noticed that some people in my family are really energetic

1:42.0

like all the time and others are the exact opposite of that.

...

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