Why Being Lazy is Natural, and Why That’s no Excuse

Every time we choose the couch over the gym, we are hit with a pang of guilt. The couch feels comfy. The gym seems hard. The bag of chips in our hand looks tasty.

Well, a new theory says that you shouldn’t feel bad about feeling lazy. But you also shouldn’t feel good about it either.

A Harvard biologist has been looking at the evolution of the human species and why we do what we do. And his research shows people don’t feel compelled to exercise because our bodies weren’t built for excess physical activity. In fact, our ancestors only exercised as much as they needed for survival. These ancestors spent much of their time resting, so they would not burn precious calories needed for hunting, gathering or running away from predators.

We don’t hunt and gather like we used to, and not many of us are a food source for wild animals. We have not yet evolved into beings that require exercise for fun, so in order to get off the couch – people need to fight the hard wired urges to chill before a big screen. So see, it’s not your fault. Blame it on evolution.

But, as we all know, while we may not be evolved to want to exercise, we still need it badly. You can feel vindicated that at least one theory out there knows you’re not being lazy because you’re a bad person. But until we get dropped back in the forest, it’s crucial for your health and well-being to figure out a way to get yourself moving that does not involve finding food or escaping from being a meal.

-Shane M.