Picture this: It’s another Friday night and you don’t feel like working since you’re probably thinking “Oh I have the entire weekend to finish all the work, why start now when I can relax today and start tomorrow?”

So what do you finally decide to do?

Simple. You don’t do anything at all. Again.

While you’re probably doing whatever you can to get your mind off of pending work, you might wonder, “Why can’t I do anything today?” or “Why do I seem to lack the motivation to complete my daily tasks when I actually have the time to do them?” So then, who are you to blame? Of course, you tend to blame yourself for your indolence. However, one of the few things humans can’t control about themselves is seeking satisfaction through avid participation in the “practice” of laziness. So you can’t really blame yourself for being lazy on a Friday evening.

Although lethargy itself is natural, usually it can be controlled by most through an established work ethic and a balanced schedule. However, the odds are against some because a mutation in one’s DNA itself may play a role in those with continuous lethargic behaviors or “couch potatoes”.

In a study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) in Beijing and the University of Aberdeen, being a couch potato could in fact be genetic. In the mutation of the “couch potato gene”, or gene SLC35D3, chemical signaling of dopamine, the body’s natural “pleasure” center, to neurons in the brain is disabled. What this disablement does is prevent dopamine from being sent to the brain when completing rewarding activities, thus creating a lack of desire to work in the form of making one increasingly reluctant to be productive. Not receiving the usual “reward” from your brain when working through daily tasks eventually constitutes to this laziness.

This is the exact kind of lethargy that motivates some to stay inside and do nothing but watch TV, while others feel more satisfaction with going outside to play; overall being able to stay active due to what their brains perceive as “rewarding” pursuits. And these pursuits do end up as rewarding in the long run, as more productiveness leads to more achievements in daily activities, and eventually may mold a person to be more successful overall in future career paths and be more content with themselves as a whole as a result.

However, through all of the seemingly exciting endeavors one may fail to experience by being a couch potato, it does have its occasional benefits. Although, in order for these benefits to be obtained to their maximum potential, one must be temporarily, rather than indelibly, lethargic. Although it is important to understand that one should maintain a balance between work and relaxation, sometimes temporary indolence can be a beneficial reward at the end of a long day’s hard work. Taking a modest part of the day to relax and unwind can be effective in making us more productive during the following day, or any time we continue work after recreational periods. This way, the mind can view our pursuits of laziness to be justified, and it becomes easier to light up that “reward” center of the brain for the unfortunate with the “couch potato gene” mutation without having to feel guilty about it.

Essentially we can feel good about indolence. We just have to limit this laziness, or postpone the maddening urge to watch the all new season of Game of Thrones on HBO.

So the next time someone calls you a couch potato when you’re sitting around and enjoying your free time, you may be partially correct if you answer back, “I can’t control it, it’s in my genes”.

Sources

The Science of Laziness

This is why you are a couch potato: Laziness explained by science

Being a couch potato could be genetic-BBC News