Productivity, self improvement, growth, are all buzzwords that have taken over the internet for the past several years. In order for one to run a successful business, pursue their goals, and build a life for themselves, one must first invest time in personal growth.
One of the cruxes of personal growth is maintaining productivity, motivation, and proactivity. This can severely be hindered by laziness and procrastination. We are all guilty of inaction to some degree, some more frequently than others.
The hot question being asked is whether laziness is a result of our genes. Do our genes cause some of us to be lazy?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is no.
Our genetic makeup definitely influences our innate nature and behaviors. It makes us more prone to certain behaviors, more susceptible to certain traits. However, our environment, our patterns of thinking, and our inner beliefs, are what actually manifest these traits into our everyday behavior.
For example, if your family and ancestors have a longstanding history of depression, anxiety, and trauma, there is a strong chance that genetically you will be susceptible as well. However, your environment and daily practices determine whether these traits will manifest.
A study conducted in Beijing, found that mice who exhibit “lazy” behaviors have a genetic mutation called SLC35D3 that interferes with the brain’s chemical Dopamine, the same chemical involved in motivation and action. These mice were sluggish and lazier than others. Some studies suggest that procrastination is an evolutionary response to help us avoid conflicts. This makes sense, because we often tend to avoid tough situations or starting difficult tasks.
What does this tell us?
Dopamine is a vital neurohormone needed to maintain motivation, ambition, and action. Even if you have lazy tendencies or struggle with procrastination, there are ways to “hack” your Dopamine system and make yourself more proactive.
Our genes are our foundational basis. They impact us, but our environment and our daily interactions hold greater influence on us.
What does this mean?
It means that we must structure our daily routines and lifestyle to encourage motivation and productivity. This way we can reach our goals. We need to take small actionable steps and make habitual changes that will help us conquer greater goals.
We are all genetically susceptible to something. For some people this is a proclivity for depression, procrastination, anxiety, self-sabotaging behaviors, and so forth. The first step is to identify your struggles and understand them. The second step is to formulate a plan to remediate these issues. The third step is to follow through with your steps for self-healing. You can seek professional intervention if the issues are dire and persist.
There are often factors in one's lifestyle that are hindering productivity and causing laziness. You can be under stress, overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. The tasks in your day may not be stimulating or you hold resentment towards your daily work. The tasks may be too draining and tiring. You may have way too much on your plate. Or you may be having a hard time simply initiating. These are all vicious cycles of behavior and that can be tough to break. However, they are not impossible to overcome.
In short, while your genes may increase the likelihood of a behavioral pattern, they are not solely responsible for the manifestation of that behavior. Reframe your mindset and take accountability for your shortcomings. Once you embrace your shortcomings, you can truly overcome them.
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