Our Brains are Lazy — We Would Rather Do Nothing than Work

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Abstract

s. I went on like that throughout that week — let’s just say I haven’t gone back to it since then.If there’s one thing our brain doesn’t like, it’s stress. That is why, when we try to do something different, like form a new habit that would cause your brain to readjust, we go back to our previous habits. Take the “New Year, New Me” talk, for example. We try to turn over a new leaf at the beginning of every year for some reason, but by March, we’re back to our old selves.Our brain would instead do the easy thing and just continue with the old ways it’s familiar with. It takes me back to studying for an exam in school. My usual schedule is to watch a movie, sleep, eat, play Xbox, go to class, then do the same thing the next day. I rarely read my school books, but I pass somehow. When exams get closer, I try to read, but 5–20 minutes into it, my brain starts to remind me of what it would rather be doing. I usually start thinking of food, and in no time, I start looking at what to eat.<figure id="3bfa"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*uHOCG1PaFNVZ6AIh"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@lenin33?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Lenin Estrada</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>Even when I try to write, I still get the feeling. I’d have a deadline I’m trying to meet. And about 30 minutes in, I’d start thinking about Youtube. I usually watch stand up comedy on Youtube when I’m trying to take a break, but sometimes, when I’m trying to complete a project, my mind starts to go there.The most common one of all is when I get paid. Probably I still have another project I’m working on, and I receive the payment for another job I comp

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leted earlier. My focus would move away from what I’m writing, and I start to think of what I would do with the money.I’d usually not have the vibe to continue working on the project because of the pay. I start getting thoughts like, “You deserve some time off — take out time to rest.”You must have experienced several of these things. It’s part of human nature. Our brain continually seeks pleasure over pain. We would rather take an elevator than use the staircase. Even people that choose the stairs over the elevator know of the pleasure they would get in the long-run from the exercise. They have seen that using the staircase would mean they won’t exercise, which can worsen their present condition.It’s the same reason why you work so hard at the beginning of your career then as you get more experienced, you start to hire more people so you can do less work and have more free time.In every situation, we try to pick the option that would give us pleasure. Some may not provide instant satisfaction but suffice in the long run.<h1 id="829d">How Do You Hardwire Your Brain to Build New Habits?</h1>Forming or breaking habits is never easy. It takes a lot of effort on your end.But see your brain like a dummy that absorbs everything and sticks to it is exposed to over and over. When you start showing a new habit that your brain is not familiar with, there would be kickbacks. And if you’re not strong enough, you would go back to your old habits.Your brain would come up with things that would make you come back to what it is used to. But you have to fight it and keep going because that’s the only way to form new habits and stick with it — Consistency and Focus.Thank you for reading</article></body>

How to train your brain to build new habits

It’s a constant battle between me and my brain when I have to work, or I try to do something uncomfortable. We’ve all had those instances when we try to follow through on something, and once we skip the first day, we never go back to it.

I remember one time in school when I planned I was going to be jogging three times a week by 6 am. I was pumped up at first. I did the mind trick of putting my shoes at my bedside so that I won’t forget. I set my alarm for 5:50 am, so I would have 10 minutes to brush my teeth and get ready. The first week, I did it, and although I couldn’t feel my legs, I was still pumped up to keep going. I did it the following week without any struggle.

Somehow I was proud of myself for such dedication. That pride annoyed my brain. It wanted to prove me wrong, and it did. It was a Monday, and my alarm went off, but I snoozed it. It went off again — the same thing. Then the last time, I switched off my phone because the sleep was extra appealing that day.

I think I had a class at 9 am that day. I woke up by about 8:30 and went for the class. I said it wasn’t going to happen again. I made it a necessity to go jogging the next morning. But the same thing happened — I didn’t wake up. I would give myself excuses about how it was too cold outside, or I had a morning class. I went on like that throughout that week — let’s just say I haven’t gone back to it since then.

If there’s one thing our brain doesn’t like, it’s stress. That is why, when we try to do something different, like form a new habit that would cause your brain to readjust, we go back to our previous habits. Take the “New Year, New Me” talk, for example. We try to turn over a new leaf at the beginning of every year for some reason, but by March, we’re back to our old selves.

Our brain would instead do the easy thing and just continue with the old ways it’s familiar with. It takes me back to studying for an exam in school. My usual schedule is to watch a movie, sleep, eat, play Xbox, go to class, then do the same thing the next day. I rarely read my school books, but I pass somehow. When exams get closer, I try to read, but 5–20 minutes into it, my brain starts to remind me of what it would rather be doing. I usually start thinking of food, and in no time, I start looking at what to eat.

Even when I try to write, I still get the feeling. I’d have a deadline I’m trying to meet. And about 30 minutes in, I’d start thinking about Youtube. I usually watch stand up comedy on Youtube when I’m trying to take a break, but sometimes, when I’m trying to complete a project, my mind starts to go there.

The most common one of all is when I get paid. Probably I still have another project I’m working on, and I receive the payment for another job I completed earlier. My focus would move away from what I’m writing, and I start to think of what I would do with the money.

I’d usually not have the vibe to continue working on the project because of the pay. I start getting thoughts like, “You deserve some time off — take out time to rest.”

You must have experienced several of these things. It’s part of human nature. Our brain continually seeks pleasure over pain. We would rather take an elevator than use the staircase. Even people that choose the stairs over the elevator know of the pleasure they would get in the long-run from the exercise. They have seen that using the staircase would mean they won’t exercise, which can worsen their present condition.

It’s the same reason why you work so hard at the beginning of your career then as you get more experienced, you start to hire more people so you can do less work and have more free time.

In every situation, we try to pick the option that would give us pleasure. Some may not provide instant satisfaction but suffice in the long run.

How Do You Hardwire Your Brain to Build New Habits?

Forming or breaking habits is never easy. It takes a lot of effort on your end.

But see your brain like a dummy that absorbs everything and sticks to it is exposed to over and over. When you start showing a new habit that your brain is not familiar with, there would be kickbacks. And if you’re not strong enough, you would go back to your old habits.

Your brain would come up with things that would make you come back to what it is used to. But you have to fight it and keep going because that’s the only way to form new habits and stick with it — Consistency and Focus.

Thank you for reading