Why Are Humans Lazy?
Here's a quick summary of what I learned from this Huberman Lab episode.
The Dopamine-Adrenaline Link
At the heart of laziness is dopamine, the brain’s "craving" chemical. It's what drives us to pursue goals or rewards. Without enough dopamine, you might enjoy something but won’t feel motivated to go after it. Dr. Huberman points out that in studies, rats depleted of dopamine won't even move a few inches for a treat.
But there's more: dopamine is chemically linked to adrenaline (aka epinephrine), the hormone responsible for fear and stress. This means motivation and fear are part of the same system—both push us into action.
Surprisingly, fear can be a powerful motivator. While most of us see fear as something to avoid, Huberman suggests using it to fuel action. If you're afraid of failure or health issues, for example, that fear can drive you to make positive changes, like exercising or tackling a project.
Laziness happens when this dopamine-adrenaline system isn't properly activated. Low dopamine leaves you unmotivated, and undirected fear makes you freeze rather than act.
