Lazy labels sometimes not accurate

Posted April 2021

By Jennifer Dinh

Staff Editor

Labeling an individual as lazy is often inaccurate, and fails to truly capture the root causes as to why someone is unwilling to work or utilize their energy.

For instance, one reason why an individual won’t do much might be because she is dealing with mental health issues. Those with depression deal with numerous symptoms, with a common symptom being tiredness and lack of energy. Being depressed is not the same as being lazy because it is never a choice.

Furthermore, some individuals might choose to not work because they are afraid of failure. By not trying at all, they are able to escape the process of working towards a goal and potentially failing in the end. Some do not work for the opposite reason as well. They may not use their full potential due to the fear of succeeding since it would put too much pressure on them to succeed every single time.

On top of that, an individual could be dealing with the loss of a loved one, feeling overwhelmed, or suffering from a physical health condition.

Subsequently, describing someone as lazy disregards the real reasons why she is not using her energy, and it is unfair because you can never know for sure what battles a person is facing.