A general “law of least effort” applies to cognitive as well as physical exertion. The law asserts that if there are several ways of achieving the same goal, people will eventually gravitate to the least demanding course of action.
– Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow.
That's right, friend, you're not lazy, it's literally a law.
I recently revisited Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow, reflecting on his point that “in the economy of action, effort is a cost”. In other words, effort — either cognitive or physical — is the expenditure for getting what we want.
Effort, like any cost, can feel like a burden if the demand is high, leading to feeling overloaded and weighted down. On the flipside nothing good comes without a cost, so where does that leave us?
Speaking as someone who has to turn down the radio when I pull into a parking garage, I understand the need to limit resources in one area of life in order to focus on another.
What I would like to know is, when it comes to personal capital like time and energy, where are you spending the bulk of yours, and is it paying off? Are you in control of how that time and energy is spent, or are you responding to what's happening around you? Who's in control?
As your coach, it's my job to help you help you manage your performance across those important areas of everyday life. This includes career, family, personal interests, and even hobbies. All require effort, would you agree? This means all come at a cost, so let me help you decide what that cost is for you, and how want to allocate those funds.
Ready to get started? Please excuse me for just a second, I need to turn down the radio.