Are you lazy? You are lazy? Well, we have good news for you: you are smart. Not just smart, but smarter than people who aren’t lazy!
In a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology researchers at Florida Gulf Coast University explained that «the relationship between cognition and physical activity is an important question for the human experience, and the interaction is likely to extend throughout life.»
The researchers built on previous work to explain that physical activity levels are associated with physical behavior.
For example, an earlier study found that those considered non-thinkers got bored much more easily and also experienced the negative effects that come with it.
Those with a high «need for cognition» seemed to avoid this behavior because they could provide their own mental stimulation.
«Therefore, people with high NFC seem to be more content with mentally ‘entertaining’, while people with low NFC quickly experience boredom and experience it more negatively.»the document reads.
The study
They divided the group into those who appreciated thinking and actively sought out thought-provoking situations and those who would rather do anything but think.
Then, they were given activity monitors. After a period of 7 days, the results were ready. The «thinkers» they were notably less active during the week than their less thoughtful compatriots.
The lazy are not always less intelligent but on the contrary
The researchers found that those who fill their day with physical activity are often «non-thinkers» and they do it to stimulate their minds in order to escape from their own thoughts.
Then, what do scientists think this means?
Smarter people are also lazier because they have longer attention spans.
They don’t need to be always on the go looking for their next form of stimulation. In other words, they can sit on their butts for hours on end reading, napping, and thinking, whereas less intelligent people tend to assume that effort and work overload somehow make up for a lack of creativity.
While this study is great for throwing your more active friends in the face when they try to shame you for the butt marks on your favorite couch, it’s true that being strictly sedentary is very bad for you.
Fortunately, awareness of their tendency to be lazy is supposedly all the encouragement smart people need to get up and move around a bit.
The researchers who conducted this study also found that on weekends, the activity rates for both the lazy and the smart were the same.
Since we don’t work on the weekends, the smart ones are probably going to move around a bit more, and since weekends are meant only for relaxing, the superactive ones are probably going to allow themselves to move around a bit less.
«It is reasonable to assume that this ‘weekend effect’ may change as people progress through different life stages, which is a question future researchers should consider.»
Research also indicates that those who are more intelligent and lazy can suffer from the negative side effects of their sedentary lifestyle.
«Ultimately, an important factor that can help more thoughtful people combat their lower average activity levels is conscientiousness»shares the British Psychological Society regarding the study.
«Awareness of their tendency to be less active, coupled with awareness of the cost associated with inactivity, more thoughtful people may choose to be more active throughout the day.»