The event was first organized in 2001 in Brezna with a very specific purpose: to mock and ridicule the prevalent Balkan stereotype that Montenegrins are lazy. Given the international attention it has received, it seems the organizers may be achieving their goal.

The label of "laziness" has been a derogatory insult since the dawn of civilization, and slothfulness is one of the seven deadly sins. Cultures generally scorn those who shun hard, diligent work in favor of idle loafing. The famous fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper" by La Fontaine illustrates this, where the constantly merry-humming grasshopper fares poorly in contrast to the industrious ant. However, this lounging competition turns this unquestioned principle on its head, putting the term "lazy Montenegrin" in quotes.

However, the phenomenon of laziness is, to say the least, difficult to interpret. Does this mean that someone who doesn't engage in physical labor or doesn't bustle about vigorously is lazy?

THE LAZY GENE LURKS IN ALL OF US

A few years ago, through mouse experiments, researchers identified the "laziness gene," or rather, they discovered that a mutation of the gene coded SLC35D3, which is partly responsible for physical activity and its associated motivating dopamine reward mechanism, can lead to physical inactivity. Those with this altered "couch potato" gene feel less of the rewarding dopamine surge during physical exertion, making them less inclined to be active and more likely to prefer relaxing.

Moreover, this laziness-inducing mutant gene is also hereditary at least in mice.

It's a baffling result. Do we have to accept that some of us are unwittingly equipped with laziness? And the question arises: how can laziness even exist when evolution would have swiftly eliminated sluggish ancestors?

IF THEY COULD, THEY LOUNGED

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors' lives were fully occupied with procuring food, and they expended all their energy in searching when supplies ran low. Their motivation was instinctive, driven by a cocktail of hormones that surged through their bloodstream. But once they had amassed enough sustenance, they saw no need to waste precious energy. They would sit around their camp, idle, basking in the sun. They weren't inspired to run a half marathon or take a scenic run purely for enjoyment.

Today, we know that recreational running and other leisure sports induce euphoria through a rush of dopamine and endorphins.

Ideally, our ancestors were pleased when they could refrain from the chase since they had sufficient provisions. Calling our forebears lazy for choosing relaxation whenever possible doesn't quite fit with the concept of a laziness gene.

LAZINESS IS RELATIVE...

It's easy to label individuals, communities, or nations as lazy, but this concept is so malleable that it lacks a precise definition, despite its extensive scientific literature. Research on "laziness" largely focuses on the psychology of procrastination.

Though related, procrastination and laziness are not exactly the same, and researchers are aware of this distinction. Procrastinators intend to act but delay for various reasons. Those labeled as "lazy" often have valid reasons for inaction, such as a lack of interest. Our ancestors, for example, had little motivation to exhaust themselves unnecessarily.

In our performance-driven society burdened with heightened expectations, anyone who fails to strive tirelessly from dawn to dusk is readily branded as lazy or, at the least, unproductive. However, according to some scholars, "laziness" is not only a layman’s and vague term but also a relative one, whose classification depends on the eras, cultures, worldviews, and individuals.

AND IT DOESN'T EXIST

Other experts, such as social psychologist Devon Price in his successful book "Laziness Does Not Exist," argue that there is no such thing as laziness, only a society that irrationally encourages us to overperform. The whole concept is a misconception used unquestioningly and without understanding. When people appear to have no motivation, it might be due to exhaustion, trauma, needing support, or simply not seeing the value in a task.

Or perhaps they are simply deep in thought. While teenagers lounging around might seem idle, they are not frivolously passing the time; instead, they are caught in a whirl of thoughts, inner images, and emotions. They are dreaming, introspecting, living their desires, and importantly processing emotions and mental tension. Adolescents have plenty of those, so it's quite a task. It's no wonder they might come across as insolent.

From these perspectives, it's clear that laziness is not just hard to define, but also might not even exist as we typically understand it.