I was at the dentist the other day, and he asked me the bi-annual question about flossing. Do you floss each day? “Of course”…the words started forming in my un-flossed mouth…and then, “well, actually not as often as I should…like twice a week if I’m honest” came out.

This set me on a train of thinking about why us humans avoid doing the things we know we should be doing to help ourselves. They’re not even hard things. And sometimes, they’re things that could add years to our life, or even save it. Are we self-destructive? Too busy? Forgetful? Do we not believe the professional opinions of the professionals? Or are we just plain lazy. I was on a mission to find out.

I started with some extensive first hand research at a kid’s birthday party where I met a woman who helps rehabilitate people following work-related accidents. Apart from being horrified by the number of people with suspicious compo claims, I was intrigued by her answer to my question about why people don’t do the exercises you’re meant to do after visiting the physio. Sound familiar?

She went with a variation on the lazy theme. “People think that we’ll do all the work to fix them,” she said. “When really 99% of the work needs to be done outside the physio’s office and that’s where all the progress is made.

It’s funny how themes emerge when you get to thinking about something. In a work meeting last week, a colleague recounted his wife’s frustration at being a child speech pathologist. This wonderful woman, superb at her job, was looking to get out of her profession due to her exasperation over parents who invariably lied about doing the required practice at home with their kids. We’ll even choose not to do what ought to be done for our children!

My extensive research points to the conclusion that I’m not alone in…not drinking enough water, stretching properly after a workout, sitting up straight or leaving the skin check or breast exam too long.

What strange creatures we are. And with that, I’m off to have a glass of water and floss my teeth, whilst pondering if it’s not too late to start on those calf exercises prescribed back in 2005.