Sitzfleisch
Etymology
German, literally "sit-flesh," from "Sitz" (seat) and "Fleisch" (flesh). It praises the endurance to remain seated through long, boring, or difficult work, and by extension the patience to see things through.
noun · /ZITS-flysh/
The ability to sit still and doggedly endure a tedious task until it is finished; sheer stick-with-it stamina.
What it names
Perseverance located in the body — the unglamorous capacity to stay in the chair — as a genuine skill and even a virtue.
Example
Writing a dissertation is less about brilliance than sitzfleisch — the willingness to keep the seat warm for years.
Related idea
It is the temperamental engine behind deep work: deep work names the focused state, while sitzfleisch names the plain bodily doggedness that keeps you there.
See also