Ego is driven by fear of its own non-existence. So it needs to constantly prop up its own existence, otherwise it cannot maintain the illusion for very long. That’s why the need to do something, achieve something, engage in relationships, make plans for the future, think about oneself etc. Without this constant engagement ego starts to feel very uncomfortable. Which is why just doing nothing can be the hardest thing in the world, and meditation, as a simple act of doing nothing, is uncomfortable for most people. All that’s needed is to stop peddling the bicycle, but most people aren’t willing to accept the discomfort that will come, so they keep postponing it again and again, thus being constantly enslaved by the ego. The only way out is through discomfort. There’s no other way.