Hard Work is Overrated

Here’s what happens when you work hard, vs. having more fun.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that hard work is the key to success.

So when work feels easy, even fun, we tend to think we should be doing something else. If it’s too easy, we must be slacking. Or something we’re doing is wrong. We feel guilty if making money feels effortless.

It’s time to stop feeling this way.

We’re burning ourselves out because we believe we have to work hard.

Things really don’t have to be this way.

What Happens When You Work Hard?

You become exhausted. Taken for granted. The person working their ass off behind the scenes at your company just gets more work piled on, and passed over for raises.

This happens all the time.

There are millions of people around the world who are working themselves to the bone. Are they rich? Nope.

What about rich people? Do they work hard?

Not really.

“If you’re working for a fixed salary or hourly wage the way most people are, you won’t see economic benefits from pouring your energy into your job. Your boss may be grateful to you for all your extra effort, but he or she is not going to give you a pay raise every month just because you’re putting in extra hours.” (Source: Forbes)

Your boss only has so much control over salary increases. Especially if you’re at a large organization. Working harder in the hope that your company will notice and pay you accordingly is delusional.

The best way to increase your income is to change jobs. Some people are reluctant to do that because their boss is “so nice” and “really appreciates my efforts.”

You do you, I guess. But your hard work is only benefitting your company.

Your life is going down the corporate drain.

Working harder isn’t going to change that.

Your Mind is Highly Active When You’re Daydreaming

Staring off into space gets a bad rap, but your brain is actually doing a lot of work when you’re not engaged in keeping yourself busy with whatever tasks make you feel and look productive.

When your mind wanders, it’s not empty. According to Kalina Christoff, cognitive neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, “mind wandering is a much more active state than we ever imagined, much more active than during reasoning with a complex problem.”

Researchers used to believe that the parts of our brain associated with complex problem solving were dormant during daydreams. Turns out that’s not the case.

“Left to its own devices, our brain activates several areas associated with complex problem solving … Moreover, it appears to be the only time these areas work in unison.”

To achieve those blinding flashes of insight — an aha! moment or minor epiphany — you have to step back from what you’re working on and let your mind wander.

That’s what happens in the shower. Or when you’re driving. Taking a walk. Basically when you’re doing anything other than “working hard,” and give your mind the freedom to wander.

Playtime is more effective than spending more hours at your desk if you’re trying to solve a problem.

Hard work is counterproductive for creative insights.

You Do Your Best Work in a Flow State — Which Feels Effortless

You know that feeling of being in the zone?

When you’re fully engaged with whatever you’re working on. Time slows down. You are impervious to distractions. “You are at one with the task at hand, as action and awareness sync to create an effortless momentum.”

That’s when you do your best work. When things feel effortless.

It can take a lot of effort and the right conditions to enter a flow state. Usually working a hard as you can isn’t going to get you there.

“Far from being a virtue, in many cases hard effort is a consequence of a flawed approach — and furthermore can be extremely damaging and corrosive to you and the world around you if persisted with.

The truth is that lots successes, in every walk of life, actually emerge quite effortlessly. Yes, they might take time and energy, but that time and energy will not be interpreted as a struggle, or as anything like hard work. It will instead feel like a seemingly effortless flow, where everything clicks together just right, and the outcome emerges almost of its own accord; like it was meant to be.”

So why not spend more time doing things that feel effortless?

Take more time letting your mind wander.

Find the things that energize you, and work will be engaging. Even fun.

You’ll do more in less time, and chances are the work you do will be higher-quality. Hard work in itself is not a virtue.

Working hard is counterproductive.

Seek joy. Have more fun.