I bet, like me, you’ve been enamored too by the age-old advice, “Work harder and you’ll succeed.” But a closer look at this success mantra sent me queasily pondering and realizing that “working harder isn’t actually the be-all and end-all of success”. Rather, the more holistic approach to success is “working smarter”, not harder.
Lachian Brown, founder and editor of hackspirit.com, in his article “Everyone said, ‘Work harder and you’ll succeed.’ They werewrong”, provides us the rationale and dynamics of working smarter, not harder, towards success – first, by “stepping off the hamster wheel”.
“It struck me one day, in the midst of a 14-hour work marathon, that I was on a fast track to burnout. Feeling exhausted yet unfulfilled, I began to question the mantra that had driven me for years: Work harder and you’ll succeed. I decided to take a step back and reassess my approach. I realized that it wasn’t about working harder but working smarter. I need to shift my focus from quantity to quality. It was time for a change. Here’s what I did: Firstly, I stopped glorifying busyness. Instead of powering through endless tasks, I prioritized what truly mattered and let go of the rest. Next, I focused on my well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep became non-negotiables in my daily routine. Lastly, I embraced mindfulness. I started meditating regularly and made an effort to be present in every moment, instead of always thinking about the next thing on my to-do list. I found that by making these changes, not only was I less stressed, but I also became more productive and content,” Brown wrote.
What were the results of his working smarter, not harder?
“After implementing these changes, I quickly noticed a profound shift. I was no longer feeling constantly exhausted or overwhelmed. Instead, I was more relaxed, focused, and surprisingly, more productive than ever before. My work didn’t suffer; rather, it flourished. I was able to produce high-quality work because I was giving my brain the rest it needed to be creative and efficient. I was finishing tasks quicker and with more precision because I was present and fully engaged in what I was doing. My personal life improved as well. I was happier, healthier, and had more time to spend with loved ones and on activities that genuinely brought me joy. The most expected result? Success followed naturally. And it wasn’t the ruthless, hard-fought variety. It was a fulfilled, balanced kind of success that was sustainable and truly rewarding,” Brown added.
On a similar vein, science (or research) affirms that “scheduling a downtime”, among others, can boost authentic happiness.
Marcel Schwantes, motivational speaker and executive coach, offers the following three proven strategies, backed by science, that boost happiness:
1. Schedule downtime
Technology has brought about immense convenience and made our lives easier. Still, it has also presented new challenges that we have yet to overcome. Studies have shown that our constant need to remain connected and productive, even at odd hours, harms our brain. In fact, our brains are being overstimulated due to this addiction, which is making us lose focus and mental clarity.
We must understand the importance of rest and renewal for our brain to stay sharp, focused, and productive during the day. Just like our sleeping brains have 90-minute cycles, research has found that the same cycle also repeats itself during our waking hours. It has been suggested that we should take a 10-minute break after every 80 to 120 minutes to calm our brain activity.
Consider leaving gaps or “buffers” in your daily calendar to stop being busy and just take time to think (or meditate), take a nature walk, or have a casual conversation over coffee without discussing work.
2. Reward yourself by giving
According to research published in the International Journal of Happiness and Development (IJHD), the emotional rewards of giving are more significant when giving is connected to others. The findings suggest that “social giving” makes people happier. The social connection tied to the giving, whether to a person in need in your community or a grassroots charity close to your heart, gives the giver the greatest psychological benefit and boost of happiness.
3. Shift your mind toward optimism
Why is change so hard? Because change can be scary. We fear the unknown. If you know something has to change, your first priority is to embrace it with a positive attitude and see it as an opportunity to experience a like you’ve always imagined – one filled with more joy, excitement, and possibilities. That’s optimism.
Optimistic people infuse hope into their work efforts while remaining realistic. Undoubtedly, we live in stressful times; we’re not all going to get along. But those who pursue work with optimism avoid the drama, focus on the future, set ambitious goals, acknowledge obstacles, and rejoice with outstretched arms when they reach the top of the mountain.
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