Smart work and hard work are equitable to the two sides of a coin. Both must be balanced. These two are very important to be successful.
In this present day, the success formula is = Hard work + Smart Work
But how much do you need to work hard work and smart work? First, work smart as much as possible. This focus on quality. Then work hard which is aimed to do for quantity. Hard work gives you experience and this experience helps you to do smart work. Smart work is a short trick. But without hard work, life is meaningless.
What is smart work?
Smart work is like working in a short way to success. Smart work comes with experience. No beginners can do smart work to do their task where an expert does it easily.
What is hard work?
Hard work is working with full effort but may not have a good result in the end. But it gives you experience that no one can teach you.
What does “work smarter not harder” mean?
Working smarter not harder is indirectly saying being more productive in the task. One will be more productive if he can produce high-quality work in less time without wasting it on unproductive and unnecessary things.
Here is the table to distinguish between smart work and hard work.
Difference between Hard work and Smart Work:
You need to understand what is the difference between hard work and smart work.
Hard Work | Smart Work |
Think and plan after doing the job | Thinking and planning ahead of the job |
Hard work may generate a high cost for a work | Smart work is doing the task at a minimum cost |
Hard work focus on quantity | Smart work focuses on quality results |
Make it a habit | Thinking about the thing which is out of the box |
The key thing must remember is, “Practice, practice, practice” | Experiment the new ideas |
Hard work is time-consuming |
By doing smart work you can save time and perform in an efficient manner. |
More input; less output | Less input; more output |
But how do you work smarter not harder?
Any idea?
Well just check the below-mentioned tips. Try as much as possible.
Tips to “Work Smart not Hard”
There are 5 top tips by which you can work smart not hard. It will help you to get a better version of yourself.
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Forget what is “Multitasking”:
Focus on high-impact tasks from your pending works.
“Multitasking” is a myth. It is simply impossible for a person to focus on a particular task and it affects mental health. Even if having a lot going on might give the impression that you’re getting a lot done, it also spreads you too thin. Your cerebral cortex can only concentrate on a single thing at once. As your brain tries to focus your energy and concentration on too many distinct tasks, multitasking puts a strain on it.
Abruptly shift your focus from the level of your work to another activity since you are too busy changing to pay attention to it. If you can’t give each activity adequate attention and effort, you won’t be as productive.
Try slowing down with some deep breathing if you notice that you are flitting from one task to another. You can concentrate on one work and resist the impulse to switch to another mid-stream if you make deliberate decisions. You need to practise this. Recognize that, despite how it may seem, concentrating on one activity at a time will allow you to work more effectively.
Although switching between many jobs makes it more difficult to finish things completely, it may seem like you are managing all of these working components well. Stop allowing your work to suffer and single-task your way through the day instead.
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Put the “Full stop” after some works:
By working in 25-minute blocks followed by a 5-minute break.
It’s crucial to take pauses even if your to-do list is making you feel too stressed. Make sure to arrange leisure in your workday because your attention span wanes after concentrating for an extended period of time. Be sure to stand up throughout your breaks so you may stretch, hydrate, and eat something.
Additionally, this kind of scheduling calls for strong time management abilities. Although scheduling breaks and putting time limitations on how long you’ll spend working on a certain assignment might feel uncomfortable, these restrictions will increase your productivity.
Trying out several breaks until you find one that suits you, such as the Pomodoro technique, which involves 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute pause. No matter how long you pause, you will benefit both your performance and well-being. You’ll be able to concentrate longer, avoid distractions, and maintain higher energy levels.
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Check out “The time” and watch your “Productivity”:
Always track your utilised time and the outcome after working. Observe the productivity and creativity of the work.
Try keeping track of everything you do for a few days if you’re unsure of how and where you’re squandering time. This may be as easy as maintaining a running record of your daily activities and how long they take on paper. I’ve utilised the Reporter iPhone app, which conducts ad hoc queries on your activities throughout the day. I quickly saw patterns in the things I was doing more frequently than I’d liked to.
Time-tracking software can handle the grunt work for you, and you can even automate it so that you may start and stop time-tracking whenever events occur in the other applications you use the most frequently. There is another Mac AI app called Elephas, known to increase productivity.
Look out how Erin Greenawald time-tracked her life for 30 days for some genuine inspiration.
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What to do add to your “To-do List”:
Begin with your most important tasks (MITs) and limit the list to three to five items.
Make a manageable “to-do list” which suit you to perform all the task.
When you add an excessive number of daily chores to your to-do list, you could be disappointed when they go unfulfilled. Your list will be easier to manage and more useful if it isn’t too long.
No more than five of the things you have to do should be prioritised. Anything further is an added bonus. You’ll feel accomplished at the end of the day knowing that you completed all your major duties in this manner. Making your to-do list more manageable also enables you to work more deliberately and slowly. You won’t have to work quickly or cut things short to cross everything off a list.
Planning your task many days in advance is also beneficial. Look at the upcoming events and create a plan at the beginning of each week. Choose the times of day when you are most productive to do jobs that take more thought and effort. Save the day’s remaining regular duties until when they will be less taxing. Your best effort will go toward your top priorities.
Additionally, if there is software or automation that can perform those busy, repetitive jobs, they could be candidates for deletion. Think about devoting some effort to enhancing such procedures.
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“Keep” Feet on the Ground and “Look” at the Blue Sky:
Go outside and touch the greens. Inhale the fresh air and look at the beautiful blue sky for refreshment.
Changing your environment might be useful when your work is at a standstill. If you feel confined within, you can’t do your most vital tasks. Exercising outside reduces tension, calms you down, and sharpens your attention. Try taking a walk to the closest park during your lunch hour to get some fresh air. Your psychological state will enjoy it.
A simple, cost-free technique to increase attention and reduce stress is to spend time outside. Spending time in a green environment, such as a park or forest, has been shown in studies to lower stress and blood pressure while simultaneously enhancing attention span.
It has been demonstrated that simply looking at photographs of natural settings may boost good feelings and enhance response speeds and accuracy in cognitively demanding activities.
When you need a break from work, try to find a park or some other serene, natural setting. Even if a stroll around a metropolis will benefit you, nothing compares to being surrounded by vegetation.
Now the question is why do you need to work smart?
Why is there a necessity to ditch the hard work and go for smart work?
Let’s discuss the benefits to work smart not hard.
What are the benefits of working smarter not harder?
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It allows extra time for relaxation:
You may include to work smart stuffing and relaxing. You have more time to participate in various forms of relaxation. That might include napping, mindfulness exercises, or even meditation. It has been shown that taking quick naps helps your memory, mood, and creativity.
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Helps to reduce or recover from burnout:
Your energy levels will be drained, and your mental health will suffer. However, working more efficiently helps you to be aware of your energy in order to recover or minimize burnout. Working smarter teaches you how to relate to your values, your meaningful pursuits, and your ambitions.
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Balancing the work life and personal life:
Working smarter permits, you to carve out time for your personal life rather than working more hours and becoming completely consumed by your business. Working more efficiently can help you manage your time well, achieve deadlines on time, and maintain a greater balance in your life.
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Motivation Booster:
It will be difficult to overlook the difference after a few days of diligent labour. Because you’ll be more productive and feel good about your work, your motivation will rise. You’ll discover how this new approach improves you and encourages you to keep expanding by setting new goals.
It’s time to discuss some smart goal examples for work for better understanding.
Scenario 1:
Hard work: If I want to find out the length of the string, I’ll use the logic of the program.
Smart Work: I’ll use string functions to find out the string.
Scenario 2:
Hard Work: One can make a paper map which needs a lot of hard work for drawing it properly.
Smart Work: One can use google Maps just by operating an electronic device like a phone or computer.
Hope, you can understand why you don’t work hard; work smart. Try different hobbies and spend some time in nature in between and after completing your task on the to-do list. Definitely, these will help you to grow more and maintain your mental health.
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