Confused Between Smart Work and Hard Work? Read Here

Students often get confused between hard work vs smart work, but it is no wonder that they go hand in hand. We cannot deny that for creating a foundation for great achievements people need to work hard. Eventually, if students work smart the same amount of work can be done more efficiently and in less time. The teachers should understand the difference between making students work relentlessly hard and making them learn smart work.

Students believe that to succeed they must put in more efforts and work hard, some also believe that giving up everything else and focusing their energies in one direction can help them to reach their final goal. It is somewhat true also, but if working smartly all this can be done in a shorter time. 

Practicing Hard Work and Smart Work Together

For the success of any student, teachers should make students practice both hard work and smart work simultaneously. Firstly, it is essential for students to work hard because only then they will be able to understand the depth of their task and can chalk out a smarter plan accordingly. But unfortunately in this fast paced world, the truth is that people want to switch to smart work but do not want to put any efforts, this can be a downfall to them. For instance, people preparing for competitive examinations like CAT, GMAT, UPSC, etc. they give less time for clearing their concepts first and jump to solve the problem. In fact, they should focus more on the concepts that can be hard work in the beginning but will eventually make the whole process a lot simpler and easier.

The project should be understood thoroughly by students to plan and build a process around it. By doing this, they frame all the possibilities and can undertake an easier way of completing the task. Working smart would not be of an issue if teachers provide their input, on how students can work efficiently using fewer resources and less time. Just you have to combine hard work and smart work to get the trick right.

Example: For every talented artist he/she gets mentoring to perfect their skills, they invest years in practicing without any breaks or any shortcuts for making themselves the best. Once they are at the peak of success, they become precise and make fewer errors and are more experienced this result in better time management and less use of effort and energy. They become smart, but it should not be left behind that they started by working hard. And this rule is applicable to every sphere of life.

Difference between Hard Work and Smart Work 

Let us now take a look at some of the differences between hard work vs smart work.

Definition: Hard work means putting in a lot of time and effort in doing a certain amount of work. Smart work means performing the same amount of work by spending less amount of time.

Aim: The aim of hard work is the quantity and it might become monotonous and mundane after a certain period of time. Smart work aims to achieve goals with quality.

Working Process: A lot of tedious work that is carried out traditionally is involved in working hard. But, if students work smartly then eventually they can achieve more output by learning in an unconventional and modern way that can include attending webinars, classes, and coaching.

Conceptualization: In hard working traditional form of working is utilized and there are not many changes involved. But smart work involves using old ideas and transforms them to yield better results.

Goals: Working hard cannot always let you achieve your set goals. On the other hand, smart workers attain their goals faster through proper time management. 

For turning your hard work into smart work one should understand the consequences of the process. If students are continuously working without any reliable results, then they should consider working smart. Rather than focusing the attention on just work, they should think about all the alternatives that can also be undertaken to do the same amount of work in less time. Setting deadlines and goals that they should achieve in a set timeframe and prioritizing the important tasks can help to work smart. This way they will not waste time on unimportant things. 

Many people believe that there is no replacement for hard work and working smart is a shortcut that will not work at all stages of life. Smart work has no doubt worked for many and if one can achieve the same quantity of work at less time, it should not be called a shortcut; but a better alternative.

From Hard Work to Creative Work

We are living in a post-information age, where the future belongs to the creative class, people who follow environmental values of rapid technological development, higher education, tolerance, transparency and meaningful work. In a creative society, brains are respected and physical work has low value.

If you want to work smart then you should be smart. And if you want to create value in the creative society, your brain muscle must be as strong. People should constantly train their brain muscle and challenge it to new levels; both the analytical and the creative part of the brain are very important.

Smart working people take really good care of their competences. They read, develop smart ideas and make sure they become extremely resourceful. They also invest massively in developing useful and practical knowledge and abilities.

Conclusion

For hard workers, hard work is the only escape from reality, bringing a sense of security and stability in their life. But in reality, only hard work cannot lead you to the greatest progress possible in life. You cannot only work hard, but you should also have to think and work smart. You cannot only be a warrior in life, but you also have to grow up into a general. Do not only be a hard worker, be both a hard and smart worker. 

So, if you can incorporate working hard and smart together, you can achieve greater heights and lead yourself to a better life. One who works hard and smart will obviously in due course of time procure all the benefits and scrape in the golden opportunity.

By: Aishwarya Sharma