Contrary to popular belief, I no longer subscribe to the idea of hard work.
Before you label me as twisted, hear me out. I’m not trying to argue whether hard work guarantees success or laziness leads to failure. This isn’t about debating philosophies; it’s about reflecting on a habit - or perhaps a belief system - that many of us have unconsciously adopted.
For years, I was a proud member of the hustle culture. I took pride in saying, “I’m busy, I have no time, my schedule is packed, I’m so stressed, and I need to work harder.” These words felt validating as if they were proof of my ambition and worth.
But looking back, I see how toxic that mindset was—how much it weighed me down.
So, what changed? What made me question the glorification of hustle, stress and busyness?
The epiphany came unexpectedly while watching interviews of Jung YongHwa, a Korean singer I’ve admired since I was 17. During one of his interviews, he said something that hit me hard: among all the excuses in the world, the worst is, “I have no time.”
When I heard that line, I immediately thought "that's why I still love this guy so much after all these years".
Yes, his talent is undeniable. But it’s way more than that! He’s always bubbly, energetic, charismatic and optimistic. He just emits an aura and shines from the inside out! As the leader of CNBlue, a solo artist, a songwriter, a composer, and a multi-instrumentalist, he also finds time to pursue hobbies like golf, surfing, and boxing, all while hitting the gym nearly daily.
When asked how he manages to do it all, his response was disarmingly simple: “I rest when I want to rest, but when I have things to do, I get them done.”
I realised the negative labels I wore as badges of honour (my self-proclaimed stress, exhaustion, and busyness) were actually holding me back. My Apple calendar felt overwhelming before the week even began. My to-do lists looked like mountains I dreaded climbing.
People often talk about the “flow state,” but you don’t need a full moon, lavender incense, or 1,000 affirmations to find it. You just need to show up, focus on one thing at a time, and get it done.
Here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need to label yourself or your tasks with unnecessary weight. Stop equating stress with success or busyness with worth. Most of the time, when you start, you’ll realize the task isn’t as intimidating as you thought. (Link to my tip on controlling oneself)
So who was I trying to impress by claiming, “I work 15 hours a day” or, “I’m a hustler”? No one but my own ego which constantly craved validation and attention.
Then again, if I am constantly feeling burnt out, I think the bigger, golden question is, “Is my system working?” Be it a work system, life system, or belief system, what could I do to improve its efficiency and effectiveness? That, I believe, is the right direction for the so-called “hard work” to go.
Another important thought to consider: If you keep focusing on hard work and identifying yourself as someone who is always stressed, busy, and tired, wouldn’t you end up manifesting more of that into your life? Personally, I’d rather choose an easier and lazier path by removing that label for good.
Today, I approach my responsibilities differently. I simply do what needs to be done (work/my useless hobbies/side projects), one thing at a time. To me, completing tasks isn’t about proving anything, so there’s no need to call it hard work, it’s just living.
*shrugs*
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