(Photography: Jeffrey Beale)

It seems all too often around these parts (and I use the term “these parts” vaguely) that a certain badge of honor for many people is to “how hard they grind”. Personally I’d like to renounce that notion. It took me a few years out there, that so called “grinding” to realize that it really is far from the ideal way of getting your affairs done and in a order. Not sure why people like to embody this statement, perhaps to announce self-worth or to put up a front of sorts.

I’ll use the argument of an athlete, if you continually beat yourself in the weightroom and on the field without any adequate rest, you’re bound to end up with a disgruntled and under-performing athlete. No reason why this example doesn’t translate into the workplace.

I’d much rather spend an alloted 8 or so hours a day working hard (and extremely hard I might add), close the book on work and spend some quality time sleeping or spending time with people of regenerative qualities. Sounds cheesey, but good time with good people simply keeps you fresh. As much as it pains me shake the self-given moniker (which dates back to grade 9) Extreme Eugene, I won’t miss it for life balance. If you don’t have good people such as friends or family to draw you away from work, you need new surroundings.

As a further example, concentrating on one task has been proven time and time again with the concept of specialization and assembly line production. Why not practice the same attitude of separating tasks accordingly, there’s time to mess around and there’s time to get shit done, just realize they are both a function of one another.

I do have this self-serving desire to not come across as being lazy (maybe a self-fulfilling prophecy as well being Asian), but it’s really about picking your battles.

Work hard relative to your mood and energy levels and I’m sure it will pay dividends.

Editor’s Note: Here’s a recent article I came across a few days after posting this about Sleep Makes Your Memories Stronger, and Helps With Creativity. It definitely reinforces what I’ve been trying to say. You can’t fool your body and if you don’t have it ready and primed, your output will suffer.

-Eugene