Experts Dr. Ali Zarzour, Belle Cooper, and Jim Kwik explain their top recommended methods for efficient work sessions. In this article, we hear from the experts as they offer tips to influence a more proactive workday. With years of experience in their fields, Dr. Zarzour, Cooper, and Kwik understand the elements needed to pursue more advanced professional goals and productivity.
We all know the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” At its core, this is the foundation of productivity. As successful businesspeople, all three experts found ways to get the most tasks done in the least amount of time throughout their careers.
Our experts come from an array of backgrounds yet rely on the fundamental aspects of healthy work habits. Dr. Ali Zarzour is a company founder and health technology expert that manages teams and data systems. Belle Cooper co-founded a productivity-tracking app called Exist, and Jim Kwik is a famous brain performance coach and author. Read more to see what they say about daily work life and how to improve it.
Balance between working smart and working hard
The three experts agree that finding a balance between working smart and working hard is the key to ultimate productivity and professional satisfaction. We all need ample physical care. This means that, as humans, we need time and energy before and after the workday to exercise, implement healthy habits, and ensure plenty of sleep. These are some basic ways to get started on your journey to a better balance of working smarter and getting amazing work done with energy instead of exhaustion.
Now, the question is, what is working smart versus working hard? How can you differentiate between the two in daily work life, and what are their implications? Dr. Zarzour, Cooper, and Kwik will shine some light on these ideas and explain how to reap the benefits.
What is “working smart?”
Working smart, according to founder Dr. Ali Zarzour, is prioritizing, goal-setting, and automating work enough that the mind is used only for the most important processing. This allows for computers, calendars, and task managers to perform more menial tasks. The key to working smart, Dr. Zarzour mentions, is to clear the mind from as many distractions and small tasks as possible. Sometimes, this could mean setting your online status to busy or implementing specific hours in which you hold meetings. High-level thinking requires a significant amount of outsourcing and proper boundary-setting.
Belle Cooper, for example, co-created an app called Exist. It is a phone application that can track anything from daily water intake to how much media you have consumed during the week. Utilizing resources like Exist can help reduce non-essential thinking processes, stress, and long working hours by directly supplying insights into daily habits. By viewing tracked behaviors all in one place, it is easier for people to make smarter and healthier decisions about their routines.
Working smart, according to Cooper, includes incorporating habits such as waking up early, tracking and automating tasks, and beginning to write with pen and paper. The primary benefit here is working more densely in a shorter amount of time so that you have more space and energy for other tasks, such as spending time with loved ones or enjoying your favorite self-care routine. With daily distractions such as endless social feed scrolling, taking on these small habits can help you get back to working smarter, not harder.
What is “working hard?”
Dr. Ali Zarzour has experience working with large data systems and software but has also managed teams of all sizes. Due to this, he knows what it looks like when someone is working harder, not smarter. And he has noticed the following benefits and downsides.
Working hard is an honorable pursuit. Even when someone works smarter, it is important that their quality of work is also up to par. Learning how to prioritize effectively and understanding the goals behind tasks are two vital elements of productive and influential work performance.
The main downside to working harder is the potential productivity or creativity crashes. Workers must implement smart working habits to successfully continue with professional goals, but also other items such as health and family. Work is important, but what’s more is the ability to have energy for the next day, sustaining a realistic and comfortable pace of life.
Drawbacks of working too much
While there are some inherent benefits of working hard, working too much can be risky in many ways. First, working too much can lead to burnout and a lack of motivation or passion for your craft. As previously mentioned, we must have enough energy to take care of ourselves and pursue interests outside of work for a more holistic lifestyle. To curb the adverse effects of working too much and burning out, Kwik says to practice even simple brain-boosting techniques, such as taking 5-minute breaks, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.
Kwik recommends using his various methods to improve memory and learn faster. With an initial investment of time in learning new techniques, future workdays may be more productive and easier on the mind and body. This will help clear up negative experiences such as stress, overwhelm, and burnout. In addition, improving memory helps reduce future learning time and encourages better work quality based on a wider array of knowledge.
Finding the right balance between the two
By learning about the physical and mental habits discussed in this article, it becomes clear that there is a balance between working hard and working smart. While there is a primary investment in taking care of your mind and body, the after-effects will prove to boost productivity.
Dr. Ali Zarzour, Belle Cooper, and Jim Kwik are happy to share their methods and mindsets with readers who care to improve their overall quality of life and work. It is important to understand the self and therefore launch into a more fulfilling and relaxed career. With their techniques, this is possible in a brief period.
Try implementing these methods today and see how long it takes to experience the vast benefits. Boosting your body and brain will help you work smarter and surely advance your career. The long-hour workdays and burnout may no longer be necessary.
