It's quite an interesting thing that I want to write about hard work. My recent few weeks have gone well when it comes to hard and systematic work. I think systematic hard work is more sustainable and you would not really realize if you are really working hard, because the system is just working for you. So today, let's talk about hard work and how can we really achieve a hardworking system. We'll talk about food as well. Anyways, so let's start working towards this. Recently, I felt like I was working very hard and was not moving in the direction that I intended too. That's when I came across lifestyle centric planning and this was the way my discipline started to develop. It was so much that even when I am writing this blog, I wonder why am I writing it. One mind says that you should be doing something more technical. The other one says that just creating out of plain mind is equally important. So we will be going about the way we want to go with the quotes.
We all have this flowery phrases that we need to dream big, stay positive, work hard and enjoy the journey. Although it does sound flowery, I want to dive deeper into the practicalities. Dreaming big is great. We all want to dream big. We all want a big house, we all want a huge mansion, we all want great vacations, we all want to do all of those things. But the question is not everyone achieves their dreams? Why is it that some people don't achieve the dreams they were meant to be, while others do? I have heard about motivational gurus speak about this. But I believe opportunities play a big role here. Success is when preparation meets an opportunity. I am sure there will be some great actors but why is it that we have only one Shahrukh Khan, why is it that we have only one Amitabh Bachan, it was because they came into the industry during the right time, got some great songs, got some iconic movies, and that's why they were able to garner the love from the audience. While it is true that there was some great things out there. The timing did matter. The second aspect when it comes to stay positive. Wow, how easy it is to say this. But how can we truly do this? I have heard this from Srk too, that he only thinks positive thoughts, he thinks good for others as well. But recently, I discovered that you can stay more positive when you have belief in your system. For an example, I found my deep work ritual recently to the point that when I am writing, I write for at least 1hr daily. Those writing blocks are scheduled and there's no one disturbing me at that time. During this time, I create my best work. I have no distractions, just work and I am able to achieve what I want to achieve. This type of focus, has helped me work harder. Moreover, I would also read slow productivity and apply those concepts, like doing less number of things. That helped as well. The point is that staying positive is easier when you have a method that works for you. So stay positive but also understand that there is a process you can stick to and that will help you become more positive. One of the best things that one can do is this. I had a layoff from Amazon at that point, one way to look at that situation was oh my god ! why me. But I decided to say to myself, "Joh hota hai acche ke liye". That thought in itself changed my perspective to the situation. Moreover, I saw this as an opportunity in adversity and eventually found a place that was more suited to me to work. I am contributing well at work. I am also developing skills at work. Moreover, I feel like I can maintain a structure at work that was not possible at Amazon. So today when I think about this, "Joh hota hai acche ke liye" is a true statement. It helps me to build perspectives around the negative situations in life.
Now when I think about other negative situations, I remember that I did not do well in Basketball during my first 2 years in college. I was practicing daily, but somehow I could not make the cut into the first 5 because the team itself was extremely strong and I would also see some people getting more favors for that. People would see me as someone who would just come and practice for the first 5 and I would hardly get 5 minutes of game time. That's the time I decided to quit the team. Now the moment, I did quit the team because that was not really working out, I got a lot of free time in my life and I could do well in my academics in that year. I did well almost everywhere. There were people who would tease me, call me by names in the basketball team because I was not that great a player and my self esteem was severely affected. But the moment I stopped playing basketball, my self esteem rose up and eventually I was able to do so many things that I didn't think were possible for me.
While this is one thing, I would say that I have also learned a lot in the team. I have learned about communication, calling people by their name and going in for the fight. Every team has their good points and bad points and so was ours. Those situations when I looked back, made me tougher. So when I learned from the situation, and took the perspective and labelled it as something positive. That's what it means by staying positive.
Work hard. While this is such a cliche, it means something significant to me. One thing is that, you work hard with focus hours and blocks and you complete significant amount of work daily. I have also seen the other meaning of hard work. And that was one of my teacher in classes named Mohan Sir. Mohan Sir would give us 100 problems to solve at 9:00 pm and call us in the morning tomorrow with the completed home work at 7:00 am. So people would work literally from 10-3 and sleep at 3 and then go to the class at 7:00. This level of dedication is what I call hard work. One of the things with classes and homework in the classes was that the hard work was clearly defined. You would solve the problem again and again until you perfected it. Moreover, as I grew older, I found the Cal Newport style much more suited because I had to do the dishes, the chores and the overall work of house itself. That was work as well. So hard work in the US means that you need to be systematic. You can't be like India and have an unsustainable form of hard work. Hard work in the US also means going to the gym daily. Hard work in the US also means taking the time out for your girlfriend. You got to do what you got to do. That was hard work.
Enjoy the journey. This is also a cliche but imagine a life that is lived only working hard. I am sure Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would have enjoyed that. That was the type of focus they had. Similarly, even when I am focused I find the same sort of satisfaction and joy. By enjoying the journey what I interpret is that you have got to have relationships, friends and people in your life. Without that hard work is not worth it.
By enjoying the journey it does mean to relax and do the things that you like to do. Go do your hobbies, but it's equally important to be focused and doing the things well. No need to rush anything but just do your stuff.
That's a quote on effort. There's no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. I like this quote, so effort means work. What Calivin Coolidge is saying is that through effort we are able to produce good quality or development. When it comes to gym, effort is to lift weights, when it comes to studying, there needs to be an effort of writing, and listening well or reading well. Without that it's not possible to develop. So development requires effort. I like that idea. Ask yourself what is the effort of earning more money. For earning more money also needs more effort. More depth and structure in what needs to be done. Effort in development of new skills. We have seen that bowlers have developed knuckle ball, slower balls, bouncers, yorkers, cutters, inswing, outswing, so many different skills and the ability to execute the skill under pressure is what made effort that important. You have to practice under pressure also. You have to create an environment that not only requires effort but pressure. For example, if you are studying for an exam, create the pressure of the environment of giving a test. If you are cricket player, simulate a match situation. These are the things that brings out the best in you. In fact, ideally what I believe is that pressure is what brings out the best in people. It's easy to win a match against a team like Bangladesh but winning a match against Australia gives more satisfaction. So one has to keep working towards that. Make sure that you are simulating the situation. In a job, you want to simulate a presentation by giving enough mocks. You want to understand things as deeply as possible. These are things that no one does and that's what earns you a promotion.
EFFORT MEANS WORK - WRITE, READ, THINK.
Even thinking is an effort that most of the people don't really do.
Complexity means distracted effort. Simplicity means focused effort. One of the best ways to actualize this is, think of the activities that you are doing in a day.
blog or writing
coding
system design
gym
eating
watching youtube
Are there any things that are not helpful in terms of getting the results. Maybe yes, maybe not. But in my opinion there are 20% of the things that are producing 80% of the results. Those 20% are my deep work time. That's when I don't talk to anyone, neither on slack nor on teams nor on phone. I am just there with my mouth shut and there is an ability to think during this time. I also think, that writing blogs is a good habit for my emotional health. Going to the gym makes me happier.
Practical Ways to Build a Hardworking System:
1. Define Hard Work in Your Context
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Hard work in high school (like Mohan Sir’s 100 problems) is not the same as hard work in adult life.
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Define yours: coding? writing? gym? maintaining relationships? If you don’t define, “hard work” becomes vague and unsustainable.
Tip: Make a list of core hard work domains in your life (career, health, relationships, learning).
2. Systematic Hard Work = Effort on Autopilot
The goal isn’t to “force” yourself daily, but to design systems where effort becomes the default.
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Time-blocking: Decide when you’ll do your hardest work, not if. (Ex: 8–10 AM → deep coding block, no Slack, no Teams).
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Environment design: Keep distractions away (phone in another room, single open tab, noise-canceling headphones).
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Automation: Meal prep, recurring calendar events, reminders — reduce decision fatigue.
Tip: Build rituals (gym clothes ready at night, writing at same desk every morning) so that energy is spent on effort, not setup.
3. The 20/80 Filter (Focus vs. Distraction)
You already noticed: 20% of activities give 80% of results.
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Ask yourself: “If I could only do 3 things daily, what would they be?”
Example: Deep work block, gym, one creative act (blog/writing).
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Everything else is secondary. You’ll still do them, but only after your core 20%.
Tip: Audit your week and cross out low-value tasks (doom scrolling, unplanned YouTube, excessive Slack chatting).
4. Effort + Pressure = Growth
Effort builds skill, but pressure tests it.
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In gym → increase weight or add time pressure.
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In coding → simulate real deadlines by doing mock projects under a timebox.
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In career → rehearse presentations in front of peers before the real thing.
Tip: Don’t just “practice” → simulate the stage where it matters. That’s what accelerates growth.
5. Stay Positive Through Systems
“Stay positive” isn’t an emotion, it’s a process.
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Gratitude triggers: End your day by writing 3 small wins.
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Belief in system: If you know you’re executing your deep work blocks daily, positivity naturally builds because you trust the process.
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Reframing setbacks: Ask, “What opportunity is hidden here?”
6. Hard Work ≠ Burnout
Tip: Add buffer blocks (nothing scheduled) → protects against spillovers and keeps life flexible.
7. Make Effort Visible
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Keep a “Done List” (not just a To-Do list), reminds you of progress.
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Track streaks (workout, writing, coding).
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Celebrate small wins → trains your brain to enjoy effort.
A Simple Framework to Remember
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Effort = Work
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System = Structure (blocks, routines, environment)
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Pressure = Growth catalyst
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Recovery = Sustainability
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Reflection = Direction check
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