Work, for a lot of us is a drag, and the prospect of an early retirement or a change of career would be well accepted.
There are a few lucky individuals who enjoy their work and are very happy with their career.
As so many people complain about work, I thought it would be a good idea to put a post together explaining the benefits of hard work, and why it's good for us, even if we believe that it's a horrible thing.
When I say that work is good for us, I mean hard work. Work is good as a whole, but to really see the benefits, working hard is required. Now just because it's hard work, it doesn't mean that it has to be unpleasant or uncomfortable, it's definitely doable for all of us.
If we want to see the 'fruits of our labour' as it were, then as the major key, learning to enjoy hard work, or at least being able to have a critical appreciative understanding of it is essential.
If we look to history and the things that have come about, we can see that a lot of hard work has been put in. For example: the inventions that came about through various people; Thomas Edison, Leonardo Da Vinci, Henry Ford, etc... All of these people had to put in a lot of hard work.
The point I'm trying to get across is that, if we want to achieve success and our goals, hard work will need to take place.
1. Sense of Achievement
After we've completed a session of hard work, not only is it rewarding to see the end result, but it also gives the sense of achievement, which really it is an achievement.
It might not be an achievement on the same level as a Nobel prize, but an achievement is an achievement.
2. It gives us goals and ambitions
When we have a purpose, a meaningful purpose, hard work must be applied no matter what.
A meaningful purpose allows us to have the ambition and drive that we need to fuel our bodies for work. Having the ambition and drive gives us hope, and having hope can bring rewards.
Not only can your meaningful purpose be fulfilled, but you'll notice that other goals will start to take shape as progress with working hard.
3. Improves your work ethic
Working hard makes you appreciate it more. You'll realise that things can't just get done on their own, and you can't always rely on other people to do it for you. Having an appreciation for work, and knowing that nothing would ever get done without it, is not only great for a work ethic, but is also good for your development as a person.
4. It teaches you to be responsible and independent
Working hard will mean that we will inevitably make a mistake. A mistake, is not only a learning curve for our minds, but also a chance for you to be responsible and accountable for the mistake. Thus in turn making you more independent and (hopefully) more reliable in the future.
5. Teaches us about team work
If we're in a working environment where we're in close contact with other people, working hard and effectively is great for getting people to gel together, and become a team.
It teaches us about different personalities, different habits, different egos. Getting used to this makes it easier for us to work in a group environment.
6. Keeps us productive
The main benefit of working hard is the productivity side of things. The bottom line is; the harder you work - the more you get done, the more you get done - the better you feel afterwards.
7. It gives our life some structure
If we always did what we wanted, not only would we get nothing done, but we wouldn't really have a structure to our life. Work, for the vast majority of people, consumes a large chunk of their weekly life.
If we didn't have work though, although it would be nice at first, our lives wouldn't have a structure and wouldn't be very well coordinated.
In fact, not only would we not have a structure, but society as a whole would not have a structure and break-down.