We’ve all heard the adage, “Work smarter, not harder,” but recently I’ve been thinking there’s an even clearer way to put it: Work smarter for less hard. It might sound clunky at first, but let me explain.

This idea first struck me during a small drywall repair project. Anyone who has patched drywall—applying mud or spackle, sanding it smooth, reapplying, sanding again—knows it’s tedious. To avoid frustration, you have to start with the end in mind. Visualizing a smooth, perfectly painted wall helps determine every step. You quickly realize you only need the minimum amount of mud necessary to achieve a smooth, hard surface that will accept paint seamlessly. By clearly visualizing the final outcome first, you reduce waste and minimize unnecessary steps.

This mindset resurfaced recently while landscaping and spreading mulch. Before I could lay down fresh mulch, I needed a clean, flat surface free from rocks, debris, and clumps of mud. By clearly picturing a tidy mulch bed bordered by pristine walkways, I took extra care in prepping the area. Spending a few extra minutes removing potential mess-makers upfront meant far less cleanup afterward. The end result? Less time and less effort overall.

Work smarter for less hard isn’t just catchy; it’s a practical philosophy. Progress, at its core, is about achieving the same or better results with fewer resources—less time, less effort, less stress. By consistently keeping the desired outcome front and center, every action becomes more efficient and every project more satisfying.

Maybe it’s time we upgraded our classic saying. Don’t just work smarter to avoid working harder; work smarter so every step is simply… less hard.