I always thought, when people said “work harder”

That they meant to work faster,

To be more busy,

More rushed.

Hustle is the word that comes to mind.

And I’ve never been good at that. 

I struggle to sustain it

Since it so often comes with a kind of anxiety 

As if I am making up for an inherent deficit.

But I have found a new meaning for “work harder”:

Work more consistently, without stopping, overthinking, or getting distracted

As long as it takes, until the project is completed.

I find this definition to be far more useful.

It is extremely effective for getting things done

And much more peaceful than what I thought they meant.