Studio Snap-Shot: The Perception of Effort

Have you ever given 100%?

I've just finished 30 days at full steam.

During this period, I ran the Small Things Challenge to create a painting, written article and a collection of curated images for those taking part each day, I've worked through 2 commissions, sold 8 sculptures, stripped a kitchen, scanned and sent to print 30-odd Giclee prints, had a whole load of personal events, opened a kiln full of glazes and updated my shop 30 times.

Here's what I've found out - the first ten days were full-on and fairly exhausting, but the 11th day was exhilarating. The same energy needed to execute all the tasks seemed to exude from me on the 11th day.

And now, even though I am still putting in the same amount of effort and time in as day one, it doesn't feel like it. It feels easier, lighter and just something I do. I don't feel overworked at all. I don't feel tired or burdened, nor do I feel stressed or panicked.

Why? Because I've exploited the Perception of Effort.

Perception of effort is how hard you feel like you’re working. It's a brand new concept of endurance that I've read about in the book 'How Bad do you want It? Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle by. Matt Fitzgerald' and one which I'll cover in more detail in an upcoming blog post.

But in short, When someone says, “I can’t do this for one more day,” it’s not literal. The individual is sharing a sense of how hard they feel like they’re working under difficult circumstances.

How you perceive the effort you put into something can become the primary source of discomfort and angst...or your source of freedom.

So, How hard do you feel like you’re working?