Why “Work Hard, Play Hard” is Terrible Advice

Work hard, play hard sounds good right? It’s catchy, companies like to use it to describe their fun work culture.

But only one half of the “Work Hard Play Hard” promise is true. And it’s not the half you’re hoping for…

The only reason a company needs to tell you to "play hard" is to sugarcoat the fact that you will be so squeezed for time that you'll have to get most of your social interactions from that job itself.

What if there was a more sustainable approach to work? One that takes into account that we work to live, not live to work?

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[brianbarbarich]

Dinking alcohol as a past time to cool off from the hard work used to be popular. A person's health and mental being was not taken into account. Most Companies just replaced an employee if he/she got burnout. Companies should be held accountable for damaging an employees health. Times are changing for the better nowadays.

[rarebird_]

Work hard, play hard = overwork, numb with alcohol.
All will catch up eventually.
Rest well, work well - never lets me down ✌🏻

[marcgove]

Peter I like your new videos being 5 to 6 mins short and succinct! Longer videos can be nice, but a lot of content nowadays seems unnecessarily long and with plenty of rambling. Thanks for staying on point, I presume it's intentional.

[SIERRATREES]

I used to have a sales job where hard entertaining and putting your " liver on the line" was praised. It dragged me down, so I changed, slowed down, and guess what happened ; I got better results. I was able to think better and work smarter. My ideas were better and people noticed ! im about to start a new chapter, just as you suggested here.. Choosing the life I want and working backwards to define my job.

[Archers]

Couldn't agree more. That motto is written on big banners at every Amazon warehouse. I worked in one for two weeks and said :No Thank You"

[antikoerper]

I hate that moto and for health reasons despise the burnout culture and "must handle stress" culture. Feeling blessed I discovered Peter Cook. Wishing peace, calmness, security and slow and secure life to everyone here. Much love from Bulgaria

[childlikejoy]

I work well, play joyfully, the rest takes care of itself!

[broganhogan]

I know some people have no choice to make ends meet, or have forced OT, but I can’t get over people who freely choose to work overtime solely for monetary incentive. My free time is worth so much more than the meager few bucks OT pay would be. I spend more time at work than with my family and I hate how our culture is with this that we have to work our souls away to be able to provide.

[jbrkjferkjbekjb]

As someone who has been there before, it's not sustainable to "work hard" but not "play hard" without burning out esp if you do not enjoy the work, because then the hard work wouldnt be justifiable without hard play. And hard play can be dangerous - it's often extreme and I've seen many abuse alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc. It's the only way to continue on the hamster wheel. If you want to develop healthier / more moderate "play" habits, you should moderate how hard you work as well. Human beings are not designed to live extreme lives (unless you possess a special kind of personality or deeply enjoy your work to the extent that it fulfils some of your need for play).

[patarikisoterion]

I’m a garbage man at a well known university in Australia, best job ever!😂

[the-comments-poet]

Let it all fall down
Don’t look

There in the valley of white
Stands a village
Pretty houses in time
Chimney and smoke and mist

And over there the tall mountain
Ancient and strong
Keeper of the forest
Protector of all secrets

All the beauty of the world
The roads far and wide
Passing me by
Laid before me, for me

Don’t touch

Busied my days 
Building fortress and castle
Strong and safe
Do not wander, do not wonder

I didn’t look, I didn’t touch

Today I bury my failed life—
Here lies he who never complained
Never seen
Never heard

Today I bury my safety

Today I fail on purpose
And I will not don’t run and don’t fall
And I will not don’t speak
I will touch and I will look and I will laugh

Today I trade consent
For coincidences
Today I shovel clouds in my window
And forget about the snow

Let it all fall down

[Beautiful-Sickening-Rolex]

20% of my input creates 80% of my output...that's how hard I work 🤭

[BarryMaskell]

That saying is 🤮
It’s like saying “we are family” 🤮