In our increasingly hectic lives, we all are challenged to cram as much as we can into our days to be as productive as possible. It’s only natural that we would seek out life hacks to accomplish more in less time. Sometimes this works. However, very early on in my career, I found that taking shortcuts is just patching up a deeper problem, and I would inevitably have to go back, retrace my steps, and fix the real issue. By doing the hard work of addressing that problem up front, I could lessen my workload in the long run. I learned that it’s easier to work hard. This lesson has ramifications not only for business but for physical health and mental wellness as well.

 As a podiatric surgeon, the work I do is constrained by the laws of nature. When treating a wound, it is either healed or not—there’s no fooling anyone otherwise. Of course, a wound assessment often is in the eye of the beholder, and opportunities are ever present to say things are better than they really are. Invariably, this optimism is rooted in an internal struggle over doing what I hope is necessary as opposed to what I know is necessary. We’re not all surgeons, but we all face this temptation in our careers and in our lives. Recognizing problems before they take a turn for the worse is a matter of integrity, and we can use this to our advantage.

 When you embrace these dilemmas and make it your habit to do the difficult thing, look beyond the immediate outcome of your efforts. Each difficult decision is a snapshot of your character. By choosing the hard road, you gain insight into your own inner strength. You reveal to yourself what kind of person you are. Others will probably notice, too.

 This mindset offers wonderful spill-over benefits to your health and fitness goals. Once again, we’re up against the laws of nature. And once again, the dilemma exists between the easy way and the hard way. However, you’re the same whether you’re at work or at leisure. If you become the kind of person who seeks out challenges, your resilience carries over to your exercise regimen. Your hard work on the job leads to health benefits, and your hard work toward your fitness leads to increased productivity at work. It’s a virtuous cycle.

 Then, an amazing thing happens. Things that used to be hard aren’t so hard anymore. Tasks you once thought were beyond your ability now seem completely achievable. When you raise the bar, your possibilities expand. It’s hard, but ultimately, it’s easier.

 As you become more confident and resilient, you decide the limits of your decision-making capabilities. “The heaviest things in life aren’t iron and gold, but unmade decisions.” This means confronting the uncertainties and stress in your life. It means engaging in that uncomfortable conversation to go beyond whatever interpersonal strife you may be experiencing. When you identify these root causes of your stress and unburden yourself of them, you cast off the chains holding you down.

 So be intentional. Wake up a little earlier. Push a little harder. Go the extra mile. Become better. Do the work.