It’s a trap!
Spending all that time trying to work smart is pretty dumb. You could be getting stuff done.
I’ve found that, for myself, it’s very difficult to maintain a good balance between the adage that we should work smart, not hard. I love thinking about the work I want to do, but getting started can feel impossible.
This is where you have to stop believing that it’s all about working smarter, not harder. Working hard is working smart because you’re getting work done. Getting work done is the number one most important thing. PERIOD.
While you’re working hard, take notes, and observe, and learn, and develop systems that will help you work hard and fast the next time you do it. But stop spending so much time thinking about what you will do, it’s a waste of energy and you deplete your stores of self-discipline. You feel like you’ve worked a full day when all you’ve done is thought and planned how much work you will do.