Sometimes I have days where I'm just really focused on work problems.

Sometimes I have days where I'm killing it in the gym or on the track.

Sometimes I have days where I just want to work on my garden, or sit and read, or spend 4 hours on an awesome dinner.

I assume most people have rhythms or cycles like this.

Thankfully I have a job that doesn't measure daily output, but instead looks at productivity over a longer period of time, so I can work towards a life where I'm always doing the thing I'm best at, at that moment.

A day where the work I've been doing just comes together like magic isn't transferable to a personal project.

> Usually you don’t get anything in exchange for working hard.

A nice paycheck at the end of the month?

But pay does not depend on how hard you actually work.

Sure it does. My employer notices when I work hard. Since they want to retain me as an employee, they compensate me accordingly. Similarly, I were to _not_ work hard my employer would certainly notice and want to reduce my compensation.

Working hard is not the same thing as working long hours or giving extra of myself. Working hard simply means working intelligently, thoughtfully, and to the best of my abilities.