How to avoid Burnout with Grace Beverley’s “Working Hard, Hardly Working”

This week on Money Mondays, we’re diving into Grace Beverley´s “Working Hard, Hardly Working: How to Achieve More, Stress Less, and Feel Fulfilled." In a world where burnout is so normalised and often feels like a badge of honour, Grace offers a refreshing alternative: redefining productivity to prioritise balance, self-care, and meaningful work. For anyone juggling career ambitions, side hustles, university workload and personal growth, this book provides actionable strategies to stay motivated without sacrificing your mental and physical health. Let’s explore the key takeaways from this modern productivity manual:

📚 Key Takeaway #1: Redefining Productivity

Grace challenges the outdated belief that success comes from long hours and constant hustle. Instead, she emphasises working smarter, not harder. This means focusing on meaningful tasks, setting boundaries, and being intentional with your time.

Key Tip: Define what productivity means to you. Focus on outcomes rather than hours worked. Are you busy for the sake of it, or are you achieving what truly matters? This mindset shift can help you feel more accomplished while avoiding burnout. I find setting the daily highlight of what I need to get done really helpful. Also, instead of writing long to do lists, allocating tasks to deep work slots in my calendar helps me get a realistic amount of work done.

📚 Key Takeaway #2: Finding Your “Enjoyable Tasks”

One of the book’s standout concepts is identifying the tasks that energise and engage you—what Beverley calls your “enjoyable tasks.” By designing a workflow that incorporates these, you can stay productive while feeling more fulfilled.

Key Tip: Reflect on what tasks come naturally to you and bring you joy. Can you integrate more of these into your daily routine? When work aligns with your strengths and passions, it feels less like a chore and more like a choice.

📚 Key Takeaway #3: The Myth of Work-Life Balance

Instead of striving for perfect balance, Beverley suggests focusing on alignment. She explains that some seasons of life will demand more focus on work, while others will lean into rest or personal growth—and that’s okay.

Key Tip: Accept that balance isn’t static. Take time to assess your current priorities and align your time accordingly. This flexibility can help you feel more in control, even when life gets hectic.

📚 Key Takeaway #4: Embrace the Power of Rest

Beverley advocates for rest as a non-negotiable component of productivity. Rest isn’t a reward for hard work—it’s a necessary ingredient for sustained success.

Key Tip: Schedule rest just like you would a meeting or a deadline. Whether it’s an evening off, a lunch break, or a weekend unplugged, prioritising rest prevents burnout and keeps your energy levels high. Blocking out time for rest in my calendar really helps me as it makes it a non negotiable and intentional part of my week. Also, rest does not have to look like watching tv or sleeping, there are 7 types of rest, I find creative rest one of the most fulfilling and energising.

📚 Key Takeaway #5: Building Systems for Success

The book emphasises the importance of creating systems that streamline your work and personal life. This includes time-blocking, setting boundaries, and automating repetitive tasks to save mental energy.

Key Tip: Start by evaluating your current workflow. Where are you wasting time or energy? Implement simple systems, like scheduling focused work blocks or automating recurring tasks, to free up your time for what truly matters. I like to do an energy audit every week to see if I am allocating my time in accordance to my values.

📚 Key Takeaway #6: The Difference Between “Busy” and “Productive”

One of Beverley’s most impactful lessons is learning to differentiate between being busy and being productive. Just because your calendar is full doesn’t mean you’re making meaningful progress.

Key Tip: At the end of each day, ask yourself: Did I move closer to my goals today? Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your workload.

📚 My Biggest Takeaway

My favourite insight from Working Hard, Hardly Working is the reminder that productivity doesn’t have to come at the expense of well-being. Beverley’s approach helped me reframe the way I view work—shifting from hustle for the sake of it to intentional, purpose-driven action. This has been so helpful for me whilst navigating my final year of university and all my other professional and personal commitments. Grace´s perspective on rest as a vital part of success has been a game-changer for me, reminding me to prioritise recovery as much as output.

Why You Should Read Working Hard, Hardly Working

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list or caught in the hustle culture trap, this book is for you. Grace Beverley offers a refreshing, practical guide to balancing ambition with self-care. Her strategies for redefining productivity and creating systems for success will leave you feeling empowered to achieve more while stressing less.

How do you find balance in your work and personal life? Have you read Working Hard, Hardly Working? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s discuss how we can embrace a healthier approach to productivity!