Our society is focused on results. As some might say, “second place is the first loser”. But not everyone can be the best. There is only one Lebron. One Jeff Bezos. One Barak Obama. And as talented and intelligent as those people may be, they would be nothing without effort. Natural ability will only get you so far.

For the rest of us mere mortals, effort allows us to be the best that we can be. It helps us in every facet of our lives. It is critical to our success at work, at home, and in our relationships. A lack of effort frequently signifies a lack of accomplishment. Here are some ways in which effort optimizes our lives.

Achievement

Not surprisingly, effort is linked to achievement. If you work at something you are most likely going to do well on it, especially compared to someone who doesn’t try very hard. This is why we often hear parents repeat the mantra: “do your best”. However, some people have limitations that put a cap on their level of achievement. For example, a very short and unathletic person is not going to be able to dunk a basketball no matter how hard they try. Other people may have learning disabilities that make good grades more difficult to achieve. You can’t always control the outcome but you can control how much effort you put into a task. Still, despite someone’s limitations, putting in effort is almost always going to bode well for someone’s level of achievement.

Keeping in Touch

Have you ever lamented losing touch with someone? It is probably because neither one of you put in the effort. Relationships take work. And the most important part is communicating and spending time together. For that to happen, one of you has to make it happen. It is easy to sit back and be comfortable doing nothing. But you will likely regret losing touch with people you care about. Social relationships are good for us on multiple levels. Don’t let the opportunity to be with friends and family slip away.

Going Out

Going out and getting engaged in activities takes effort. Sure, it is easier to curl up on the couch and binge-watch Breaking Bad for the fourth time, but participating in activities and being around other people is good for the soul. Don’t feel like joining your friend’s book club or the local pickleball tournament? Even taking a walk around the block is better than living the life of a hermit. Do you want to be unhappy? Stay at home. Do you want to be a healthy human being? Get off your butt and involve yourself in what life has to offer.

Self-Esteem

For good or for bad, effort and self-esteem go hand in hand. It is undeniable how good you feel when you put in the work and succeed on a task; it is utterly satisfying to see your hard work pay off. On the flip side, it can be demoralizing when you fail at something. Especially when you know it is your own fault because you made little to no effort. I mean, who feels good about themself for being unmotivated and lazy? At the end of the day, you may feel exhausted from working hard but nothing feels better than a job well done.

Showing Up

Have you ever shown up to a friend’s event and seen the gratitude spread across their face? I remember when my father died, and a good friend of mine made the effort to come from out of town at an inconvenient time to show up for the funeral. It meant the world to me. I appreciated them taking the time and effort to be there. At that moment, I knew they cared about me. Funerals don’t happen every day but similar situations happen all the time. Whether it is a celebration or a trip to the hospital, showing up for other people goes far to solidify your relationship. And not going often leaves a bad taste in someone’s mouth. When you skip someone’s event it says, “I don’t care enough about you to be there”. You might not think much of it, but showing up for other people probably means more to them than you know.

Work

It goes without saying that employers like to see effort from their employees. Usually, as mentioned above, effort is associated with achievement. And achievement at the workplace, more often than not, leads to happy customers. But even if you aren’t producing like gangbusters, much can be forgiven if you are trying your best. I remember my father saying that “good workers are hard to find”. There are a lot of employees who show up late to work or not at all. Or, if they do show up, they spend half their shift on social media or watching YouTube. A conscientious worker will be highly appreciated, even if they don’t possess a ton of natural talent.

Self-Care

Almost nothing is as important as taking care of yourself. But, as with everything worthwhile in life, it takes effort. Self-care practices including exercise, meditation, and even sleep take up valuable time. But—if we are honest with ourselves—we all have time each day for what is important to us. Self-care needs to be treated the same way as other essential behaviors, such as brushing your teeth. It is that critical. Instead of feeling like it is something special, it should be adopted as part of your everyday lifestyle.

Almost nothing good will happen in your life without some effort. But making efforts is not easy for everyone. Some people are depressed and others have anxiety that saps their motivation. But no one is asking you to climb a mountain. A little effort goes a long way. So, if you struggle with motivation, plan something small for you to do and stick to it. Then reward yourself for trying. The benefits are numerous. Don’t let everything great about life leave you behind. Make some effort today.