“Wise effort” is a concept that involves purposefully dedicating one’s energy towards activities that are helpful and abandoning those that are unhelpful. It combines wisdom, which comes from self-examination, knowing one’s values and strengths, and gathering knowledge from established sources, with effort, which involves applying energy in the right amount, with flexibility and determination, in directions that matter to you.

Practicing wise effort involves welcoming “good stress” that bolsters your cellular and mental resilience, while also practicing deep rest to prevent toxic stress and allostatic overload from wearing down your brain and body.

The practice of wise effort involves choosing activities based on your values and applying your strengths to them. By doing this, you can become more motivated to act with determination and enthusiasm, as you are engaging in activities that are meaningful to you. It also means being flexible and adaptable, as you may need to adjust your efforts as circumstances change.

Additionally, wise effort includes having fun and engaging in constructive rest to balance good stress with restful activities. This is important because many high achievers put aside fun for a future date once they’ve achieved their goals. However, research has shown that restful activities are vital to our stamina, resilience, and ability to bounce back after a stressful event. Overall, the practice of wise effort offers you a way to move towards your goals without succumbing to self-focus, rigidity, and depletion.

Summing-up: The practice of wise effort involves choosing activities based on your values and applying your strengths to them. It also includes having fun and engaging in constructive rest to balance good stress with restful activities.