There is a common belief that if you truly love what you do, work will feel effortless. In reality, the opposite is often true. Loving your work does not reduce how hard you work—it changes how that hard work feels.
When people are deeply invested in what they do, they tend to go beyond what is required. They spend extra hours refining ideas, revisiting details and pushing themselves to do better. The workload may increase, but so does the willingness to take it on. What might feel overwhelming in a routine job often feels purposeful in a passion-driven one.
This shift is largely psychological. When work aligns with personal interest, it stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like a choice. The same late nights, tight deadlines and challenges exist—but they are approached with a different mindset. Instead of counting hours, individuals begin to focus on outcomes, growth and satisfaction.
In creative and self-driven professions, this difference becomes even more visible. There is no strict separation between “work time” and “personal time.” Ideas can emerge at any moment, and the motivation to act on them is often immediate. The drive comes from within, not from external pressure.
An alumna of Apeejay School, Saket reflects this shift in perspective through her own journey of moving from a structured corporate role to a creative field. Reflecting on her experience, Ms Prerna Mehra, a 2014 batch alumna, shared, “Even long hours feel worth it when you love what you’re doing.”
Her insight highlights an important truth: the intensity of work may remain the same—or even increase—but the emotional weight of that effort becomes lighter.
For students and young professionals, this understanding is crucial. Loving your work does not mean avoiding challenges. In fact, it often means embracing more of them. The difference lies in how those challenges are perceived. They are no longer seen as burdens, but as opportunities to learn, improve and create something meaningful.
At the same time, it is important to recognise that passion alone is not enough. Discipline, consistency and resilience continue to play a key role. Loving your work may fuel motivation, but it is sustained effort that leads to long-term success.