Author: Shelby Benavidez
Contributing Attorney: Will Davis, partner
Running a business, leading a team, or practicing law at a high level is consuming – both physically and mentally. For many attorneys, entrepreneurs, and business owners, work doesn’t end when the day does. It blends into life, identity, and purpose. That’s why the idea of “work hard, play hard” is viewed as more than a cliche at Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers. It’s become a core value rooted in sustainability and long-term growth.
Will Davis, partner at Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers, says, “What we do at work is really hard. You need to be able to bring it every day, all day… but I think it’s equally as important to be able to serve yourself whenever you can.”
In a profession with a culture that often glorifies exhaustion, learning how to truly recharge is the only way to keep yourself and your team performing at high energy.
Why “Work-Life Balance” Misses the Mark
One of the biggest misconceptions in professional culture is that work and life exist as two separate, competing forces. However, most business professionals know that is rarely ever the case.
“There’s always a lot of talk about work-life balance, like those are two completely separate areas of life that don’t crossover with each other. I don’t necessarily buy into that,” he says.
For leaders who love what they do, work is never something you completely turn off. You don’t stop thinking about cases, clients, strategy, or growth just because you’ve physically clocked out for the day. Instead of chasing an unrealistic balance, Davis advocates for intentional integration, recognizing that work is always present, but so is the need to protect your energy.
“I think it’s important that you carve out time for yourself,” he says. That time may look different for everyone, but the principle remains the same: if you don’t proactively recharge, burnout will decide for you.
What it Really Means to “Play Hard”
For many professionals, “play hard” gets mistaken for indulgence or escapism. In reality, recharging often requires just as much discipline as working hard.
For Davis, physical activity is non-negotiable. “I’ve learned over time that if I don’t reach a base level of physical activity every day, I don’t operate at the level that I want to.”
Sometimes that means getting a workout in. Other times, it means pushing far beyond comfort, like completing a sprint triathlon in brutal conditions. “It was way outside my area of what I would ever feel comfortable doing,” he recalls. “Nothing prepares you for something that’s that cold… it was chaos.”
But that discomfort is the point.
“When you push yourself through those physical challenges beyond the point of what you thought you were capable of before, it really helps you in all areas of life,” Davis says. “Knowing that getting through hard things is possible makes you rethink what your own constraints are.”
That lesson translates directly to leadership, decision-making, and resilience under pressure.
Growth Lives Outside Comfort
Routine can be the silent enemy of growth. Davis warns that when life becomes too predictable between work and home life, progress stalls.
“If you just go to work, go home, do nothing every night, and get into a routine, I don’t think you’re growing,” he says. “There’s no personal growth in that.”
Playing hard doesn’t always mean rest. Sometimes it means choosing discomfort on purpose, physically, mentally, or emotionally, to expand your capacity.
“You’ve got to be able to drain yourself sometimes so that you can come in refreshed and really get into the work,” Davis explains. “What a lot of people do for their jobs is really hard stuff. You’ve got to have an outlet.”
Trips vs. Vacations: Both Matter
Not all time away from work serves the same purpose. Davis draws a clear distinction between trips that push you and vacations that restore you.
“Trips are important to push yourself, stay busy, see things you’ve never seen before, and expand your mind,” he says. “But vacations are important, too, where you can really take care of yourself, relax, and recharge.”
For leaders with families, even time off can feel demanding. Davis jokes that he didn’t understand why some people took back-to-back vacations until he had kids. “The first one’s a trip, the second one’s a vacation,” he says.
The key is recognizing what you need in a given season and giving yourself permission to choose it intentionally.
Burnout Isn’t Just Being Tired
Burnout doesn’t always announce itself with exhaustion. Often, it shows up subtly.
“When you’re not present every day, and you start creating bigger narratives about life and how hard things are – that’s a sign,” Davis explains. “You stop breaking work into chunks you can accomplish and start focusing on the whole of what needs to be done.”
Other warning signs include losing engagement, purpose, and direction. “It’s being tired. It’s not being engaged in the work anymore. It’s losing your purpose,” he says. Left unchecked, that erosion spills into mood, relationships, and leadership effectiveness.
The solution isn’t always a dramatic change. “Sometimes it’s just making small changes that lead to bigger results.”
Leadership Responsibility: Modeling Rest Without Losing Results
In many professional environments, never taking time off is treated as a badge of honor. Davis encourages professionals to shift their mindset.
“We can get wrapped up in how much you work versus what you actually accomplish,” he says. “Being results-driven and being rewarded for how much time you spend working are two different things.”
Encouraging teams to recharge isn’t about lowering standards, but about protecting performance. However, rest requires planning.
“I don’t think it’s good for somebody to just decide in the morning they’re taking off,” Davis explains. “You have a responsibility to make a plan before you do it.”
That means preparing for deadlines, communicating coverage, and setting clear expectations. When done well, time off reduces stress instead of creating more.
“There’s going to be work to do when you come back,” he says. “But it can be minimized to a point where it’s manageable, and then all of that planning becomes worth it.”
Why Rest Makes You More Efficient
One of the biggest myths in business is that more hours equal more output. Davis’s experience says otherwise.
“You may work more hours, but you may not be getting as much accomplished,” he explains. “If I can show up fully present and ready for the work, I can get more done in a shorter period of time.”
Taking time to recharge is an investment in efficiency. “Even if I take a week off, if that gets me back into a place where I’m more present, it’s worth it in the long run.”
Advice for Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
For entrepreneurs just starting out, burnout can feel unavoidable, and to some extent, it is part of the journey.
“When you’re in an early stage of building something, it can become all-encompassing,” Davis says. “You have to be prepared that this is potentially going to consume more of your life than you would want.”
That intensity, however, should be temporary. “You’ve got to get through that period, but you also have to set up people you can trust, delegate, and systemize the process.”
Even in high-demand seasons, boundaries matter. “I may only get two hours in the evening with my family, but during that time, I need to put my phone away and be present,” he says. “Scrolling social media isn’t spending time.”
Sacrifice may be unavoidable early on, but neglecting yourself entirely isn’t sustainable.
Knowing When You’re Recharged
So how do you know when you’re ready to jump back in?
“For me, it’s mental,” Davis says. “There’s always a point where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m ready to go back.’”
He recalls going into a holiday break with a specific goal, “I just wanted to get bored. I don’t feel like I’ve been bored in forever.” By the end, he was energized. “I was ready to go back into the office.”
Rest, recovery, and sleep play a growing role. “I’ve become obsessed with getting good sleep,” he admits. “If I get a good night’s sleep, I’m ready to come in and do the hardest things first.”
Ultimately, recharging is about recognizing your mental state. “Sometimes you’ve got to force yourself to push through. Other times, you’re ready for the challenges and ready to fight those hard battles.”
Redefining Work Hard, Play Hard
At its core, work hard, play hard is all about sustainability.
“You’ve got to prioritize yourself, or you’re going to get burnt out really fast,” Davis says. “And then you’re not going to be there for work, family, or anything else.”
For attorneys, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, recharging shouldn’t be viewed as a luxury. Showing up every day with a fresh mind impacts the way you lead your team. It’s the difference between surviving the grind and thriving for the long haul. No one can run on an empty tank. Take the time to slow down and refuel.
