In our final preregistered study, we tested how people experience effort in real life using experience sampling over a week.

– More effort corresponded with more meaning, both in leisure and non-leisure
– But only non-leisure effort predicted less enjoyment
– Effortful leisure was still enjoyable!

So, why does effort feel meaningful? Part of if might be feeling competent and mastering challenges-but the story isn't so simple. And yes, there's a limit: too much effort can backfire and feel overwhelming (sorry Sisyphus). Balance might be the key.

Does effort make life more meaningful? Was Sisyphus living the dream? In our new paper (now accepted in Cognition!), across 6 studies with nearly 3,000 participants, we found that more effortful tasks feel more meaningful 🧵